Shloka 137
बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्
Bondage and Liberation: The Prakṛti–Karma Wheel and Śiva as the Transcendent Cause
शिवप्रदक्षिणं कुर्यात्स्वयमष्टोत्तरं शतम् । सहस्रमयुतं लक्षं कोटिमन्येन कारयेत्
śivapradakṣiṇaṃ kuryātsvayamaṣṭottaraṃ śatam | sahasramayutaṃ lakṣaṃ koṭimanyena kārayet
One should personally perform one hundred and eight pradakṣiṇā—circumambulations of Śiva. For a thousand, ten thousand, a hundred thousand, or a koṭi (crore) of circumambulations, one may have them performed by another on one’s behalf.
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s worship-method to the sages of Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: As part of the Viśveśvara (Kāśī Viśvanātha) teaching-cycle, circumambulation (pradakṣiṇā) is presented as a principal upacāra that accrues merit and purification when performed around Śiva as the immovable center.
Significance: Pradakṣiṇā around the liṅga/temple is framed as a high-yield sādhana: personal 108 rounds as a complete vow; larger counts may be delegated, emphasizing continuity of devotion and merit-transfer within dharmic economy.
FAQs
It teaches that pradakṣiṇā around Śiva is a direct act of bhakti and surrender: the devotee places the Lord (Pati) at the center, while the bound soul (paśu) moves in reverent orbit, gradually weakening bondage (pāśa) through repeated devotional orientation.
Pradakṣiṇā is performed around the Śiva-liṅga or the saguna form established for worship, affirming that the accessible, worshipful presence of Śiva becomes the focus for devotion, merit, and inner recollection, even while Śiva remains ultimately transcendent.
Perform 108 pradakṣiṇās personally as a primary vow; for larger counts, the verse allows commissioning others—while ideally maintaining inner japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and a devotional attitude during the act.