Circumambulation

A term that is used in Buddhism, Islam and Sikhism to describe respect and concentration by walking round a person or sacred place.

  • Sikhs at weddings circumambulate the Guru Granth Sahib (known as phera).
  • Muslims go in an anticlockwise direction round the Ka'ba at Makkah.
  • Buddhists go round stupas clockwise, usually 3 times, affirming the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.