Yani Kani Cha Papani

About this stotra

The sacred ritual of Pradakṣiṇa (circumambulation of either a deity or oneself) is imbued with immense spiritual power to cleanse one of even the most deep-rooted karmic impurities. This shloka is typically chanted at the end of a Puja, where one asks the Lord for forgiveness for the sins that one has committed in this janma (birth) and all previous janmas, by either circumambulating a deity or self-circumambulating clockwise three times, with hands folded in the prayer position. Most importantly, the mind needs to be focused on the intent of this prayer, as the body moves around. We are asking the Supreme Power, the Almighty Lord who created the universe including us, to forgive us for our sins. Therefore, this mantra must be chanted with humility, with genuine remorse, as a sincere prayer to the almighty Lord.
The word Pradakṣiṇa means moving or circling to the right, referring to the act of circumambulation in a clockwise direction. It is a deeply devotional act that signifies keeping the divine as the centre of one’s spiritual journey. By walking clockwise around a deity, or themselves, devotees honor the centrality of the divine in life and, with every step, symbolically shed sins and negative karma accrued over lifetimes. The comprehensive phrase "yāni kāni ca" (whatever and whichever) emphasises that no sin is too great to be purified through this practice when done with sincere devotion.