How many pradakshinas(circumbulations) one should do around the temple?
For all and specially for the Panchayatna followers, the rules for pradakshina are as follows:
एका चंड्या रवे: सप्त, तिर्स्त्र: कार्या विनायके:।
हरेश्चतस्त्र: कर्तव्या:, शिवस्यार्ध प्रदक्षिणा ।।
Eka Chandaya Raveh Sapta Tirstra Karya Vinayake||
Hareschatarstrah Kartabyah Shivasya ardha Pradkshina||
For Durga(Chandi), one should do 1 pradkshina,
for Surya(Ravi) - 7,
for Ganesha(Vinayaka) - 3,
for Vishnu(Hari) - 4 &
for Shiva only 1/2.
What is half pradakshina?
Refer to image. The pradakshina should not go beyond the Gomukhi for Shiva.
By half pradakshina is meant a "SomaSutra Pradakshina" as stated in the next Sloka:
Shivam Pradaksini Kurvan Somasutram na Langhayeth, iti Vachanantaraat.
While doing Shiva Pradakshina the order of Shastras is that one should not break the Somasutra.
By Somasutra is meant the Half Moon like curve that is traced out in the process.
More on somasookta pradakshina - the reason behind this odd form of pradakshinam, then here it is. It is done to commemorate the circumambulation of the Devas around Mt Kailash when they came for help. They kept running between Nandidevar and the poison, denoted respectively by the Nandi mandapam and the gomukhi, in a similar fashion until Shiva decided to sort things out. The Somasooktha pradakshinam is infact a re-enactment of the devas pleading to Shiva for help.
Elaborate reading here - https://www.google.co.in/amp/
More details on this link - https://www.hinduismfacts.org/
