Three for Shree Ganesh Ji, Four for Bhagwan Vishnu But for Bhagwan Shiv one should perform only half pradakshina.
According to Shastras and Shivpuran, only half-parikrama must be carried out by the devotees around the Shiv Linga. This practice is justified by explaining that,Shiv is both 'Aadi' & 'Anant'. Aadi means first or beginning and Anant means everlasting.
Thus, the divine and endless energy (Shakti) flowing from him is represented in the form of ‘Nirmili’ which is the narrow outlet (Gomukhi) from where the milk and water used for ‘Abhishek’ flows out.
When a devotee does the Pradakshina he should never cross the Shivling's Abhishek water passage which goes through the floor where the pradakshina is performed.
The reason not to cross the water passage is that the Abhishek’ water is considered very sacred and should not be crossed or over-stepped by the devotees.
It's said that Shiva's Shakti is so fierce that no one could ever interfere or come in the line of it. Whoever does it has to face the wrath of Bhagwan Shiv. Hence, the devotee should perform a clockwise pradakshina until he reaches the water passage and then he/she should go for an anticlockwise pradakshina until he reaches the other point of the water passage.
This way Bhagwan Shiv's one circumambulation is completed.
