Significance of Bells in Temples

 

Bells are important symbols in Hindu worship, most of the old temples have large bell at the entrance and the practice is to ring it before you enter the temple. Each temple hangs at least one metal bell at its entrance for devotees to announce their presence to the Hindu deities. The sound of the bell is supposed to make the"Om" sound, which is quite significant in Hinduism. "Om" is a mantra or vibration that is chanted and believed to be the basic sound of the world and to contain all other sounds.  It is said to be the sound of the universe. The sound made from a well-designed Bell is uninterrupted, reverberating, deep and sonorous.

 

A Temple bell has a scientific phenomena; it is not just an ordinary metal. It is made of various metals including cadmium,lead, copper, zinc, nickel, chromium and manganese. The proportion at which each one of them mixed is real science behind the making of a bell. Each of these bells are made to produce such a distinct sound that it can create unity of your left and right brain. The moment the bell is rung, it produces a sharp but lasting sound which lasts for minimum of seven seconds in echo mode, which is good enough to touch the seven healing centres or chakras of the body. The moment the bell sounds, the brain is emptied of all thoughts, invariably one will enter state of Tran’s state where he/she is very receptive. This Trans state is the one with awareness. Oneself is so occupied in mind that only way to awaken is with a Shock! and the Bell works as anti-dote to our mind. Before we enter temple – to awaken our self and prepare for the taste of awareness is the real reason behind temple bell.

 

Bell is an indispensable part in most Hindu pujas. This is sounded before the actual puja and worship begins. A well-designed bell produces long strains of the sound “OM”. A bell is rung in a Hindu temple, during the waving of light in front of the deity, while bathing the deity and while offering food. The most widespread belief is that the bell is sounded to invite the deity to accept the worship and prayers. Another belief is that it is to drive away the evil forces.

 

Symbolically, the curved body of the bell symbolizes infinity – Ananta. The tongue of the bell symbolically represents wisdom Goddess Saraswathi. The handle of the bell is considered to be the vital principle (Prana Shakti) and symbolically represents Hanuman, Garuda, Nandi or Chakra. The bell without a handle is considered inauspicious for doing pujas and believed to bring misfortunes.

 

“Aagamaarthamtu devaanaamgamanaarthamtu rakshasaam / Kurve ghantaaravam tatra devataahvaahna lakshanam”