Temple Bells- Significance

 

  

India is a land where we find tradition and culture, temples and monuments, fairs and festivals, tons of varieties of language, colourful clothes, jewellery, and food and drinks. It is a country which has one of the richest and most vivid historical background and heritage. And one such unique feature is the Bells in Indian temples. In 2019, there were reportedly over 500000 temples across the country. Many foreigners come to India to visit its beauty and temples.

Performing prayers in the temples is an important aspect of Hindu Dharma. It is believed that there is no other place to worship as sacred as the temple and ringing the bells in a temple is an old ancient tradition. Many bells hang at the domes of the temple, and these are also known as Ghanta in Sanskrit. Kansyaghanta, Thala, Ghatika, Jayaghantika, Kshudraghanta, and Krama are the different types of the bell which are mentioned in Sanskrit literature.

As we know, in Hinduism, bells (sometimes large ones) are generally hung at the temple dome in front of the Garbhagriha (Sanctum Sanctorum) and you need to ring them before you enter the temple. Why these bells hang at the dome of the temple and people who come in temple ring the bell? There are not only cultural beliefs but psychological and scientific reasons too for the same. It is believed by the people that the sound of the bell is considered auspicious, which welcomes Gods and removes evil spirits. So today we talk about it:

Temple bells are no ordinary metal but have scientific phenomena attached. These are made up of lead, cadmium, copper, zinc, nickel, chromium, and manganese. The proportion in which each one of them is mixed is the real science behind the making of a bell. Another belief is that this composition of metals in a temple bell helps to kill the bacteria or germs in and around the temple and also purifies your aura. The bell produces a distinct sound that can create unity of your left and right brain.

Cultural Beliefs:

 As per the Agama Sastra, ringing a bell in temples will prevent evil spirits. The evil spirits, namely Yaksha, Paisasa, Rakshasa, and Brahmarakshasa will not enter the temple.

This melodious sound of Ghanta generates the sound of the word . ‘Om’ is the universal mantra that is used to worship the Lord. It is also a belief that the bell ringing in temples is to ward off evil spirits.

Psychological reasons :

·         Bell works as an anti-dote to your mind and as a result, the sound and the ripple echo of the bell generates reverberation on the human aura.

·         Another reason is ringing bell is the resonated sound which generates from the bell is pleasant to God. And, hence, Ghanta is an essential part in most of the Hindu pujas. The most widespread belief is that the bell is rung to invite the divine power to accept the worship and prayers.

·         A bell’s ring clears our mind and helps us stay sharp and keep our full concentration on devotional purpose while we are entering the inner Sanctorum.

·         An added significance of ringing the bell is that it helps drown any inauspicious or irrelevant noises and comments that might disturb or distract the worshipers in their devotional ardour, concentration, and inner peace. 

 Scientific reason

Ø  It is also said, the scientific reason behind hanging the bell in the temples is that the moment you ring the bell it produces a sharp but lasting sound which lasts for a minimum of seven seconds in echo mode good enough to touch your seven healing centers or chakras in your body and as it reaches our brain, the brain is emptied of all thoughts. It feels relaxed.

Ø  Scientists say that these sounds bring clarity in the brain’s thoughts, which makes you get into a situation when you understand more things than before. These voices increase your concentration, keep you alert. 

When we enter the temple we ring the bell, but why do we do it?

It is considered a homecoming. The Lord always welcomes us at all times. It is also said that the devotees knock God’s entrance to ask permission upon entering his holy sanctum.

Is to wake up the Lord that we have arrived at your place or is to wake him up if he is sleeping?

Ringing the bell in the temples is not a wake-up call to God, but it’s a wake-up call for us.

                          

Temple bells are made of such metals that produce the sound that is really beneficial for the human mind and body. I have tried to list out some benefits of the sound of temple bells :

 ·         Removes Negative Thoughts: Removes all the negative thoughts which make our lives miserable and make everything positive around us, which leads to good health and happiness. It removes negative forces and opens doors to prosperity.

·         Concentration level improves: Improve the concentration level and stabilizes the human mind.

·         Balances our Mind: The sound balances the right and left parts of our mind that make us think wide and devotional.

·         Whole-body health: The 7 healing centers or chakras of the body get activated by the sound of the temple bell and the entire body starts getting an easy recovery from any ailment, resulting in a sound mind. As it is said that a sound mind actually helps in treating and healing the body by itself.

·         Improves senses: The temple bell improves your senses by making your mind active and alert about the world.

·         Recovery from mental disorders: The temple bell sound has the power to cure the mental disorders to great effect. You will find all the tension and stress is gone once you sit inside a temple and listen to the temple bell.

·         Purifies Environment : It is also believed that when the bell is played then there is a vibration in the atmosphere, which goes far enough due to the atmosphere. The advantage of this vibration is that all the bacteria, viruses and micro-organisms that are coming in its area are destroyed so that the surrounding environment becomes purified.

·         Receptiveness increases: The moment the bell is sounded, your brain is emptied of all thoughts and invariably you will enter the state where you are very receptive. Your mind is so preoccupied that the only way to awaken you is with a shock.

We ring a bell in the temple for a different reason today, however; it was started long ago to draw the attention of the people around the temple and to indicate and invite people for prayers.

 “Ghantaayam tadayeth kim prayochanam

Yaksha rakshasa paisasa tanava brahmarakshash gacchanti mani sapthah”

This states that why to ring bells in holy places?  Because after hearing the ringing sound of the bell all the evil spirits like Yaksha, Rakshasa, Paisasa, and Brahmarakshash go out of the temple and makes it helps to remain a holy place.

“Aagamaarthamtu devaanaam gamanaarthamtu rakshasaam, Kurve ghantaaravam tatra devataahvaahna lakshanam”

I ring this bell indicating the invocation of divinity, so that virtuous and noble forces enter; and the demonic and evil forces, from within and without, depart.

So friends by now, you must have known how much the ringing bell sound in the temple is beneficial to you. Moreover, its voice gives you peace of mind. These are just a few benefits of a temple bell that you can notice on your own, but there are a lot more benefits that can only be seen in the long run. Make sure you visit to temple every day and ring the bell.

 

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