It’s believed that our mind is very occupied and perplexed all the time, and to open it up for enlightenment, we need some shock. The bells in the Hindu temples and rituals are believed to open up our minds and make it available for accepting the divinity blessed upon us. However, Vedic astrology and Hinduism offer more knowledge about the science behind bells in Hindu temples.

In Sanskrit, the name for the bells is ‘Ghantee’. Essentially, it’s a musical instrument. Bells are usually made of brass, copper, cadmium, and many other materials, and there is a fixed proportion for these materials as well.

The bell has a hollow interior, and there hangs a tang inside the bell. A person must strike the inner walls of the bell with the tang to make it ring, and different bells product different types of sound depending on its shape, size, materials used, and proportion of the materials.

You’ll find a bell hanging down from a dome in every temple, and it’s usually at the front entrance of the temple. It’s said that the bells are also an instrument for seeking permission from the gods for entering the temple, but that’s not right at all. We’ll discuss that in a few minutes.

In a broad perspective, we can divide bells into two categories. These are:

• There are hanging bells. These bells can be of various shapes and sizes, but they usually range from medium to large size. There are huge and very heavy bells as well that create a long-lasting and deep hymn.
• Then again, there are bells that you have to hold in one hand and shake it to ring it. These bells are used mostly in homes, and they’re used while praying.

Significance of Bells in Hinduism

According to Agama Shastra, the sound produced by a bell keeps evil forces away, and the ringing sound of a bell is very pleasant to the gods. It’s believed that ringing a bell keeps evil forces such as Paisasa, Yaksha, Rakshasa, and Brahmarakshasa away from our home as well as the temples. However, this isn’t the sole purpose of a temple bell.

However, there is a lot of false knowledge on these bells. These wrong bits of knowledge can only give you a false idea about Hinduism, and that’s why we’ll discuss them first.

For starters, a lot of people believe that the bells are rung to wake the gods up from sleep. However, it’s a fact that the gods do not sleep, which is why they don’t have to be woken up. Thus, it’s a false belief, and it must not be promoted.

Then again, there are people who think that the bells are rung to inform the gods of their arrival. However, this isn’t the case either. The gods are all-knowing, and you don’t need a bell to inform them of your arrival. In fact, you don’t need anything at all because the gods will automatically know of your arrival.

As we’ve told you earlier, people believe that the bells are rung to seek permission from the gods for entering the temple. However, every temple is free for all human beings, and no one requires permission to enter the temple.

If these aren’t the reason, then why is the reason behind ringing a bell while entering a temple? Let’s find out!

There are different types of bells, and bells are often adorned with different figures. It’s believed that different types of bells help people avoid different calamities. For example, it’s believed that bells with an eagle figurine are supposed to protect a person from any sort of calamity associated with snakes, lighting, as well as fire.

As we’ve said before, the bells are supposed to wake an individual up from ignorance. Ringing a bell is actually a Vedic ritual. When the specially crafted bells are struck, they usually product an ‘Om’ sound. The ‘Om’ is thought to be the sound of the supreme divinity. Thus, it allows us to connect the divinity in ourselves (Aatman) with the supreme divinity (Paramaatman). This is the reason why we also ring bells during Puja or Aarati of our Gods and Goddesses.

This ritual allows the individual to have a vision of the supreme deity, and it’s also known as ‘Darshan’. ‘Darshan’ is one of the most important factors of visiting a temple, and here the bells play a significant role. The ringing sound of the bell overlaps every other sound in nature, and it also reminds us of the pervading nature of the gods, how they control the whole world, how they’re above everything.

Why Bells are Hanged in Temples?

You may have seen a dozen bells hanging on temple entrances and many people ring the bells before entering the temple. Have you ever wondered why? besides we already know that ringing the bells produce a sound frequency equivalent to that of the “Om” sound. But additionally, there’s one more reason that is more scientific.

The bells used in the temples are not made randomly, but all of them follow a definite proportion of copper, zinc, cadmium, manganese, chromium, and nickel. If a bell is made ideally, it’s supposed to echo for at least seven seconds. If a bell doesn’t ring for seven seconds at least, it’s not ideal, and you shouldn’t use that.

The echo of the bells targets specific centers of your body known as the healing centers or Chakras. By triggering the chakras of your body, the bells put your brain in a tranquil state where it’s free from all sorts of thoughts. As these are free from thoughts, you become more receptive. Thus, you are able to connect deeply with the Paramaatman, and you get the ‘Darshan’ of the holy gods.

This is the reason why Bells are hanged on Temple entrances to purify the body and tune the frequency of the body according to that of the “Om” sound. By doing this, the body becomes pure, free from negativity and thus the person will be able to connect with God. The chakras or also known as energy points in your body become activated and not only that, the person who hears the ringing of the bell is also purified and his chakras also get activated. Therefore, by ringing the bell, you are not only purifying yourself but also several other people who are in the temple.

Conclusion:

The bells are one of the most important parts of a temple. The bells allow a person to connect with the supreme deities, it makes our minds more receptive and tranquil, and it drives the evil forces away to protect us.

However, it’s very important to ensure that the bells you use are made in the right proportion; otherwise, it won’t perform well. If you get an ideally made bell, you’ll be able to tranquil your mind and purify your aura.