Ringing the bell

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Why do we ring the bell in the temple?

 

In most temples there are one or more bells hung from the top, near

the entrance. The devotee rings the bell as soon as he enters,

thereafter proceeding for darshan of the Lord and prayers. Children

love jumping up or being carried high in order to reach the bell.

 

Is it to wake up the Lord? But the Lord never sleeps. Is it to let

the Lord know we have come? He does not need to be told, as He is all

knowing. Is it a form of seeking permission to enter His precinct? It

is a homecoming and therefore entry needs no permission. The Lord

welcomes us at all times. Then why do we ring the bell?

 

The ringing of the bell produces what is regarded as an auspicious

sound. It produces the sound Om, the universal name of the Lord.

There should be auspiciousness within and without, to gain the vision

of the Lord who is all-auspiciousness.

 

Even while doing the ritualistic aarti, we ring the bell. It is

sometimes accompanied by the auspicious sounds of the conch and other

musical instruments. An added significance of ringing the bell, conch

and other instruments is that they help drown any in-auspicious or

irrelevant noises and comments that might disturb or distract the

worshipper/s in their devotional ardour (dedication) , concentration

and inner peace.