GHANTA
Ghanta or temple bell is an indispensable part of ritualistic worship in Hinduism. Worship is performed with the first sounding of the bell. A Temple bell is generally made of bronze or seven metals. The body of the bell represents the divinity of time and the tongue, Sarasvati (the goddess of speech). The handle signifies the energy of prana.
As per ancient scriptures, the bell gives a different kind of sound for keeping evil forces away. The ringing of the bell clears our minds and helps us stay sharp and keep our full concentration on our devotional purpose. The moment we blow the tongue of the bell, it produces a sharp and everlasting echo sound which lasts for about 7 seconds. The duration of the echo is enough to activate all our seven Indries (7 chakras defined in Yoga) of our body, resulting in emptying our brain from all our thoughts and helping us in entering with a very sharp state where we can have a good level of concentration.
When the bell is sounded in worship it is an invitation for the gods to come and a warning for the evil spirits to depart.
The bell is sounded during the puja at various stages: inviting the deity, giving a bath to the image, waving incense, waving the lighted lamp, at the end of the chanting of hymns and giving a final offering.
Devotees are expected to ring them as they enter and not to ring them while leaving the sanctum Sanatorium.
Picture: Temple bell installed at Pokhribal Shrine, Hari Parbat, Srinagar.
© Chander M Bhat
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