[GHHF] Bala Samskar Kendras – Students learned about the importance of ringing Bells in the Temples and Homes during Puja.
Today as the world is overwhelmed by constant crisis many are recognizing the inherent wisdom of the ancient indigenous cultures. Hinduism, as a religion that was practiced before the age of Pyramids or the construction of Stonehenge, is an authentically indigenous tradition. It is one of the few remaining root cultures in the world. These root cultures represent an ethos that does not put a price tag on anything which lives inside each of us.” Brannon aka Vrndavan Parker
Global Hindu Heritage Foundation is very happy to inform you that the overwhelming majority of Bala Samskar Kendras learned about the importance of ringing Bells during performing Pujas.
The mind is filled with many things (memories, thoughts). The Rishis introduced the bell as a part of the puja system with the intention of letting the mind forget all that for a few moments. On hearing the ghantaravam, the mind, which is wandering in many things, is united in that sound and the mind also comes to one level, just as the sound comes to one level. Ghantanadam takes us into a state of stillness and directs our mind at least slightly towards the true essence of the soul. The bell symbolizes the transition from noise to silence.
A bell is made to produce such a distinct sound that it can make unity of your left and right brain. The moment you ring the worship bell, it produces sharp but lasting sound lasting for minimum seven seconds in echo mode. It is good enough to touch your seven healing centers or chakras placed in your body.
The moment bell sound is made; your brain becomes emptied of all thoughts. Invariably you enter a state of Trance where you feel very receptive. This Trance state is absolutely one with awareness. In your mind, you are so occupied that only way to awaken you is with a sweet shock of the gong of the bell. Worship bell works as anti-dote to the bleakness of your mind.
Before you enter your Puja ghar, to make you awake and prepare your awareness the bell is rung. Actually it is the real reason behind ringing the bell. In specific words ringing of bells during worship helps to wake your own self up. To an extent fragrant incense sticks, lighted lamps all form a special ecosystem to create extreme awareness. As an obvious result you find interest to call your Ista-dev mindfully and concentrate on your japa and meditation with heart-felt devotion. Here goes the utility of ringing the bell during worship.
But the worship bell is not always rung or should be rung. You may ring the worship bell during day time puja but the moment evening falls and you are ready for the evening worship, you cannot ring the worship bell as before. There comes a restriction. You may be interested to know why so? Here I am going to bring before you the reasons.
You know it quite well the bell or ghanta is an indispensable part of Hindu pujas. Ghanta is rung before the actual puja begins. A ghanta produces long sound ‘OM.’ The bell is rung in your worship room, during the aarti in front of the deity, while bathing the deity with specific rules and rituals and while offering food items called bhog to Him or Her.
The most common belief is that the bell is rung to invite the deity to accept the ardent worship and prayers. Another belief is that the ringing of the bell can drive away evil forces.
As we start the daily worship or Puja, we ring the bell, chanting:
Aagamaarthamtu devaanaam
gamanaarthamtu rakshasaam
Kurve ghantaaravam tatra
devataahvaahna lakshanam
The literal translation of the Sanskrit mantra is that I ring this bell to invoke the divinity, I do so because I want virtuous and noble forces intervene my home and heart. I want all the demonic and evil forces from within and without must depart along with the ringing of the bell.
But some think that it is not auspicious to ring a bell during evening worship. Why so? Though it is very hard to find the cause, it is believed that as auspicious things go on in the time of evening or after the sun set it is not usual to break the serene silence with the ringing of bells. Conch is blown during Sandhya. At every Hindu home the tradition of blowing conch in the evening is going on for ages. The conch is blown three times. It may be so that after blowing the conch it is not judicial to ring the bell to disturb the calmness of the evening that is just ready to dawn. Or there may be th cause that ascetics and gods re ready to take for the night time rest hence it is not ideal to disturb their initiation. Anyway, it is nothing but premonition; there is no rule to find.
During pujas aartis are done in the evening and ringing of bell is mandatory during the aarti of the deities. The priest or the pundit with a bell in hand goes on ringing for ritualistic aarti. Anyway, it is a matte of debate why ringing of bells is strictly prohibited during evening Puja rituals at home. Let us now discuss about some rules followed during worship Source: Askganesh website)
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