Theology Thursday ·Jul 28, 2022

Why do we ring bells at temples?

Bells used for Hindu rituals have a special name ascribed to them:

Ghanta

You can generally find these ghanta at the entrance of temples and even just outside of the Garbhagriha, or the center of the temple.

Many Hindus also use bells during rituals at home, which are in the form of a handheld bell.

It is said that when you ring the bell, you are alerting the deities to your presence.

This helps bring God into your life at the beginning of your worship so that all evil and negativity in your life is dispelled.

Hinduism is not the only religion to use bells, as bells themselves date to around 3500 BCE in China.

Buddhism Marks the beginning of prayer and to clear the surround space

Christianity Signifies the time of prayer so that worshippers may gather.

There are even specific mantras linked to ringing the bell, such as the one below:

Aagamaardhamtu devaanaam gamanaardhamtu rakshasaam, Kuru ghantaaravam krutva devataahvaana lanchanam

“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.”

Enjoyed this article?

Modi Toys is a children's brand of toys and books inspired by ancient Hindu culture. We exist to spread joy and to spark curiosity in the next generation through our innovative soft plush toys, illustrated children's books and free learning resources. Our weekly Theology Thursday series covers a wide range of topics rooted in Hinduism to help us better understand the origins of traditions, the symbolic meaning of rituals, and the stories behind Hindu holidays and festivals. The more we can understand "the why" behind this 4,000 year ancient religion, and make sense of it in this modern age, the greater we can appreciate and preserve our rich Hindu culture. While we take great care in thoroughly researching the information presented, we may occasionally get some things wrong. We encourage a healthy and open dialogue so we can learn together. Please leave a comment below or email us directly at support@moditoys.com to address any concerns.