Remember the time you went to a temple. You probably did not have anything in your hands. The temple visit was likely accompanied by thoughts about studies, work, money, family, health and lots of things you still had to do. The mind is always busy. It just keeps talking and talking, even when you want it to be quiet. When you walk into a temple, you take all these thoughts with you. Then you do something: you ring the bell at the entrance of the temple. Ringing the bell at the temple entrance is something you do almost without thinking. You are at the temple. The temple has a bell, so you ring it. For many of us, this is just a habit learned in childhood. But if we take a moment to think about it, a fascinating question arises: is this bell simply a religious symbol, or does it serve a deeper purpose for our mind and body?
A temple bell is not a piece of metal hanging there. The traditional Indian temple bells are made from a mixture of metals called Panchaloha or Ashtadhatu. This means that temple bells are made from five or eight metals combined. These metals usually include copper, tin, zinc, iron, silver and sometimes even gold, in the temple bells. People who study history and science have looked at the temple bells. They say that these metal mixtures were not chosen by chance for the temple bells. Each metal has a unique vibration quality, and when mixed in the right proportions, they create a sound that is deep, rich, and long-lasting. This is why a true temple bell does not produce a dull or dead noise; instead, it creates a vibrant, powerful sound that fills the entire space. This reveals that the bell was carefully designed, not just for beauty or tradition, but for a specific effect.
When you look at a bell, it is like a shell that vibrates. The bell vibrates when you hit it. The sound from the bell does not stop. It gets quieter and quieter. The shape of the bell. The kind of metal it is made of decides how long you can hear the sound.
The people who make good temple bells want the sound to keep going for a time. They make the bells so that you can hear the sound for seconds. Sometimes the sound lasts for around seven seconds or even longer. The sound of a bell like this is really nice because it lasts for a long time. Temple bells are special because they are made to have a sound that resonates for a time. In tradition, people think that the sound of a bell that keeps ringing for a long time is special. This is because the Indian tradition says that the human body has seven energy centres. The Indian tradition believes that when a bell rings, the sound goes through the body and touches all these energy centres. It is like the sound of the bell is giving the body a massage, on the inside. The sound of the bell is soft. It feels nice. Even people who do not know about or do not believe in the energy centres of the body can feel the vibration of a bell. They can feel this vibration in their body, not just in their ears. The vibration of the bell is strong. It can be felt everywhere. It can also be felt in the chest, the head, and sometimes throughout the entire body.
The bell's sound is really interesting when you think about how it affects the brain. The human brain has two parts. One part is good at logic, math, and planning for the future. It is also the part that worries about things. The other part is about feelings, being creative, remembering things and using your imagination. In our lives, we usually use one part of the brain more than the other part. This can make the brain feel tired and out of balance. The bell's sound is a clear sound. Science says that sounds like this can actually change the way the human brain is working. The human brain can be affected by the bells' sound in a way. They can slow down thoughts and help the mind become calmer and more focused. This principle is used in sound therapy, meditation music, and calming frequencies. The temple bell operates in a simple yet powerful way. Its sudden, clear, and deep sound grabs your full attention and disrupts the continuous flow of thoughts. For a brief moment, both sides of the brain seem to align, and the mind feels centred, balanced, and quiet.
The temple bell has a beautiful effect. When the sound of the temple bell starts to fade, there is a brief moment of silence. If you listen carefully, you will see that the temple bell makes your mind feel empty for a few seconds after it is rung. The thoughts in your mind stop moving fast, your worries become quieter, and a nice, quiet feeling comes over you. This empty feeling is what the temple bell is supposed to do. The real reason for the temple bell is to make this space. The temple bell is meant to create this silence. Ancient temple traditions say that the sound of the bell drives away negative thoughts and invites positive and divine ones. Simply put, the bell cleanses the mind before you enter the temple. That is why the bell is placed at the entrance and not near the idol. It is not meant to announce your arrival to God; it prepares you instead.
If you practice this mindfully, the difference becomes clear. Next time you visit a temple, ring the bell, then close your eyes. Do not rush. Stand there and listen until the sound completely fades, until even the last tiny hum is gone. You will notice that your breathing slows, your body feels lighter, and your mind settles. Now compare this feeling with just walking inside without doing so. You will easily see why this simple action has been part of temple life for centuries.
Temple bells are not something people do because it is a ritual. They are also an example of old engineering. The truth is that temple bells are both. People have kept doing this thing for a time because it is a tradition. People have slowly forgotten the real reasons they started doing it in the first place. Temple bells show that the people who made them really knew what they were doing. They picked metals for the bells. They made the bells into a shape. When you hear the sound of a temple bell, it can really affect your mind and body. Temple bells are an example of old engineering, and people still use them as part of a tradition. The temple bell beautifully demonstrates how ancient wisdom combined science, psychology, and spirituality in a natural way. It does not really call God. In a very real sense, it calls you back from noise to silence, from restlessness to calm, and from the outside world to your own inner space. In today’s busy and stressful life, that brief moment of silence may be one of the most precious gifts we still have.
. . .
REFERENCES: