ganta nadam or sound a bell is a recommended practice and falls in the category of ijya (engaging in the mode of worship)

Hindu practices, temples, and worship altar’s usually have a bell. In a temple, this is a big bell hanging from the roof. In individual homes, it is quite common to see a bell that fits in the palm of the hand. The sounding of a bell occurs at the commencement or end of the worship ritual. At the end of the worship, the ringing of a bell goes along with the aarathi. The bell is also referred to as ghanta. And the ringing is ghanta nadam.

Why does one use a bell during worship?

There isn’t any upanishadic or gita significance to the ringing of a bell. The practice originated from practical usage than spiritual necessity. The prime reason for the usage of a bell is to signal an invocation and closure. There are other instruments like a conch that serve a similar purpose. Even in gita we see references to conches used for invocation.

At the commencement, the sound from a bell or a conch draws attention and signals the start. It is a mental marker to get rid of distractions and tune the mind towards worship.

At the end of the worship practice, it is a reminder and transition. A signal to inculcate the righteous characteristics into the actions that follow.

The practitioners did not want to make the bell only a ritual practice. They wanted an element of spirituality into it. To do so, they went to the primordial sound and vibration that manifested the universe. This is the rhythmic sound “om.” Bells took on a conical shape. An alloy of many metals became the base material. The conical shape and the alloy produce a melodious vibration.

A well-crafted bell is a pleasant sound that helps in invoking the divine sound “om”. An imperfectly designed and manufactured bell is a distraction. Anything that helps invoke the divine sound is a nice aid on our spiritual journey.