Ghanta

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Ghanta (Sanskrit: घण्टा,

In Hinduism, bells are generally hung at the temple dome in front of the Garbhagriha. Generally, devotees ring the bell while entering into the sanctum. It is said that by ringing the bell, the devotee informs the deity of his/her arrival. The sound of the bell is considered auspicious which welcomes divinity and dispels evil.^[2] The sound of the bell is said to disengage mind from ongoing thoughts thus making the mind more receptive.^[3] Bell ringing during prayer is said to help in controlling the ever wandering mind and focusing on the deity.^[1]

Mantra

In Hinduism, the mantra chanted while ringing the bell is^[4]

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.

Yogic view

From the

• 
  A hanging ghanta in a temple in Tamil Nadu
• 
  A South Indian handheld nandi ghanta or ghanta with

  Lord Nandi

  depicted on the handle
• 
  A Srivijaya handheld vajra ghanta or ghanta with Vajra as the handle
• 
  A Mandapa in Odisha with a Shikhara in Ghanta-shaped

See also

• Chandraghanta

References