Children are always inquisitive to know why we do certain things in temples and the special talk from Usha Didi was on “Why do we do Pradaksina & how” and “Why do we ring bell in temples & how?”
Why do we do Pradaksina?
- What is Pradaksina?When we visit temple, after offering prayers, we circumambulate the inner sanctum sanctorum of the temple with folded hands often chanting prayers, is a very common ritual in Hindu temples, which is called as Pradaksina. The devotees walk around the innermost chamber of the shrine housing the temple deity.
- Why do we do Pradaksina?
We cannot draw a circle without a centre point. The Lord is the centre, source and essence of our lives. We acknowledge this by performing Pradaksina recognizing him as the focal point in our lives and go about doing our daily chores. This is the significance of Pradaksina.
Also, every point on the circumference of a circle is equidistant from the centre. This means that wherever we may be or whoever we may be, we are equally close to the lord. His grace flows towards us without partiality.
- How is Pradaksina done?
Pradaksina is done in a clockwise direction on to one's right side facing the deity inside the garbhagriham.
Why do we ring bell?
One or more bells are generally hung from the top or at the temple dome near the entrance. The devotees ring the bell as soon as he enters, there after proceeding for darsana of Lord and prayers.Is it to wake up the Lord? But the Lord never sleeps. Is it to let the Lord know we
have come? He does not need to be told, as He is all knowing. Is it a form of seeking
permission to enter His precinct? It is a homecoming and therefore entry needs no permission. The Lord welcomes us at all times. Then why do we ring the bell?
The ringing of the bell produces what is regarded as an auspicious sound. It produces the sound Om, the universal name of the Lord. There should be auspiciousness within and without, to gain the vision of the Lord who is all-auspiciousness.
Is it to wake up the Lord? But the Lord never sleeps. Is it to let the Lord know we
have come? He does not need to be told, as He is all knowing. Is it a form of seeking
permission to enter His precinct? It is a homecoming and therefore entry needs no permission. The Lord welcomes us at all times. Then why do we ring the bell?
The ringing of the bell produces what is regarded as an auspicious sound. It produces the sound Om, the universal name of the Lord. There should be auspiciousness within and without, to gain the vision of the Lord who is all-auspiciousness.
Even while doing the ritualistic aarati, we ring the bell. It is sometimes accompanied by the auspicious sounds of the conch and other musical instruments. An added significance of ringing the bell, conch and other instruments is that they help drowned any inauspicious or irrelevant noises and comments that might disturb or distract the worshippers in their devotional ardour, concentration and inner peace.
Further, the sound of the bell is
- considered auspicious which welcomes divinity and dispels evil.
- said to disengage mind from ongoing thoughts thus making the mind more receptive.
- said to help in controlling the ever wandering mind and focusing on the deity.
As we start the daily ritualistic worship (pooja) we ring the bell, chanting:
Aagamaarthamtu devaanaam gamanaarthamtu
rakshasaamKurve ghantaaravam
tatradevataahvaahna lakshanam
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.
Usha Didi's lecture was certainly an eye opener on the science and belief behind the right way of worship.
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