While entering the temple, one should wash one’s feet with pure filtered water. In case one is wearing shoes, socks, etc., they should be left behing at their aloted place.
Again, there is a bell at the temple. Why is it rung ? What should our feeling be at the time of ringing it ? These questions do arise in one’s mind. but in absence of a rational answer, the mind gets frustrated.
Listen ! The bell is rung as a symbol of mangala dhvani or auspicious sound. Hearing its peel, even people at distance are reminded of the temple. While ringing the bell, our feeling should be that vibrations of its auspicious sound should spread out far and wide, where we cannot reach bodily. Such man-made and natural chityalyas (temples) situated in the north-central hemisphere as Nandeeshwar Dweep. Videha Kshetra, Kailas parvat etc., the places you have visited and worshipped in person, thinking of those, wishing, `Let this prayer of mine reach them……….’., ring the bell. It should be rung thrice, with a soft stroke.
The bell that hangs in the temple is an instrument for disseminating our refined feelings. In the current scientific world, our words (language) and sentiments travel from one place to another within seconds, through the means of communication system, loud speakers etc., As in a post-office, for sending a telegram, a small box is tapped in a certain manner. No words are put into that, but the message, through a code, hops across to another place merely by the manner of tapping the box. The temple bell serves the same purpose. Its auspicious shound drives our mental pollution away.
You must have experienced that when a child cries. It is soothened by the sweet sound of a rattle or toy etc.
At the Lal Mandir, Delhi, you might have seen a very huge, ancient bell displayed in a showcase at the central place of the temple. It also bears many mantras engraved on it. Its peel, it is said, used to manifest the impact of the mantras. Currently, it is out of use, but in previous times. wherever its sound spread, all bodily, mental, supernatural and physical calamities too perished.