Significance Of A Temple Bell

Ring the bell in a temple?
Is it to wake up God?
But God never sleeps.
Is it to let Him know we have come? He does not need to be told; He is all-knowing.
Is it a way of seeking permission to enter its precincts?
But going to the temple is like a homecoming.
No permission for entering it is needed.
God welcome us at all times.
Then why do we ring the bell?

That’s because ringing the bell produces an auspicious sound of Aum; the primordial sound. There should be auspiciousness within and without, to gain the vision of God who is all-auspiciousness. Even while doing the ritualistic aarti, we ring the bell. It is sometimes accompanied by the blowing of conch and other musical instruments.

An added signification of ringing the bell, conch and other instruments is that they help drown any inauspicious or irrelevant noises and comments that might disturb or distract the worshippers in their devotional ardour, concentration and inner peace.