Sloka To Chant While Ringing Bell In Temples & Home

It is a common ritual in Hindu temples to ring bells during aarathi and pooja. The ringing of the bell is not an attempt to show one’s presence at the temple or to wake up a sleeping god, as many believe. The rituals in temples like sounding a conch or ringing the bell are ways of creating a suitable ambience for devotion. These sounds distract us from any disturbing noises that may be prevalent in the premises, and focuses our attention towards the pooja. Also, it is said that the sound produced by the conch and while ringing the bell produces positive vibrations which enhances the spiritual experience of the devotee. The sloka below is to be chanted while ringing the bell at temples as a prayer to usher in auspiciousness.

Aagamaarthamtu devaanaam

Gamanaarthamtu rakshasaam

Kurve ghantaaravam tatra

Devataahvaahna lakshanam

Meaning - “I ring this bell to invoke divinity to let noble forces enter my heart and keep demonic forces away from it”

Sloka To Chant While Lighting The Lamp At Home

The lamp is given great significance in Hinduism. It is a representation of ‘agni’/fire , the universal witness. ‘Agni’ is said to be the only element which purifies other things without getting impure itself, and is hence regarded as a demi-god. The influence that fire has in our life is very obvious and important. The Hindu ritual of lighting a lamp in the morning and evening is a way of having a representative of God amidst us. The fire of the lamp (and the lamp itself) is considered on par with an idol of God in temples and during poojas. The sloka below is to be chanted while lighting the lamp at home to bring welfare to the family.

Subham karoti kalyanam

Arogyam dhana sampadah

Shatru buddhi vinashaya

Deepa jyotir namosthuthe

Meaning - “I salute the lamplight that brings auspiciousness, abundance of wealth, good health and destroys all enemies of intellect ”

Lord Surya Gayatri Mantra - For curing eye-diseases

The sun/lord surya is generally worshipped in almost all parts of the world as a god. Lord surya directly and indirectly influences every aspect of our life on Earth. This gayatri mantra can be used to please lord surya and hence greatly improve the condition of your health.The  This mantra is especially useful to combat eye diseases and to maintain good eyesight. With the blessings from Lord Surya you will be able to work harder, be more active and achieve greater success. It is recommended to practice 108 repetitions of this mantra in the morning (before sunrise) or in the evening (before sunset). Attainment of mantra siddhi is said to occur after 21 continuous days of saadhana.

Om aadithyaya vidmahe

Sahsrakiranaya dheemahi

Thanno bhanuh prachodayathu

Narasimha/Nrisimha Mantra – For Ultimate Protection From Evil

Lord Narasimha / Nrisimha is said to be one of Lord Mahavishnu’s fiercest avatars. Lord Vishnu took this avatar to help a devotee in distress and hence the chanting of the narasimha/nrisimha mantra will help to get the same type of protection from Lord Vishnu. Lord Narasimha / nrisimha is said to be one of the most fiercest, powerful and destructive avatars of Mahavishnu. There is no evil entity that cannot be overcome by the power of lord Narasimha / nrisimha.

Whenever in distress or faced with a seemingly impossible task, the chanting of narasimha/nrisimha mantra will help by taking you towards safety and success.

Ugram veeram mahavishnuum jwalanthum sarvathoo mugham

Nrisimham bheeshannam bhadhram mrityumrityum namaamyaham

The regular chanting of this mantra for 11,21 or 108 times daily will help to safeguard you and your family. It is beneficial to chant the mantra with some ‘kumkum/vermillion’ taken in the right hand, and then applied to the forehead. This will help to prevent others from casting any ‘evil eye’ on you and will make your situations more positive.

Fulfil Desires By Circumambulation In Temples

It is a common Hindu practice to perform a circumambulation around temples.  Even Muslims perform such circumambulations at the holy Mecca. This post deals with the specific benefits attached to the number of times circumambulation is done in temples.

It is important to note that the term circumambulation around the temple does not mean a brisk walk. It denotes a slow devotional walk around the temple so as to fully absorb and benefit from the positive energy present there. It is described that the pace of circumambulation should be equivalent to ‘a 6months pregnant woman walking while carrying a vessel full of water’. This importance to a slow pace is given since the object around which we are performing circumambulation (god’s idol) is one which radiates immense positive energy all around it, and the aim of the circumambulation is to fully make use of this energy. The slow pace along with the chanting of the god’s name, influences us psychologically. The effect of the positive energy from the temple and our own concentration on the god, enables our stress to be relieved and increases the sharpness of our mind.

Circumambulation can also be used as a form of ‘saadhana’ for the fulfilment of one’s desires. Below I present a list of the number of circumambulation and the specific desires which are said to be fulfilled through them.

                                        3 – attainment of desired skill/talent

                                        5 – success

                                        7 – overcoming enemies

                                        9 – to beget children for childless couples

                                       11- safeguarding life expectancy

                                       13- fulfilment of a specific desire/wish

                                       15- to be wealthier

                                       17 – to be more prosperous

                                       19 – to overcome diseases

                                       21 – to increase knowledge

                                       25 – for general well-being

                                     108 – fulfilment of all desires

The ritual of circumambulation is to be performed daily for a minimum period of 21 days to fulfil one’s desire. I reiterate that it is important to chant god’s name/mantra and pray with devotion while performing the circumambulation slowly for it to be beneficial.