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105. Q .: it has been nearly 750 years, and is it still a practise that there is NO handbell inside the main sanctum of Thiru Malayappan?
Ans .: There is a Hand bell which is being used regularly in the Sanctum of Tirumala Temple and this's been a long standing custom. Because there's a Pramanam in Sri Vaikhanasa Bhagavachhastram regarding the use of Hand Bell or simply a Bell which goes like this.
Purpose of GhantA nAdam:
AgamArdantu dEvAnAm gamanArdantu rakshasAm |
tasmAt sarva prayatnEna GhantA nAdam samam kuryAt ||
The Bell is used to invite Gods and exit Rakshasas, while performing any good work in the temple, So use it regularly with all your efforts.
So when to use GhantA nAdam ...
archArambhE dEvatAhvAna kAlE dhUpE dIpE sarva naivEdya kAlE kumbha dhyAnE hOma kAlE bhichAsmin GhantA nAdam rAja bhOgE sadAsyAt ||
While performing Archana ( Nitya TiruvArAdhanam), inviting Gods, While performing Dhoopam (incense sticks) , giving deepam, while offering Food (Naivedyam), Kumbha Dhyanam (Kumbham is installed on Special occasions like Maha Samprokshana, Brahmotsavam, Pavitrotsavam etc), while performing the fire sacrifice, using this Ghanta will make that particular kriya performed well.
In Tirumala Temple Sanctum, the Archaka will use the Hand bell, before starting the Thomala Seva (in the morning and evening), Then in Sahasranamarchana while giving the dhoopam and deepam, Also in Koluvu, while offering dhoopam and deepam to Koluvu Srinivasa, and while performing PunyAhavAchaNam on special occasions this Hand Bell is extensively used. Only while offering the Naivedyam, the two big bells are used, which are situated at Bangaru Vakili.
(2) but, there was a particular reason for citing "750 years", with my question. I, and also quite a large number of people believe that the hand-bell went missing a few years before the birth of Swami Desikan, and from then on, there was a practise of not using a handbell inside the sanctum. I wanted to know if the practise still continues.
Ans .: I understand the reason behind citing '750' years, as Sriman Vedanta Desikacharyan Swami is an incarnation of Tirumala Temple Bell (Ghanta). But to the latest information available with me (which is gathered from my Grand Father and old aged Archakas), the practice of using Hand Bell inside sanctum is in practice for the last 70-80 years, and according to Vaikhanasa Bhagavachhastram its mandatory to start all rituals with 'GhantA nAdam'.
Jai Srimannaryana !
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