Dr Venganoor Balakrishnan

Indian tradition had its roots in the culture developed by rishis, which gave way to a temple-based culture later on. The temple culture, developed long back, remains pertinent even today.
The ancient rituals in temples, including blowing of conches, sounding of bells and use of flowers, are still prevalent.

Deepaaradhana or worship of the deity with lighted lamp or camphor, moving it clockwise before the idol accompanied by conch blowing and bell peals offers an audio-visual experience for the devotee.
The conch produces an auspicious and divine sound. It is also considered a proclamation. The celebrated Puranic battle of Kurukshetra was preceded by a conch blowing. Conch is scrubbed and used as an ingredient in certain medicines. It has healing properties as well.
Modern science has found out that the vibrations from conch blowing trigger positive feelings in the brain.
The peal of bells is heard from temples when puja is performed. The peal arouses in the listener a sense of piety. A sense of peace is generated even by the jingling of bells in bullock carts.
It is believed that when the conch is blown, the divine word “Om” emerges first and then recedes gradually. The eternal mantra “Om” can inspire the mind greatly. It can create an atmosphere of piety among devotees. It can cultivate the power of concentration as well.
Many kinds of flowers are used in temples. There are beautiful stories connected with all the flowers too.
For example, the Thaazhampoo (flower of a species of screwpine) flower is not used in pujas. According to the epics, the flower was summoned as an eyewitness by Lord Shiva. But she told a lie. She was duly punished and accordingly no longer used in pujas.
When we examine those flowers used for puja, we find that they all emit positive energy. Our sages of the past knew that such flowers alone could be included in the worship of God!
Yoga rato va bhoga rato va
Samga rato va Sanga vihana
Yasya Brahmani ramate chittam
Nandati nandati nandati eva
(Whether the devotee is a spiritualist or materialist, if his mind is in God, he really enjoys the presence of God.)

The conch blowing, the strokes of bell and the sweet smell of flowers are meant to turn the devotee’s mind to God.
One gets divine grace even from the temple courtyard. This is owing to the style of construction of the temple. A person who steps into the courtyard is affected by this positive energy. You can experience this gain of energy even in abandoned temples.
Dr Prabhat Kumar Poddar has written about the energy of temples in Sukritheendra Oriental Research Institute Journal (October 1999).
He conducted his research in an abandoned temple in Mamallapuram near Chennai. It was a temple of Lord Shiva with broken Shiva linga (idol) left without any usual pujas. But in spite of that, the courtyard of the temple showed the presence of a flow of positive energy all over.
It is this energy that activates the devotee and fills him with positive attitude and confidence.

— The author has written Thaliyola, a book on Hindu beliefs and rituals. He has also written books on the Vedas and Upanishads. He can be reached at drvenganoor@yahoo.co.in