Bells Indoor Outdoor, Cow Bells, Ghungroos

Traditionally, bells are sacred. The ancient civilizations of India, Sumer, China and Egypt all had bells. The great cathedral builders of Europe constructd magnificent towers to house their bells. In the liturgy of many Christian faiths, bells are rung in the holiest part of the service. Why does the bell hold such importance in so many cultures? Could its mystery lie in the fact that the bell sounds its fundamental tone and yet rings with the higher overtones of this basic sound? Do these sounds within sounds give the bell this quality of the sacred?
One function of bells is that they have become time keepers, at least in the centuries leading up to our era. Hearing a church bell chime 3 times for 3:00 creates a sense of stillness, while our silent digital watches are usually a reminder of things to be done. Our association with this kind of clock gives us the feeling that time is running quickly, rushing us along with its hectic pace. On the other hand, the bell sounds as a pause on the hour, creating a different view of time, one which is more organic, more in tune with nature.