In Hyderabad, devotion comes hard, through the story of an elderly woman, who has always transfixed devotees. She is over 80 years old and continues to ring an enormous 250‑kilogram temple bell in the Sri Venkateswara Temple, a compound erected in the Srinagar Colony. She does this ritual for nearly 15 minutes with each offering, which she has done diligently for the last 25 years. Due to her passion and resolve, she became a testament of faith and endurance.
Known affectionately as “Raji Amma” by visitors to the temple, she has spent many years living inside the temple premises. She never misses even the ritual though, despite her aged body and stiff posture. During the three main offerings a day, she rings the heavy bell without a second thought. To her, it is not a duty, but a sacred service to Lord Venkateswara.
At Hindu temples, the bells are raised and rung during offerings to encourage divine presence and dispel negative energies. The sound of a bell purifies the environment and sharpens the mind of the audience. The temple bell at Sri Venkateswara Temple weighs 250 kg while most other temple bells are heavy and may not be optimal. It’s remarkable that an elderly woman can ring it so many times for 15 minutes.
Her action isn’t just physical: It’s deeply spiritual. Most devotees wonder how she manages to maintain such endurance at her age. Many feel the strength they see here comes down to her sheer dedication. She doesn’t talk to visitors very much, instead she puts her whole body into the bell and the ceremonies. That’s why her lack of protest and her determination have rendered her a living exemplar of the ways faith can outlast physical limitations.
Raji Amma’s unwavering devotion inspires countless devotees who come to the temple. Parents send kids to see her dedication, the aged appreciate what she is up to, and younger ones see her as evidence that true devotion knows no age. She has become a household name all over Hyderabad and has been respected among the populace.
For more than 25 years, an 80 year old grandmother, aged 80 and above, has made this magic at the Sri Venkateswara Temple by raising a 250‑kg temple bell. Faith can be transformative. It’s a testament to the power of faith to strength and wonder. As she makes her sound the bells of the temples, she has provided her devotees to watch not only sound, but also to hear her message of resilience and dedication and eternal dedication to the eternal.
