Om Mani Padme Hum & The Gremlin Bell

From Temples to Tarmac

The road has always carried its own kind of mysticism. Bikers know it, pilgrims knew it, and so did the airmen who flew over Asia in the chaos of the Second World War.

Back then, pilots spoke of gremlins — mischievous spirits blamed for sudden breakdowns, jammed controls, and strange accidents. To keep them at bay, local monks and villagers would sometimes give the flyers small brass bells etched with the mantra ॐ मणि पद्मे हूँ — Om Mani Padme Hum.

The Mantra

The six syllables of Om Mani Padme Hum are more than sound. They’re a prayer that has echoed across the Himalayas for centuries.

• Om – the vibration of the universe.

• Mani – the jewel of compassion.

• Padme – the lotus of wisdom.

• Hum – the union of body, speech, and mind.

Together they call for protection, clarity, and compassion — a shield against negative forces. When struck on a bell, the mantra’s resonance is said to carry its power into the world.

From Wings to Wheels

When the war ended, many veterans came home restless. They stripped down surplus bikes, built the first choppers, and formed clubs. The bells came with them, now hung low on frames and forks, guarding against road gremlins as they once guarded cockpits.

The tradition grew into legend. Today, the Gremlin Bell is a biker’s talisman. A symbol of protection. A symbol of brotherhood. And — tradition insists — it works twice as strong when given as a gift by someone who loves you.

Two Legends, One Bell

Every Patina Culture Gremlin Bell carries both stories:

• The legend of riders keeping gremlins at bay.

• The ancient protection of Om Mani Padme Hum.

From temple steps to the open highway, the bell rings on.

Ride free. Ride protected. Ride with Patina.