Stone Bell Is Installed!

Stone bells are a rare artifact in Hindu temples. Such bells exist today in older temples like the Kailasanathar Temple in Kanchipuram, Virupaksha Temple in Hampi, and the famed Pashupatinatha Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal. However, none are known in the Western world.

That changed yesterday when the monks formally installed a 510-pound granite bell. A small shrine was designed and built by the monks, with help from Taskforce. The structure was made of clear redwood donated by Thamby Kumaran and was felled years ago in the presence of the swamis at Thamby's home in California. A full puja was performed, as per the Agamas, to bless the felling of the two trees, complete with honey on the tree feller's chainsaw and prayers to the devas that the trees (removed due to their dangerous proximity to the home) would have a new destiny.

The Bell Tower is placed near the Silpi Bronze Pavilion to show pilgrims another remarkable creation of the silpi sculptors. The bell is rung with a hardwood mallet and produces a distinctly metallic sound. Keep in mind, this was sculpted from a 1,200-pound piece of granite which typically would not make any sound other than a muffled thud. Making the granite sing is making the impossible happen.

All present rang the bell, which is said to have several meaningful features, including invoking a divine presence (the devas are said to be pleased by the sound), warding off negative spirits, purifying the environment, helping to focus the mind and drive away distractions momentarily, and, of course, it serves as a call to worship. Some say it symbolizes the Pranava Om, the eternal and original sound, the primordial sound of cosmic creation that can be heard internally by the meditating yogi.

Jai to all who made this possible, including God Siva who created the granite mountains of India!

Click below to hear the bell ring.

[audio mp3="https://www.himalayanacademy.com/taka-archive-all-assets/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Stone-Bell-6-Rings.mp3"][/audio]

Here we see the completed bell tower near the Silpi Pavilion.

Close up of the finished work.

Group photo of all present for the event.

Saravanathaswami performs a puja for blessings.

The bell sits nearby on a pallet.

Mayuresh halps Kumarnathaswami guide the bell into position with the skidsteer.

Showing the proxmity to Iraivan Temple in the background.

It took months to design this special chain and support and have it crafted in Loveland, Colorado. The horizontal bolt goes through a hole in the sop of the bell and the two pieces are threaded together for firm structural support.

Mayuresh eases the bolts into position.

They are locked in place and we are ready to remove the skidsteer.

In place at last (we estimate the bell was carved in the late 90s) and has been here for decades waiting for this moment.

Showing a detail on the four structural posts.

Good job, everyone!

Thank you, Gurudeva, for the idea, now made manifest with your blessings.

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