The Alarming Bells Of Bhimeshwar

In the month of Falgun 2076 BS, while I was staying in my house in Dolakha town, one day, I heard a bell ringing continuously at Bhimeshwar temple. Initially, I ignored it, but soon, I saw people running toward the temple. Curious, I asked a lady about the reason, and she explained that there is a tradition of ringing bells in unison in the Bhimeshwar temple whenever the image of the god sweats. This is done to alert all the residents of Dolakha town.


Since the Bhimeshwar temple is located in a high part of the city, the sound of the bell can be heard clearly throughout Dolakha. In the past, it was widely believed that no houses should be built above the Bhimeshwar temple, which led to the settlement being below the temple. 

The sound of the Bhimeshwar bell had multiple purposes. Some elderly people would visit Bhimeshwar early in the morning, ringing the large bell to produce a “Dwang” sound, which served as a bell tower. This signal let the residents of Dolakha know that it was time to wake up.
In the afternoon, there is a custom of ringing the large bell and the Nagara (drum) for a while. 

The sound of these bells would notify the people that worship was taking place and that the day had passed, especially during the time when most people did not have watches. When the god’s image at Bhimeshwar sweats, the bells are rung continuously in unison, signalling that something significant is happening. 

In the past, some unpleasant incidents were believed to occur after this event, so when the bell rings, the people of Dolakha often feel a sense of unease, wondering what might happen next. Just as a death bell signals impending death, the Bhimeshwar bell is seen as a danger bell, or a sign of potential peril.


History of bells


The practice of ringing bells dates back to ancient times. According to historians, it began during the Kashya era. The tradition of ringing bells spread to Europe after the time of Christ, where they were used for religious purposes, including announcing important meetings, calling for prayers, and giving advice. 

It is said that bells were also placed on the funeral chariot of Alexander the Great (356-326 B.C.). Although the practice has ancient roots, the Roman Emperor Augustus (36 B.C. - 14 A.D.) is credited with hanging bells in front of the temple of Jupiter. In ancient Athens and Rome, priests used hand bells for worship, a practice still followed by modern priests and the general public worldwide.

In Nepal, large bells are found in historic palaces in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur. The first bell in the Kathmandu Valley was installed by King Mahendra Malla (1617–1631 B.S.). He established a rule that the bell would ring at the mealtimes of his pupils in the morning and evening. Historians note that the king ate only after his pupils. 

In 1854 B.S., King Rana Bahadur Shah of Kathmandu installed a large bell weighing about five hundred dharni in the palace area.
King Ranjit Malla of Bhaktapur installed a bell in Bhaktapur Durbar Square in 1794 B.S. Similarly, King Bishnu Malla of Lalitpur and his queen, Chandralakshmi Devi, installed a large bell in the courtyard of the palace in 1798 B.S. It is said that King Bishnu Malla installed this bell in front of Mul Chowk to intimidate enemies.


Purpose 

Bells in temples serve multiple purposes. Devotees offer bells and ring them during puja (worship) to please the deity and receive blessings. Due to the religious significance of bells, they are commonly seen in temples. Whether during daily worship or when lighting the lamp in the evening, it is customary to ring a small bell. 

The sound of the bell is believed to carry the prayers and worship of devotees to the gods. Moreover, it is thought that the bell’s sound waves help with concentration, activate the body’s chakras, and dispel negativity, bringing a sense of peace and reducing anxiety.



At Bhimeshwar Temple in Dolakha, small bells offered by devotees hang on three sides of the stone idol of Bhimeshwar. Before bowing to the idol, most people ring the bell on the left. There are also many other small and medium-sized bells in the temple premises. The tradition of installing bells at Bhimeshwar Temple began after 1800 B.S., with larger bells being added after 1900 B.S.


According to an inscription on a bell to the south of the Bhimeshwar temple, this bell was offered in 1808 B.S. by Shri Shri Jayaranjit Malladeb Maharajdhiraj, his wife Jayalakshmi Devi, and son Ajit Singh Bhaju to please Shri 3 Bhimeshwar. 

This bell was offered when Ajit Singh Bhaju was granted the entire area of Dolakha after conquering the kingdom from West Naldum to East Dudh Koshi. It is said that those who offer this bell earn the benefits of crores of Ashwamedh Yagya, hundreds of Rajasuya Yagyas, and thousands of Kanyadan.


An inscription on a bell to the north of the temple states that the bell was originally offered by Gaurishankar Sharma in 1851 B.S. but was broken and later repaired and re-offered in 1865 B.S. Another bell, also located to the north, was offered by Shri Kaji Ranjang Pandey in Sambat 1897. A Newari inscription on a bell to the west of the temple states that three individuals from Bhaktapur Chapatol together offered a piece of Chaduwa in 1887 B.S. to please Shri 3 Bhimeshwar.


Three large bells hang in a row at the front of the main entrance on the west side of the temple. These three main bells were installed after 1900 B.S. One bell was offered by Colonel Faud Singh Khatri Chhetri, his wife, and son on Kartik 1943 B.S.; another two by Chandrabir Basnyat Kshatri in Magh 1965 B.S. and in Jestha 1968 B.S. Some of these large bells were replaced by descendants due to wear and tear.


As is common with other temples, inscriptions on the bells at Bhimeshwar temple emphasise the devotion and faith of the devotees who offer the bells, seeking blessings for happiness, peace, and prosperity for themselves and their families.

(Dr. Joshi, a Professor of Business Economics, writes on economic and cultural topics.)