A bell from Russia that tolls for peace
The 82-kg Peace Bell is housed at the
International Zone of Auroville
With an aluminium plate bell weighing 82
kilograms, and supported by an elegant wooden frame, the Peace Bell has a
commanding presence. It is made more special because of its unique deep,
resonating tone. Designed exclusively for Auroville by Russian bell-master Alexander
Zhikharev, it was welcomed on September 4 in a special ceremony at the Pavilion
for Tibetan Culture in the International Zone of Auroville, where it is now
housed.
The Peace Bell was brought from Moscow to
Auroville on August 15, and was part of the bonfire ceremony commemorating the
birth anniversary of Sri Aurobindo held near the Matrimandir. The wooden frame
was designed by Sergey Kornienko from Russia and made by Ricardo and team of
New Dawn carpentry at Auroville. Contributions towards getting the bell came
from across the world.
Incidentally, Mr. Zhikharev is the inventor
of the Russian singing Bells (a set of flat bells) which is installed in
Auroville. The Peace Bell is a symbolical contribution from Russia to the
International Zone.
Mother’s
wish
“The International Zone links Auroville to
the international community. Its purpose, as per the Mother’s wish, is to
reveal the soul of nations,” says Vera Lipen of the Peace Bell Project team. In
the same way that an individual finds the purpose of life, nations have to find
their purpose of oneness and peace, and having the Peace Bell with its deep and
long resonating tone will help focus energies on the work, feels Ms. Lipen.
“This is a call to nations to be awakened to fulfilling the Mother’s wish for
the International Zone,” she says.
A Korean visitor who had experienced
listening to the Peace Bell said it reminded her of childhood, with images of
butterflies and a carefree life floating in her thoughts. It helped her
recollect memories and taught her how to cherish her life, said Kelsang of the
Pavilion for Tibetan Culture. Playing bells allows the expression of inner
feeling and is an instrument of collective play, says Ms. Lipen, who conducts
workshops with bells at Auroville.
Towards
human unity and peace
“The sound of the bell has always been
considered sacred. It has been used to connect with the cosmic spirit,” says
Ms. Lipen. The sound of the bell helps the individual to connect with the
silent space within, she says. It is only when there is silence, one can
receive the consciousness of peace. The bell will aid Auroville’s work towards
human unity and peace, she adds.
The Peace Bell will also add to the places
of concentration within Auroville, which include the Matrimandir and the Peace
Table for Asia at the Unity Pavilion.
“The
bell will aid Auroville’s work towards human unity and peace”
(Article
written by Annie Philip and sourced from The Hindu. A short video of the
peace bells can be watched at - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4axi7dIqfU)
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