The temple of bells

I first heard about the temple when my father had a massive brain-stroke and went to comma 3 years back. My father’s truly best friend and well wisher Sharma uncle with aunty went to the temple to pray for dad and to tie a tilinga or bell there. Yes, the temple is known as ” Tilinga mandir” or temple of bells. Tilinga means a bell in Assamese.

Situated about 25 km from Tinsukia town in Upper Assam, this temple of bells is dedicated to Lord Shiva. People say that a Shiva Linga had appeared by itself under the peepul tree. Devotees from farflung places come to tie a tilinga or bell and make a wish in the temple. Oil India Litd , Duliajan which is hardly 30 km away from the temple had provided some tall iron rods to support the branches of the tree which have now bowed down with the burden of the bells.

This ritual or belief of tying a bell with a wish is very common in India. I have been to another such temple full of bells near Nainital as well. What moves me in such temples is the unshakable faith that the one who is tying the bell or a red thead has on the Almighty. His/her wish may or may not come true. But it’s the faith which is really moving.

This year in May I had been to Upper Assam on an official trip. There I could go to the Tilinga Mandir on the way to Duliajan from Tinsukia. I wanted to be there. Not am not much a devotee, but I do believe in the presence of a super strenght up there somewhere from where I can also take some if the need arise. I was awestruck by the no. of bells. Large, small, midium every size of bells where there and those were not just bells, they were somebosy’s wishes , somebody’s believe. Among all those bells, there was a bell tied for my dad also !

My dad didnt come back from his comma. But it’s the kind gesture of Sharma uncle and aunt which will be with us forever.