Maha-ghanta (The Great Bell). Ritual temple equipment, Tranquebar c. 850-1270
As part of the Tranquebar Initiative (2004-2016) of the National Museum of Denmark, Dr Ramachandran Nagaswamy, former Commissioner of Archaeology in Tamil Nadu, worked in 2006 at the National Museum to describe and analyse this and other bonze items from the Peter Anker collection from Tranquebar. Nagaswamy noted on this item (museum no. Da-173): "A Bunch of bells (Maha ghanta, also some times called Kottu mani) of five bells with four elephant trunks. Are commonly seen in temples particularly from the Chola age. Such a Great bell found in this find is interesting. There are four elephant faces with stretched trunks from the handle in four directions at the end of which are fastened four bells and the fifth is hung in the middle of them making it a bunch of five. The bells are rivetted to the trunks and are provided with tongs that are made of bronze but hung by rings. Above the bells is a handle with the same small kalasa design found in the ornate vessel. Above them is a square plate topped by a trident trisula that indicates the bell belongs to a Saiva temple. The plate supporting the Trident has four Nandis bulls at the four corners. The top trident shows that the bell was to be sounded with hand during the main ritual."
