Ratna Bhandar, the secret treasury of the 12th-century Lord Jagannath temple in Puri, Orissa, was reopened on Sunday after 46 years, coinciding with the ongoing Rath Yatra festival that began on July 7.
The decision to reopen the vault was taken after we sought blessings from the deities of Goddess Bimala, Goddess Laxmi and Lord Lokanath, who are considered to be the owners and custodians of the vault, according to committee chairman Justice Biswanath Rath.
An 11-member government team was allowed access to the temple treasury, although no immediate inventory of the valuables was taken.
The security of the Ratna Bhandar is overseen by the temple’s management committee, headed by the titular “King of Puri” Dibyasingha Deb and including members selected by the Odisha government.
The reopening of the Ratna Bhandar has drawn attention to the vast collection of treasures it houses, including precious jewelery made of diamonds, gold and rare gems donated by historical figures such as King Anangabhima Dev. The inner chamber, known as the “Bhitara Bhandar”, is said to contain 180 types of ornaments, including 74 types of solid gold objects and more than 140 pieces of silver jewellery. Its holdings also include gold and diamond plates and ancient coins.
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The last inventory, taken in 1978, revealed extensive stocks of gold and silver ornaments, but the entry to the treasury for gold repairs in 1985 did not update the inventory. The mystery of the vault’s contents, including the speculated snakes, has fascinated and troubled many.
The process of opening a Ratna Bhandar involves choosing an auspicious time and may require breaking the lock if necessary under the supervision of a judge due to previous problems with missing keys. Concerns about snakes led to precautionary measures, including the hiring of an experienced snake charmer and emergency medical teams.
The recent reopening has been noted and will contribute to the digital catalog of the temple’s treasures, which is also one of the BJP’s main election promises before winning the Odisha polls.
