Inside Lord Jagannath Temple's Secret Chamber: Ratna Bhandar Opened After 46 Years

After 46 years of anticipation, the secret vault of the 12th Century Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, known as the Ratna Bhandar, was finally opened on Sunday. This momentous event coincided with the ongoing Rath Yatra festival, adding to the spiritual significance of the occasion.

Committee chairman Justice Biswanath Rath emphasised the spiritual importance of the opening, stating, "Before reopening the treasury, we will seek the approval of Goddess Bimala, Goddess Laxmi, who is the owner of the treasury, and lastly Lord Lokanath, who is its caretaker." A team of 11 state government officials entered the treasury, though an immediate inventory was not conducted.

The Odisha Chief Minister's Office highlighted the cultural significance of this event on social media, connecting it to the broader identity of the Odia community.

ଜୟ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ

ଦୀର୍ଘ ୪୬ ବର୍ଷ ପରେ ଆଜି ମହାପ୍ରଭୁ ଶ୍ରୀଜଗନ୍ନାଥଙ୍କର ରତ୍ନ ଭଣ୍ଡାର ଖୋଲାଯାଇଛି। ମହାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କ ରତ୍ନ ଭଣ୍ଡାରର ସୁରକ୍ଷା ଓ ବହୁମୂଲ୍ୟ ରତ୍ନ ଅଳଙ୍କାରର ସୁରକ୍ଷା ପ୍ରସଙ୍ଗରେ ଓଡିଶାର ଲୋକେ ଅନେକ ବର୍ଷ ହେଲାଣି ଏନେଇ ଚାହିଁ ରହିଥିଲେ। ଆଜି ଏନେଇ ପ୍ରଥମ ସୋପାନର କାମ ମହାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କ ଆର୍ଶୀବାଦରେ ସୁରୁଖୁରୁରେ ସମ୍ପର୍ଣ୍ଣ…

— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) July 14, 2024

Inside Lord Jagannath Temple's Secret Chamber

The inner chamber of the Ratna Bhandar is said to house an astounding collection of rare jewels and precious metals. According to Odisha Magazine, King Anangabhima Dev once donated 2.5 lakh madhas of gold for creating divine ornaments. The Odisha Review magazine reported in 2022 that the 'Bhitara Bhandar' contains 180 types of ornaments, including 74 varieties of pure gold pieces, some weighing over 1.2 kg.

Historical records provide fascinating insights into the vault's contents. In 1805, Puri Collector Charles Grome catalogued 1,333 items in the inner chamber. Rumours suggest the presence of various ancient coins, including 128 gold, 1,297 silver, and 106 copper pieces.

The last official inventory in 1978 revealed 454 types of gold ornaments weighing 12,883 'bhari' and 293 types of silver ornaments weighing 22,153 'bhari'. Former temple administrator Rabindra Narayan Mishra recounted seeing at least 15 wooden chests filled with precious gems during a 1985 visit for gold repair work.

The process of opening the Ratna Bhandar was not without its challenges. Previous attempts since the 1980s had failed, including a 2018 effort where keys to the inner treasury couldn't be located. This time, the entire process was videographed to create a digital catalogue for future reference.

Interestingly, The Times of India reported that the temple committee sought a skilled snake charmer due to concerns about potential reptile threats. A medical team was also on standby as a precautionary measure.

Justice Biswanath Rath, who personally inspected the inner chamber, dispelled rumours of abnormalities or the presence of serpents inside.

The opening of the Ratna Bhandar has not been without political controversy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have previously criticised the BJD-led state government over the "missing" keys incident and the handling of the temple's treasures.

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Lord Jagannath Temple Cultural Significance

The Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri holds immense cultural and spiritual significance for millions of devotees. The annual Ratha Yatra, featuring the deities being pulled in ornate chariots, draws massive crowds from around the world.

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