Puri Jagannath Temple's Ratna Bhandar has 1.5 quintals of gold: SJTA to HC
The temple administration has informed the Orissa High Court that the treasury of the 12th century shrine, which was last opened in 1978, is safe, amid growing demand for the reopening of the Ratna Bhandar of Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri.
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Cuttack: The temple administration has informed the Orissa High Court that the treasury of the 12th century shrine, which was last opened in 1978, is safe, amid growing demand for the reopening of the Ratna Bhandar of Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri.
Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) reportedly stated in an affidavit filed before the High Court that the Ratna Bhandar of the shrine was opened and a complete inventory was completed in 1978. It was estimated that the treasury held 1.5 quintals of gold and more than 184 kg of silver.
The affidavit submitted by the SJTA Administrator (Niti) also stated that the Ratna Bhandar has three chambers. The inner chamber ornaments are never used.
Similarly, those from the outer chamber are used for festivals. The ornaments kept in the current chamber are used for the sibling deities' daily rituals.
The Ratna Bhandar's inner chamber contains 50 kg 600 grams of gold ornaments and 134 kg 50 grams of silver ornaments.
Similarly, the outer chamber contains 95 kg of gold ornaments and 320 grams of silver ornaments. During various festivals, ornaments stored in the outer chamber are used for the sibling deities. While performing various deity rituals, approximately 3 kg of gold and 30 kg of silver ornaments are used.
The administration reportedly stated in its affidavit that the Ratna Bhandar is safe. Furthermore, repairs to some structures, including the Nata Mandap, are currently underway.
The case is scheduled to be heard on August 14.
It should be noted that various political parties and socio-cultural organizations have been calling for immediate action to reopen the Ratna Bhandar and conduct a fresh inventory, as well as an examination of the treasury's internal structure. Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb and Lord Jagannath's chief badagrahi Jagannath Swain Mohapatra have both asked for the Ratna Bhandar to be reopened. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has also requested that the Ratna Bhandar be opened so that it can be examined and repaired.
Separate petitions have been filed in the HC, including one by senior BJP leader Samir Mohanty, seeking a direction for an inventory of all the valuables inside Srimandir's Ratna Bhandar and necessary repairs.
While Ratna Bhandar's inventory was completed in 1978, the treasury was reopened in April 2018. A 16-person team, including ASI experts, had entered the outer chamber but were unable to enter the inner chamber because the key was missing. They inspected the structure from a distance and reported that it was in poor condition.
