Bhitar Ratna Bhandar of Sri Jagannath Temple opens after 46 years

Puri: After a gap of 46 years, the Bhitar Ratna Bhandar of the 12th-century Sri Jagannath temple was opened on Sunday following the SOP finalized by the Odisha government.

An eleven-member committee entered the Sri Jagannath temple to open the Bhitar Ratna Bhandar (inner compartment of the temple treasury). The ornaments and jewelry stored in the Bahar Ratna Bhandar were shifted to a nearby temporary strong room known as Changada Ghar, the storeroom of the deities for keeping clothes.

The team had to cut the three locks of the Bhitar Ratna Bhandar in the presence of the magistrate to enter. They saw almirahs and treasure chests in the Bhandar but returned as there was little time left to shift the huge chests.

Committee convenor, Aravind Kumar Padhi, also the Chief Administrator of Sri Jagannath Temple Administration, told the media that the Bahar Ratna Bhandar was opened with available keys, the ornaments were shifted to the temporary strong room, and its doors were sealed.

After that, Padhi said, following the Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) set by the government, all three locks of the Bhitar Ratna Bhandar were cut as they could not be opened with the keys provided by the administration. The SJTA Chief Administrator said the team entered the Bhitar Ratna Bhandar, saw almirahs and huge wooden chests, but returned as there was no time to shift the wealth to a temporary strong room.

He said, "Our prime importance is to ensure the structural stability of the temple and its Ratna Bhandar. Though the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) superintendent was with our team, the ASI team will begin work after we shift all the wealth from the Bhitar Ratna Bhandar."

Padhi said the ASI will examine and conduct repairs on the Bhitar Ratna Bhandar for its conservation after all the valuables and jewelry are shifted from the Bhitar Ratna Bhandar. He said that soon after the completion of repairs, the valuables and jewelry will be kept inside the Bhitar Ratna Bhandar in their original place.

Padhi further stated that a fresh inventory and tallying with the 1978 inventory will be made at a suitable date to be fixed by the government. He mentioned that the administration has a tight schedule since Monday is Bahuda Yatra (return car festival), followed by Suna Vesh of the deities on July 17, and the Niladri Bije of the deities on July 19.

On Sunday, before entering the Sri Jagannath temple, the team visited Gundicha temple and offered prayers to the presiding deities. They had a meeting at the Temple office conference hall and discussed the SOP. Later, Ajnamallya (permission of the deity) of Lord Jagannath came from the Gundicha temple and Sri Lokanath. As per the temple manual, Sri Lokanath is the custodian of the temple treasury. Chandi Patha (recitation of holy hymns of Devi Chandi) in Vimala temple was performed by Pundits to invoke the blessings of the goddess.

The team, led by Chief Administrator Arabind Padhi, Justice Biswanath Rath, the Chairman of the Ratna Bhandar committee, Dr. C B K Mohanty, and other members, offered prayers to Goddesses Vimala and Mahalaxmi seeking blessings for the success of the mission. The team then moved to the Ratna Bhandar site, and at 1:28 PM, the auspicious time was chosen for the opening of Ratna Bhandar.

The Temple administration has brought six huge traditional wooden chests for storing the wealth, with nine more to follow, temple sources said. Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Hrichandan arrived at the Sri Jagannath temple at about 2:30 PM and, after offering prayers to Devi Vimala and Mahalaxmi, told the media that everything would go well as per the wish of Lord Jagannath.

Justice Rath stated that the temple and district administration are in a tight position because of the Rath Yatra schedule. After consultation with concerned people and the government, a date will be fixed for shifting the treasure from the Bhitar Ratna Bhandar to Changada Ghar, the temporary strong room.

After shifting wealth from Bahar Ratna Bhandar to the temporary strong room, the Bhitar Ratna Bhandar was locked and sealed in the presence of a magistrate, and the keys were deposited with the district treasury, he added. The eleven-member team was accompanied by a unit of ODRAF personnel equipped with flashlights, cutting tools, and other gadgets. Three snake helpline members and other support staff also joined the team.

A four-layer security cordon was made in and around the temple, and devotees were prohibited from entering the temple. Only the main gate of the temple was opened while the other three gates were closed. The servitors engaged in other temples located in the Sri Jagannath temple premises were allowed to perform rituals of deities.

Expressing happiness over the development, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in his X handle said, “Jai Jagannath! With Your blessings, the Ratna Bhandar was opened after 46 years for a noble cause; I strongly believe that the endeavour will be a success.”