Puri Jagannath Temple: ASI to examine hidden chambers if any inside Ratna Bhandar: Justice Rath

Puri (Odisha): The interior of Bhitar Ratna Bhandar of Sri Jagannath Temple will be examined by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) using state-of-the-art electronic gadgets to find out if there are any hidden chambers inside the Ratna Bhandar.

Justice Biswanath Rath, Chairman of the eleven-member Ratna Bhandar committee, told newsmen here on Monday that the interior of the Bhitar Ratna Bhandar will be examined to find out if there are any hidden or concealed compartments containing valuables of the lords.

Justice Rath said our priority is to conserve this 12th-century temple, including its Ratna Bhandar. Several scholars and ancient scriptures opine, and popular belief goes, that a huge amount of the deities' treasure has been stored in hidden rooms.

He said the committee unanimously resolved to give this belief a conclusion by conducting a thorough examination of the Ratna Bhandar, its adjoining walls, and the floor. Justice Rath said if nothing is found, the Bhitar Ratna Bhandar will be handed over to the ASI for repairs and conservation work.

The ASI superintendent, who is one of the committee members, is qualified to make decisions to use modern, effective, non-invasive, and non-detrimental electronic gadgets to examine the Ratna Bhandar, Justice Rath said.

He urged the media to be patient and not to spread news items that will create doubts in the public's minds about the findings in Ratna Bhandar.

"Everybody will come to know the facts within a short time," he said.

A report is being prepared to be submitted to the temple Managing Committee, Justice Rath said, adding, “We have not counted the ornaments while shifting them to the temporary strong room.”

He said after the ASI completes the repair and conservation work, the treasure will again be brought to the Bhitar Ratna Bhandar, where a fresh inventory of the treasure will be made to tally with the old inventory.

Justice Rath further said it is necessary to remove all empty almirahs and treasure chests from the Bhitar Ratna Bhandar to facilitate repair work.

All these items, after minor repairs, will be stored in an appropriate place in the temple, which will be decided by the temple Managing Committee, Justice Rath said. There will be no standard operating procedure (SOP) for the shifting of empty almirahs and the examination of the interior of the Ratna Bhandar.

The committee, he said, has presented these two proposals to the temple Managing Committee (MC) to pass and send to the state government.

The Committee Chairman said, “We would approach the government to approve the proposal as soon as possible and issue an SOP in this regard.”

Repairs and conservation work are time-consuming affairs, and it is not possible to fix a time for their completion, Justice Rath said.

Similarly, making an inventory of the wealth and tallying it with the old inventory is also time-consuming, he said, adding that we have to ensure that the daily rituals of the deities proceed unhindered and that devotees get enough time for darshan.

The Sri Jagannath Temple administration, after consulting with the Chhatisha Nijog, the apex body of the temple servitors, will decide the specific time every day for repair and conservation works, Justice Rath said.