Puri: The Ratna Bhandar, the revered treasury of the 12th-century Jagannath temple, in Puri, reopened today (July 14) after 46 years for an inventory of the ornaments and other valuables stored there following the Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) issued by the Odisha government officials said. The Ratna Bhandar of the revered treasury of the 12th-century Jagannath temple in Puri was last opened in 1978.
The members of a committee set up by the state government for the purpose entered the temple around 12 pm, and after performing rituals, the treasury was reopened, they said. "On the wish of Lord Jagannath, the Odia community, with the identity of 'Odia Asmita', has started making efforts to move forward," the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said in a post on X.
"On your wish, the four gates of the Jagannath temples were earlier opened. Today, on your wish, the Ratna Bhandar was opened after 46 years for a greater purpose," it said in the post, which was shared at 1.28 pm, the auspicious moment decided to reopen the treasury.
Among the 11 individuals present during the treasury's reopening were former Orissa HC judge Biswanath Rath, Arabinda Padhee, the chief administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), ASI Superintendent DB Gadanayak, and a representative of Puri's titular king 'Gajapati Maharaja', according to officials.
Additionally, four servitors named Patjoshi Mohapatra, Bhandar Mekap, Chadhaukarana, and Deulikaran were also present to oversee the rituals, they added. Despite the reopening of the treasury, officials stated that the inventory of valuables would not be conducted immediately.
Puri Jagannath Temple in Odisha is known as the land of Lord Jagannath, meaning the Lord of the Universe. Shree Jagannath Temple of Puri is one of the most important temples dedicated to Lord Jagannath, a form of Lord Vishnu, in Puri in the state of Odisha. It is known by many names, viz., the Puri temple, the Srimandira, the Bada Deu1a or simply the Jagannatha temple.
(With agencies input)
