Ratna Bhandar of Lord Jagannath temple reopens after 46 years | Fusion - WeRIndia

The Ratna Bhandar, the revered treasury of Lord Jagannath temple in Puri, Odisha, was reopened on Sunday after being sealed for 46 years.

The state government formed an 11-member team to enter the treasury. These include Orissa High Court judge, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration chief administrator, ASI Superintendent, and a representative of Puri’s titular king.

According to an official statement, the team will not immediately conduct an inventory of the valuables.

The Chief Minister’s Office marked the occasion with a statement on X (formerly Twitter). It emphasised the significance of the event for the Odia community.

The statement highlighted the community’s efforts to move forward under the blessings of Lord Jagannath and the symbolic reopening of the Ratna Bhandar.

The Ratna Bhandar is known to house an impressive collection of precious gold and diamond jewellery offered to Lord Jagannath.

As reported by Odisha Magazine, King Anangabhima Dev of Odisha donated 2.5 lakh madhas of gold to create jewellery for the deity.

The treasury consists of two chambers: Bhitar Bhandar (Inner Treasury) and Bahar Bhandar (Outer Treasury).

The outer treasury contains valuable items such as the Suna Mukuta of Lord Jagannath and three gold necklaces (Haridakanthi Mali) weighing 120 tolas each. It also holds the Suna Sribhuja and Sri Payar of Lord Jagannath and Balabhadra.

The inner treasury is even more richly endowed, with close to 74 gold ornaments, each weighing over 100 tolas.

Additionally, the treasury includes plates made of gold, diamonds, corals, and pearls, along with over 140 pieces of silver jewellery.

The reopening of the Ratna Bhandar is a momentous event, resonating deeply with the devotees and the larger Odia community.

This occasion not only highlights the temple’s rich history and cultural significance but also underscores the continued devotion and reverence for Lord Jagannath.

The detailed inventory and assessment of the valuables inside the Ratna Bhandar will be crucial for preserving and understanding the temple’s vast treasures.

Image Credit: Caadityagoyal, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jagannath_Temple,_Puri_-_PXL_20210910_112908704.jpg