What Secrets did the Jagannath Temple's Ratna Bhandar hold for 46 years?

The Ratna Bhandar (treasure trove) of the Jagannath Temple in Puri has always been in talks due to various reasons. At times even due to a myth that it is guarded by snakes and sometimes because it is believed that water drips through the walls, as claimed by Puri king Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb. In 2018, the former BJD government tried to open the treasure but efforts were unsuccessful as the keys to the locks were not found.

The recent committee had once again put in the request to open the inner treasure and the Odisha government had permitted the same. This comes at a time when the annual ‘Rath Yatra’ of the temple’s three sibling deities - Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra is underway. The precious ornaments of these deities, donated by devotees and erstwhile kings over centuries, are stored in this 12th-century shrine. This treasure is located within the temple and has two chambers; Bhitar Bhandar (inner chamber) and Bahara Bhandar (outer chamber).

Previously under the guarding of the Gajapati of Puri, the Ratna Bhandar was first opened in 1905 by the British administration for inspection and inventoried in 1926. Since then it was regularly opened to check on the inventory. Until 1978, when it was last opened under the supervision of a committee led by the then Odisha Governor Bhagabat Dayal Sharma this treasure has remained shut for almost 46 years. 

After many years, the treasury of the Jagannath temple in Puri, Odisha was opened on Sunday (14 July). During this time, 11 people including government representatives, ASI officials, representatives of Shri Gajapati Maharaj and 4 sevadars were present in the storehouse. Upon opening, valuables as many as 6 wooden boxes were found. These valuables have been packed and sealed in wooden boxes but the shifting and revealing of the items found will be done after Bahuda Yatra and Suna Vesha due to the ongoing Yatra.

The failed attempt in 2018

The keys to the boxes were yet not found and the locks had to be broken. In a similar attempt in 2018 to open Ratna Bhandar on the instructions of the High Court, the previous BJD government had tried opening the treasure trunks but the original keys could not be found. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had also put this issue in its 2024 election manifesto, which it fulfilled as soon as the government was formed.

What’s inside the Ratna Bhandar?

The Treasury possesses a vast collection of 454 varieties of gold ornaments weighing 12,883 'bhari' (one bhari of gold is equivalent to 11.664 grams) and 293 types of silver ornaments weighing 22,153 bhari, according to the results of the previous inventory, which was carried out in 1978. An article in Odisha Magazine said that King Anangabhima Dev had donated 2.5 lakh madhas (1 madha is equal to 1/2 Tola i.e. 5.8319 grams) of gold to prepare jewellery for the Almighty.

The Bhitara Bhandar is said to contain 180 different kinds of jewellery, including 74 different kinds of pure gold ornaments, some of which weigh more than 1.2 kg, according to an article published in the Odisha Review magazine in 2022. In addition, the report stated that it contains plates composed of gold, diamond, coral, and pearls. More than 140 pieces of silver jewellery are included. A catalogue of the ornaments kept in the inner room, compiled in 1805 by Puri Collector Charles Grome, had 1,333 objects. The bhandar was said to have chambers containing 128 gold coins, 1,297 silver coins, 106 copper coins, and 24 ancient gold coins, according to unverified rumors. In 1985, the inner chamber was also opened for gold repair work, although at that time, an inventory was not completed.