Bhubaneswar, July 15: Amidst the ongoing Rath Yatra festival that began on July 7, the Ratna Bhandar (the secret vault) of the 12th Century Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri in Odisha has opened after 46 years on Sunday. It consists of two chambers: the Bhitar (inner) and Bahar (outer) Bhandars ( treasury).
\Now, the inquisitiveness among the devotees and general public has aroused as to what exactly inside the Ratna Bhandar of Shree Jagannath Temple? It is believed that the Inner Treasury (Bhitara Bhandar) of Ratna Bhandar at the 12th Century temple in Puri has a collection of the rarest jewellery, including diamonds, gold and precious gems.
According to the Odisha Magazine, King Anangabhima Dev donated 2.5 lakh madhas of gold to prepare jewellery for the Almighty.
According to the Odisha Review , the ‘Bhitara Bhandar’ contains 180 types of ornaments, including 74 varieties of pure gold ornaments, some weighing more than 1.2 kg. This repository safeguards valuables not regularly used for the deities, reflecting centuries of devotion and cultural heritage. There are plates made of gold, diamond, corals and pearls, the report said. Apart from this, more than 140 silver jewellery are also kept in the treasury.
Additionally, historical records suggest that the Ratna Bhandar holds 128 gold coins, 1,297 silver coins, 106 copper coins, and 24 ancient gold coins.
The reopening of the treasury was a significant event and followed the government’s decision to reopen all four gates of the Jagannath Temple
