Puri: Odisha’s Puri Jagannath Temple’s gem depository opens after 46 years. The treasure house, which is believed to have been built in the 12th century, tried to open it in 2018 as per the instructions of the High Court but could not as the key was lost. It became a big political controversy in the state. The BJP had promised to open the treasury if it won the assembly elections in May.
A 12-member committee formed by the Odisha government opened the treasury at around 1:30 pm on Sunday. It is estimated that there are 454 gold items (128.38 kg) and 293 silver items (221.53 kg) in the treasury. These were examined and accounted for each.
Members of the committee told reporters that the jewels and valuables kept in the treasury were shifted to the temporary strong room of the temple and sealed. A lock could not be opened with the key in possession of the district administration. It had to be broken. Archaeological Survey of India officials captured the footage of the inspection on video.
According to the rules of the Puri Jagannath Temple, the treasury should be opened and inspected once in three years. The fund was a controversial issue in Odisha during the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. The BJP promised to open the treasury and hold an accounting if it comes to power. According to the records, there are a total of 454 gold items (128.38 kg) and 293 silver items (221.53 kg) in the treasure trove.
Apart from the immeasurable treasure in the Ratna Bhandaram, the Jagannath temple has an estimated Rs 600 crore deposit in the bank as of 2023. The gold donated by the devotees to the temple is in a nationalized bank. This will be three kilos. Odisha has 60,426 acres of land in the name of Lord Jagannath.
Thorth Mund is the only clothing allowed when entering the Ratna Bhandaram, which contains rare gems and diamonds. A torch can also be used to overcome the darkness. Oxygen facility will also be ensured. The help of snake charmers was also secured as snakes were believed to guard the treasure. Just check the security of the gem. They are not allowed to touch the caskets where the gem collection is kept.
It was alleged that many valuable ornaments were lost from this. The high-level committee formed by the state government under the chairmanship of Justice Bishwanath Rath decided to open both the chambers of the vault.
Non-Hindus are not allowed to enter the temple. Non-admission visitors can view the temple and its surroundings from the roof of the nearby Raghunandan Library and pay their respects to the image of Jagannath at the temple’s main entrance. Some of the unanswered mysteries related to the Puri temple are surprising. The temple tower is about the height of a forty-five storey building. The giant Sudarshana Chakra placed on top of the tower is odd. It is visible from any direction of the city. Another amazing thing is that the tower has no shadow. The shadow of the temple tower does not fall on the ground at any time from sunrise to sunset.
The flag on top of the tower will always change. The custom of the priest climbing the gopurams and changing them every day is thousands of years old. The amazing thing is that this flag always flies against the wind.
The most important of the four doors of the temple, located on the sea shore, is known as Simhadwaram. The sound of the roaring sea cannot be heard after entering the temple through the lion’s den, but can be heard again when passing outside the temple. Even if we believe that the prowess and craftsmanship of Indian architecture is behind it, some other things remain unanswered. The temple tower is located in a no-fly zone, but planes do not fly over the temple. Not only that, the birds also do not fly over the temple.
Mahaprasad at Puri temple is another wonder. Prepare food for prasadamoot in the same quantity every day. But no matter how busy or busy, everyone will get exactly what is made, and there will never be any leftovers. There are about six hundred cooks to prepare prasad every day. Puri Rathotsavam is famous. Rathotsavam takes place in the month of Ashadha (June and July). The temple idols are taken in huge chariots to a place called ‘Gundicha Bari’ which is about two hundred miles away from the temple. After a week the idols are brought back to the temple.
This Ratha Yatra celebration is a ceremony commemorating Krishna’s journey from Gokulam to Mathura. The idol of Krishna is carried on a giant chariot which is about 50 feet high. Each wheel of the 16-wheeled chariot has a diameter of 7 feet. Thousands of people push these chariots and compete to pull the ropes attached to them. A journey of two miles takes up to two days. The chariot sank in the sand during the rain
Going will make the journey more difficult. But today very wide streets have been prepared for Rathotsavam. When there is no chariot festival, both sides of the streets are filled with hawkers. Although it is a local festival, lakhs of people come here from all over the world to participate in Rathotsavam. One of the four Maths established by Adi Shankara is in Puri. Other Maths are Sringeri, Dwarka and Jyotirmath. Puri is a city with a population of around one and a half lakh people. There are no industries to speak of in this city. People depend on pilgrimage for their livelihood. The Golden Beach of Puri is also very famous where thousands of tourists come every day.
