Jagannath Puri mandir

$160 billion in Bharatiya Temple

• [!] The World Gold Council estimates that India’s Hindu temples’ wealth is a staggering $160 billion.

Ratna Bhandar

Established by King Angabhima Dev

• The ratna bhandaar was established 900 years ago by King Angabhima Dev, who is believed to have donated 2,50,000 ‘madhas’ (1 madha =5.8319 grams) of gold to prepare ornaments for the deities.

Donations by different Kings

• The Gajapati kings who ruled over Odisha in the 15th century also donated various gold ornaments and items.
• In 1466, Kapilendra Dev, who had captured Southern states, brought back gold on 16 elephants.

Plundered 18 times

• The Jagannath Puri temple has been plundered 18 times, according to various research papers, including one by the Odisha government.

British take over in 1803

• The report was prepared two years after the British took over Orissa in 1803.
• Charles Gromes, the collector of Cuttack in 1805, prepared a detailed report on the revenue and expenditure of the Jagannath Puri temple.

2 sections

• The Jagannath Puri treasury is divided into two sections: the bahar bhandar and bhitar bhandar (outer and inner vaults). While jewels from the outer vault are used regularly in rituals and during festivals, the inner treasury remains untouched.

Puri Sri Jagannath Temple (Administration) Act, 1952

• Puri Sri Jagannath Temple (Administration) Act 1952, prepared the Record of Rights, which lists the temples’ valuable jewels and gold ornament.

Not opened since 1978

• The Ratna Bhandar of the Jagannath Puri temple, last opened in 1985, has not been inventoried since 1978.

Keys went missing

• The keys to the bhandar, were reported missing. In 2018, the keys were rediscovered in the collector's office.

Justice Raghubir Das Commission

• In June that year, the Pattnaik government ordered a judicial probe into the placement of the keys. The committee led by retired high court judge, Justice Raghubir Das, submitted a 324-page report but the contents of it were never made public.
• Pandit Singhari needs divine permission from Hindu deities Loknath, Lakshmi, and Kuber before he can enter the Ratna Bhandar or the treasury of Shri Jagannath Temple in Puri.

Justice Biswanath Rath Committee

• Now it is set to be reopened for itemisation of valuables and repair works following recommendations from a state-appointed committee chaired by retired Justice Biswanath Rath of the Orissa High Court. Print