Antique idols found in Ratna Bhandar of Puri Jagannath Temple: Report

Antique idols found in Ratna Bhandar of Puri Jagannath Temple

Several ancient idols made of priceless metals were found in the treasury's inner chamber when government officials and attendants opened the Ratna Bhandar of the Puri Jagannath Temple after 46 years on Sunday.

The five to seven items were not listed in any of the previous inventory lists and had turned black over the years, according to a  report by The Times of India.

Biswanath Rath, chairman of the 11-member committee set up to oversee the inventory of Ratna Bhandar, mentioned that these ancient small idols had turned almost black over the past four decades.

The committee members immediately lit a diya and worshipped the idols, Rath told TOI.

These idols are scheduled to be moved on July 18 to a makeshift strongroom and details regarding their weight and make will be determined only after a thorough inventory.

The servitors think that these statues were previously revered by the Bhandar mekaps, who looked after the money, a very long time ago. The team members admitted that they had no idea what kinds of items were kept in the inner chamber's chests and almirahs.

The inner chamber is thought to hold a variety of valuable objects, including lockets, silver thrones, bracelets, necklaces with diamonds and pearls, gold-studded Mayur Chandrika, gold and tiger claws, golden wreaths, gold wheels, gold flowers, and gold mohar (coins).

Durga Prasad Dasmohapatra, a servitor who was part of the team that entered the Ratna Bhandar reported that they discovered only gold and silver items inside the outer chamber. The room is opened during yearly festivals for the benefit of the deities.