Source- This Post on ” Treasury of Jagannath temple in Puri opened after 46 years” is based on the article “Treasury of Jagannath temple in Puri opened after 46 years” published in “The Hindu” on “15th July 2024”.
Why in News?
Recently, the treasury of the famous Jagannath Temple located in Puri was opened after 46 years. These 46 years saw legal battles, controversies, and debates, on the Ratna Bhandar, or sacred treasury, of the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri.
About the Jagannath Temple Ratna Bhandar
The Jagannath Puri Temple Ratna Bhandar consists of two chambers- Bahar Bhandar (outer chamber) and Bhitar Bhandar (inner chamber). These chambers contain the jewels of the three sibling deities- Lord Balabhadra, Lord Jagannath, and Devi Subhadra.
Last Inventory Efforts- The inventory list was last prepared in 1978. It recorded a total of 454 gold articles with a net weight of 12,838 Bharis (128.38 kg) and 293 silver articles weighing 22,153 Bharis (221.53 kg).
Need for Opening the Ratna Bhandar- Concerns were raised about the structural stability of the Ratna Bhandar and the safety of ornaments.
High Level Committee- The newly elected Government of Odisha constituted a high-level committee under the chairmanship of former Orissa High Court judge Justice Biswanath Rath (retd.) to supervise the process of cataloguing the valuables. The committee suggested different standard operating procedures and cataloguing of ornaments and safety of valuables.
About the Jagannath Temple
a. The Jagannath Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Jagannath, a form of Vishnu in Hinduism.
b. It is located in Puri in the state of Odisha, situated on the eastern coast of India. As per temple records, King Indradyumna of Avanti built the main temple of Jagannath at Puri.
c. The temple is famous for its annual Ratha Yatra, or chariot festival, in which the three principal deities are pulled on huge and elaborately decorated raths, or temple cars.
d. Unlike the stone and metal icons found in most Hindu temples, the image of Jagannath is made of wood, and is ceremoniously replaced every 12 or 19 years by an exact replica.
e. The temple is sacred to all Hindus, and especially in those of the Vaishnava traditions. Many great Vaishnava saints, such as Ramanujacharya, Madhvacharya, Nimbarkacharya, Vallabhacharya and Ramananda were closely associated with the temple.
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