https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Inside Lord Jagannath Temple’s Ratna Bhandar: Unveiling Mysteries and Divine Experiences

Exploring the ancient treasures of Lord Jagannath Temple's Ratna Bhandar reveals divine mysteries and profound experiences.
Indian Masterminds Stories

The allure of ancient temples in India has always captivated people, with their treasures adding to the spiritual and cultural richness of these revered places. They also instill a deep faith in the supernatural power of the deity housed within. Legends speak of the treasure of Lord Jagannath Dham in Puri being guarded by serpents under the watchful eyes of Lord Loknath. Consequently, when the temple’s treasury doors were opened after 46 years, in deference to these beliefs, the administration enlisted numerous members of the snake helpline to be present. Additionally, the Puri District Hospital was prepared with ample stocks of anti-venom.

Despite no snakes being discovered inside the ‘Ratna Bhandar’, the entire team, including the District Collector, emerged with a profound and mystical experience.

Indian Masterminds interacted with Puri collector, Mr. Siddharth Shankar Swain, an IAS officer of the 2014 batch, to learn more about the insight of Ratna Bhandar’s visit, the feeling, and further process of enumeration. 

Jagannath Dham Temple, Puri, Odisha

LORD JAGANNATH TEMPLE

Mr. Siddharth described the experience as deeply divine and unique. ‘I have never felt such positivity before. As an Odia, it was a moment of immense pride for me,’ he said.

On July 14, the treasure of Lord Jagannath was unveiled after 46 years for maintenance at the 12th-century Jagannath temple in Puri. A special 16-member committee, including the Puri collector and the administrator of the Sri Jagannath Temple Administration, has been appointed by the state government to inventory the temple’s ornaments and items. It was previously opened in 1978.

Reflecting on the occasion, Siddharth remarked, “We had only heard stories about the divine treasures of the temple. But to witness it firsthand, as the repository of Lord Jagannath, was truly inspiring. It felt like encountering something truly divine. The experience was not only unique but also filled with a tremendous sense of positivity. With the protection of God Loknath ji believed to be overseeing it, there was already a sense of reverence.”

Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath

THE FINDINGS

On July 14, when both the outer and inner Ratna Bhandars were opened, the team discovered beautiful boxes and cupboards inside the vault. All the precious jewelry from the outer Ratna Bhandar was immediately transferred to a temporary strong room within the same complex on that very day. However, the precious jewelry from the inner Ratna Bhandar will be relocated during the next phase of operations.

According to the SOP, the team broke the lock of the inner Ratna Bhandar (store), and then all the team members inspected the valuables stored inside the inner storeroom. 

The team refrained from opening the boxes and cupboards on that day. “When we return, we will likely examine them and then transfer their contents to the inner Ratna Bhandar,” Siddharth explained when asked about the discoveries within the Ratna Bhandar.  “I won’t disclose much, but the vault contained gems essential for the daily rituals of Lord Jagannath, including clothing, jewelry, and special adornments for decorations. We will delve deeper into our findings during our next visit.”

Sand Art on Maha Prabhu Jagannath’s SunaBesha with Ratna Bhandar

THE PROCESS

The process begins with the first schedule, which involves opening the inner Ratna Bhandar. Following this, the second schedule focuses on shifting its contents, and finally, the third schedule is dedicated to repairs. 

After completing this relocation, the government will determine the methodology for enumeration and other assessments, issuing a separate SOP for those procedures,” he said. 

THE RETURN VISIT 

The team is scheduled to revisit on July 18, with the auspicious time set from 9:51 am to 12:25 pm for opening the Ratna Bhandar. The inner chamber of the temple’s Ratna Bhandar will be reopened to facilitate the transfer of jewelry to a temporary storehouse. Subsequently, a comprehensive list of jewelry and valuables will be compiled.

We are strictly adhering to the SOP established by the government. On May 18, we will relocate the inner Ratna Bhandar to a secure location within the temple premises. Once this relocation is accomplished, the ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) will assess any damages inside and proceed with necessary repairs as needed,” Mr Siddharth told Indian Masterminds. 

IAS Siddharth Shankar Swain, Collector, Puri

THE WORTH OF RATNA BHANDAR 

The claimed worth of the treasure, as reported in some media outlets, is purely speculative. Siddharth stated that it is premature to make any definitive statements on this matter.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Gujarat Cruise Bharat Mission
Gujarat Becomes First State to Lead Cruise Bharat Mission with Dedicated Coastal Circuits
Gujarat
Single Tax, Double Growth: Gujarat Among Top 3 States in GST Performance; Reform Powers Economic Transformation
GvUtbb2bcAAsyWg
Cuddalore to Get One of Tamil Nadu’s Largest Libraries, Announces Collector at Neyveli Book Fair 2025 Organized by NLC India
indian-navy Power
Massive Naval Expansion on Horizon: India Plans 17 Warships, 9 Submarines in ₹2.4 Lakh Cr Upgrade
India oil and gas exploration reforms
India Launches Major Reforms in Oil & Gas Exploration Ahead of OALP Round X: Minister Puri Invites Feedback on New Rules
RailTel Corporation of India Limited 2
RailTel Secures Rs96.99 Crore Smart Warehousing Contract from Central Warehousing Corporation
NTPC_Vindhyachal_organised_Mega_Mass_Pep_Talk
Safety is Power: NTPC Vindhyachal Ignites Workforce Spirit with Mega Mass Pep Talk- Details Inside
G S Roshni
Kerala’s Fearless Forest Officer G.S. Roshni Rescues 16-Foot King Cobra with Bare Hands, Garners Praise & Critique
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-07 at 3.15
The Martial Artist IRS Officer Who Conquered North East India on a Cycle
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-03 at 13.33
IRS Sanjay Bahadur: The Officer With a Pen That Bites | Video Interview
Inderjit Singh Air India
Is Air India Carrying The Burden of Split Before Privatisation?
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Sushmitha and Ishwarya Ramanathan
Their Home Was Washed Away — Sushmitha & Ishwarya Built a Legacy Instead
Sushmitha and Ishwarya lost their home to the 2004 tsunami. But with books, belief, and each other, they...
IAS SHWETA BHARTI Bihar
From Wipro to Civil Services: How Bihar's IAS Shweta Bharti Juggled a BPSC Job While Preparing for UPSC
IAS Shweta Bharti, from rural Bihar, balanced a full-time job and UPSC prep with discipline, cracked...
IPS Deepak Meghani
Deepak Meghani, IPS: A Journey of Focus, Failure, and Quiet Discipline
A passionate writer, he has authored several books in Gujarati, ranging from exam strategy guides to...
Social Media
G S Roshni
Kerala’s Fearless Forest Officer G.S. Roshni Rescues 16-Foot King Cobra with Bare Hands, Garners Praise & Critique
Beat Forest Officer G.S. Roshni’s first-ever king cobra rescue goes viral, earning her the title of ‘Green...
Kaziranga Baby Elephant
Chotu the Baby Elephant Reunited with Mother in Kaziranga: Retired IFS Officer’s Post Goes Viral
A baby elephant's emotional reunion with its mother in Kaziranga, shared by retired IFS officer Susanta...
PV Sindhu
PV Sindhu’s Visit to NADT Turns into a Wholesome Tribute to Legacy—and ‘Moolchandj
The Olympic champion shared nostalgic memories, met aspiring IRS officers, and sparked viral laughter...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Gujarat Cruise Bharat Mission
Gujarat Becomes First State to Lead Cruise Bharat Mission with Dedicated Coastal Circuits
Gujarat
Single Tax, Double Growth: Gujarat Among Top 3 States in GST Performance; Reform Powers Economic Transformation
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-07 at 3.15
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-03 at 13.33
Inderjit Singh Air India
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT