Puri: In the sacred aura of the Neelachakra, where the divine breath of the Lord of the Universe flows through the air of Puri, a momentous step toward preserving the eternal legacy of the Srimandir has been initiated.
Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, the Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration (SJTA), has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to documenting the divine treasures of the Lord.
As an ardent devotee himself, Dr. Padhee approaches this task not merely as an administrative duty but as a sacred service to the Holy Trinity.
The air in the holy town of Puri is thick with anticipation and spiritual fervor as the timeline for the historic inventory of the Ratna Bhandar becomes clear.
A pivotal meeting of the High-Level Committee, under the venerable chairmanship of Justice Biswanath Rath, is scheduled to convene on the afternoon of 27 December 2025.
This gathering of wise minds and devoted hearts will focus on the creation of a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) designed to ensure the sanctity and security of the Lord’s jewels and ornaments.
The Ratna Bhandar, the celestial treasury of the 12th-century shrine, houses the priceless offerings made by kings, emperors, and millions of devotees over centuries. From the shimmering Suna Besha ornaments to the ancient gemstones that catch the light of the lamps during hidden rituals, every item is a symbol of faith.
The upcoming meeting will lay the groundwork for how these valuables will be handled, weighed, and documented without causing any disruption to the daily Niti-Kanti (rituals) of Lord Jagannatha, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra.
Following the deliberations of Justice Rath’s committee, a structured path has been laid out to bring this monumental task to fruition:
Drafting of the SOP: The committee will outline technical and spiritual protocols, likely involving experts from the Reserve Bank of India and specialized goldsmiths.
Approval by the Management Committee: The Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee, led by the Gajapati Maharaja of Puri Shri Dibya Singh Deb will review the SOP to ensure it aligns with the temple’s ancient traditions.
State Government Sanction: Final approval from the State Government will provide the legal and logistical framework for the inventory.
The Phased Counting Process: To maintain the uninterrupted flow of devotion, the counting and valuation will be conducted in phases, specifically on days when no major rituals are scheduled.
The ultimate goal, as shared by SJTA Chief Dr. Padhee, is to complete this grand inventory before the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya in 2026. This process will include the digital documentation of every piece of jewelry, ensuring that the wealth of the Lord remains safe and accounted for for generations of devotees yet to come.
As the 27th of December approaches, the eyes of the global Odia community and Lord Jagannatha lovers worldwide are turned toward the Srimandir. It is a moment of profound spiritual significance, where the worldly administration of the temple bows in reverence to the divine majesty of the Lord’s eternal treasury.