The Jagannath temple at Puri inspires maximum awe among Hindus across the world. The reason is simple: the deities are made of wood, and they live an ordinary human life unlike other deities. The deities symbolise formlessness as propounded by the founders of the Sanatana Dharma, the actual name of the Hindu faith. The monarchs who established shrine had set aside a big chunk of the state revenue for use by the deities; and most of the material gains they made from wars were submitted to the deities in the temple. As the legends go, 752 mutts and ashrams were put up and willing servitors from among the 75-odd categories were given enough property to welcome and treat pilgrims respectfully, particularly the poor. Hospitality included food, stay and even healthcare. Most wealthy servitors of today have only inherited property meant to yield dividends to fund hospitality to poor pilgrims though there is not much evidence to prove this hurting fact today. Buddhists, Jains and cults like Sikhs have remained staunch devotees of the lord of the Universe even today. Countless Christians and Muslims are known to revere the lord for inspiring the spirits of universal brotherhood and “live and let live”.
Only lately, the Padmanabhaswami temple in Kerala overshadowed all other shrines. The administration opened up the vaults to know if the riches match the legends and rumours about the treasure. To everyone’s delightful shock, an inventory list prepared in August 2014 showed 2,000 pounds of gold coins dating from 200 BC only in one vault. Stunned assessors also found a pure golden throne adorned with hundreds of diamonds and precious stones meant to accommodate the 18-foot-long deity. In addition, solid gold crowns studded with diamonds and precious stones were discovered. These valuable items have been donated by various dynasties and kings from all over India. The second chamber has long been considered by astrologers as highly mysterious, sacred and too dangerous to unveil. The enormous steel door of Chamber B, as it’s called, has two massive cobras painted on it and has no bolts, latches or any other means to open and enter. That is some mystery straight out of an ‘Indiana Jones’ movie by Spielberg. The doors of such a secret vault are expected to be opened only by high level Sadhus capable of chanting the ‘Garuda Mantra’. At present, there is nobody in the world who possesses the highly powerful divine qualities to know or chant this sacred mantra without faltering.
As the men peeped into the darkened vault of Vault A, what they saw looked like stars glittering in a moonless night sky. Diamonds and gems were sparkling, reflecting grandly the little light available. Countless gold rings, bangles, and lockets, many encrusted with gems lay before them. Coin experts estimated that the vault held approximately a hundred thousand gold coins, spanning centuries of trade: Roman, Napoleonic, Mughal, Dutch. He also described seeing a set of solid-gold body armour, known as an Angi, built to adorn the main idol. The most impressive gems were the large diamonds, some of which were a hundred and ten carats, the size of a large thumb. Archaeologists and gemologists estimated that a small solid-gold idol of Vishnu, encrusted with hundreds of gems, was worth at least Rs 210 crore. In response to a PIl, the Supreme Court ordered to have the vaults open and the contents made public by a seven-member committee. Approximately $22 billion in treasure including, golden idols, golden elephants and idols wearing 18 foot diamond necklaces, as well as countless bags of gold coins from around the world and ceremonial costumes included 66 pound solid gold coconut shells studded with rubies and emeralds.
The Padmanabhaswamy temple is now protected by metal detectors, security cameras, and more than two hundred guards, some equipped with machine guns.
The treasure troves of lord Jagannath have remained under lock and key for reasons not clear to any including the present Gajapati monarch considered the principal servitor. The secret treasure vaults believably containing invaluable jewellery items and gemstones are placed in a completely closed structure that requires immediate repair. The High Court has directed all authorities and experts to open, assess damage and have the structures repaired. It is indisputably true that the Jagannath Temple is the abode of a public deity; and hence, the ordinary people have a right to know how much wealth and riches the temple has in its hidden coffers. Monarchs had constructed door-less troves only to ward off plundering invaders in ancient times. But today, whole of India is one sovereign entity. No invaders like Nadir Shah, Taimur lung or Mahammad of Ghur are in sight anymore. Yet, there are some foolish servitors and self-proclaiming activists who imagine the treasure troves, once open, will attract thieves and burglars to make attempts of robbery and further usher in bad omen to society.
The High Court judges too seem to have been rattled by such foolish warnings. Their order is only to look up the treasure houses and never to open any vault to even look at the invaluable items. So, seventeen men, including ‘Snake Helpline experts’, had entered the vault room yesterday in a great deal of superstitious fanfare. Rationalists are obviously upset that the contents of the vaults will remain shrouded in mystery forever. Headless servitors, self-styled temple activists have succeeded in frightening the judges of the superior courts. Earlier, the Supreme Court judges have made clear that the wealth and riches of the public deities are to be made public for better public watchfulness.
The Government of Odisha needs to go a step forward to have every bit of wealth and riches seen, evaluated and inventorised to ensure robbery of any kind does not take place. The Padmanabhaswami temple in Thiruvananthapuram has gained so much. Odisha has to tame the headless servitors and law-ignorant activists right away. Rationalism has to be respected in the age of incredible mobile phones equipped with amazing information technology facilities!
(The writer is a core member of Transparency International, Odisha)