Jagannath Temple Sevayats Rue Entry Of Gajapati’s Representative Into Ratna Bhandara

Puri: Resentment is brewing among the sevayats of Shri Jagannath temple over the news that the Puri Gajapati King Divyasingh Deb would send his representative to enter into the Ratna Bhandara for inspection.

“Following the permission of the Odisha government to reopen the Ratna Bhandara, a unanimous decision was taken by the Srimandir Managing Committee and the Chhatisha Nijog in the meeting which had finalized the name of the 10 persons for entry into the Ratna Bhandara. “We respect the decision taken at these meetings. But we are hurt by the news that the Gajapati King, who is among the 10 persons, is not going inside the Ratna Bhandara. In his place, his representative Pattajoshi Mohapatra would accomplish the duty of the king. Since the Gajapati is the permanent president of the Chhatisha Nijog, we are in a doubt as to how this most important task would be performed in his absence,” General Secretary of Jagannath Sevayat Sammilani, Kasinath Khuntila told media persons here on Tuesday.

Confirming the opening of the Ratna Bhandara at a press meet on Monday, chief administrator of Shri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Pradip Jena said the 10-member team nominated by the Chhatisha Nijog will conduct the inspection while strictly adhering to the standard operating procedure (SOP).

He said the 10 persons who would be allowed to enter into the Ratna Bhandara are the Puri Gajapati king, Pattajoshi Mohapatra, Bhandara Mekap, Tadhau Karana, Deula Karana, two engineers of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), two members of the ASI Core Committee GC Mitra and NC Pal, and NK Mohanty who will represent on behalf of the Orissa High Court.

He, however, said that the team might add one more member of the ASI. But the decision has not been finalized till date, he pointed out.

The aforesaid members before entering into the Ratna Bhandara will perform worship of Lord Loknath (Lord Siva) and take a pledge that whatever they witness inside the Ratna Bhandara would not disclose outside.

“The team will inspect the roof and wall of the Ratna Bhandara and not touch any other object inside it. Each of the 10 members would be thoroughly searched before and after the inspection of the Ratna Bhandara. Each member would be searched twice by the police and once by the Bhandara Mekap,” Jena said, adding that each member will separately submit the inspection report to the SJTA chief administrator soon after the inspection of the Ratna Bhandara on the same day.