Vrindavan: A sealed room, known as the Toshkhana, of the Shri Banke Bihari Temple was opened after 54 years by a Supreme Court-appointed high-powered committee on Saturday. Committee members entered the room, and carried out an inventory before locking the doors once again.
A ‘tijori’ (safe), two boxes, a ‘çhatra’ (cover), wooden structures and utensils were found in the room after the four-hour search, Hindustan Times has reported. The safe or the boxes were not opened.
Sandeep Singh, circle officer, Mathura, said the next date for continuation of the search will be fixed by the committee.
“Videography of the exercise was conducted and details of what was found by the team will be informed later by the committee. Whatever was found has been left there and further search will resume. The entry into the basement remains to be done and will be conducted on a future date,” Singh said.
Committee members may re-enter the room after Diwali when a further search will be carried out. The team that entered the Toshkhana was led by the civil judge (junior division) of Mathura. Among the others was the SP City, the Mathura city magistrate, the circle officer, the circle officer (Sadar) and four Goswamis.
The Goswamis manage the administration and daily running of the temple.
An earthen lamp was lit at the gate before the lock was cut open. One of the two folds of the wooden gate, seemingly weakened by termites, collapsed. While the media was not allowed inside, forest department staff, including snake catchers, were the first to enter the room. However, the dusty chamber did not have any snakes.
Oxygen cylinders were also carried inside as there were apprehensions that the air may not be breathable. A lot of dust was found in the first chamber measuring about 30 square feet.
Some Goswamis opposed the exercise, claiming that the committee overstepped its brief. They alleged that misinformation was being spread about ‘khazana’ (treasure).
“The temple dates back to 1864 when ‘Thakur Ji’ was brought to the present location in Vrindavan. This room, often referred to as ‘toshkhana’, is beneath the seat of Bihariji (the deity), which houses jewellery and documents related to immovable assets of the temple, but no exact details are available of what all is there,” HT has quoted Acharya Prahlad Vallabh Goswami as saying.
The high-powered management committee for the temple was constituted by the Supreme Court in August. The committee was formed to address long-standing issues surrounding the temple’s administration and management.