The famous Ganga monarch Chodaganga,
after constructing the present Sri Jagannath Temple in the 12th century A.D.,
confirmed the old endowments of Jagannath, made new endowments and laid the
foundation of a sound administration of the temple. Madala Panji eulogistically
records the extensive endowments in land and fabulous gifts of gold made by
king Anangabhima Deva, who was credited with organising the Chatisanijoga and
instituting numerous Bhogas and Yatras. Then the Suryavamsi rulers who
succeeded the Gangas enriched the coffers of temple by their numerous gifts.
Among the movable properties of Lord Jagannath, besides the temple elephants,
horses, furnitures and utensils of various kinds, the most precious gems,
diamonds and other semiprecious stones are preserved in the Ratna Bhandar. This
treasury of the temple has been enriched by the contribution of the devotees
from all over India among whom the Hindu kings of Orissa were the most
illustrious donors. According to Madala Panji king Anangabhima Deva, in
addition to his numerous grants of land, had donated 2,50,000 marhas (weight
current in Medieval Orissa : 1 marha = 70 grains = ½ total = 5.8319 grams) of
gold for preparing the ornaments of the Lord. The Suryavansi rulers who
succeeded the Gangas on the throne of Orissa were great devotees of Lord
Jagannath and enriched the Ratna Bhandar with their liberal gifts of gold and
other jewels. One of the inscriptions of Gajapati Kapilendra Deva discovered on
the wall of the temple of Jagannath records that in the 41st Anka (1466 A.D) he
came to worship Jagannath and gave a number of untensils and ornaments. A
supply of gold was brought by a number of officers and placed with other
offerings in the audience hall. According to the rules and practices of the
Temple, whatever jewels, gold and silk are offered to the deities by the
pilgrims are to be stored in Ratna Bhandar. The fabulous riches of the temple
of Jagannath had induced the Muslim invaders to raid and plunder the temple
from time to time, the worst being that of Kalapahad in 1668. During the time
of Raja Purusottama Deva of Khurda even a Rajput General named Kesodas Maru was
induced by the Mughal Subedar of Cuttack to plunder the temple of Jagannath. On
the pretext of coming on a pilgrimage to Puri during the Car Festival, Kesodas
occupied the sacred temple by force and looted it and stopped the daily Puja,
ceremonies, etc., of Lord Jagannath. Raja Purushottam Deva came with a mighty
force to rescue the temple from the hands of Kesodas but was defeated. In spite
of several raids and plunder the Ratna Bhandar of Jagannath still remains a
valuable asset of the temple, M.M. Chakravarti noted in 1893 that many of the
ornaments given to the god in 1466 A.D. were still in use.
The total list of the valuable jewels
of Lord Jagannath which includes gold ornaments, pearls, diamonds, corals etc.,
is to be found in the Record-of-Rights (Part-IV) prepared under Puri Sri
Jagannath Temple Act., 1952. There are 150 items of gold ornaments in Bahar
Bhandar (outer treasury) which include three gold necklaces (Haridakanthi Mali)
weighing more than 120 tolas (1 tola = 11,6638 grams) each; Suna Shri Bhuja and
Sri Payara of Jagannath and Balabhadra weighing 818 and 710 tolas respectively;
Suna Mukutas or gold crowns of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra weighing 610,
434 and 275 tolas respectively, and various other gold ornaments some of which
are set with precious stones. The Bhitar Bhandar (inner treasure) has 180 items
of Jewellery which include 74 items of pure gold ornaments some of which weigh
more than 100 tolas, plates of gold, pearls, diamonds, corals etc., and 146
items of silver articles, some weighing more than 500 tolas each. The outer
treasury with three locks and the inner treasury with double locks were in
charge of the Raja of Puri who was the Superintendent of the temple. One key
was remaining with the Raja, one with the Bhandar Nayak and the third key of
the outer treasury with the Bhandar Mekap.
In accordance with the provisions of
Sri Jagannath Temple Act, 1954, Section 15 safe custody of the Ratna Bhandar is
now vested with the Sri Jagannath Temple Managing Committee.
Besides the income derived from the
Satais Hazari Mahal (The Maratha had assigned certain lands with a revenue of
Rs.27,000 for the support of the temple of Jagannath at Puri which came to be
known as Satais Hazari Mahal for the amount of revenue it was yeilding) and the
Ekharajat Mahal (The Ekharajat or Ikharjat is an Arabic word meaning expenses.
Ekharajat Mahal literally means land assigned for expenses.) The important
sources of income of the temple are the sums realized by annually leasing out
the rights of what is known as Baje Mahals. The main Baje Mahals are the right
to prepare and sell Nirmalya inside the temple premises, the right to sell
sweetmeats, the right to sell earthen lamps (Dipa) inside the temple; the right
to collect money from the pilgrims at Rohini Kunda, Shri Gundicha Mandira and
Paduka Kunda; the right to sell flour and spices in the temple, etc. Among
other sources of income mention may be made of the fees realised from the
pilgrims for having their names inscribed on the stone floors of the temple
enclosure, fees realised from the Sevakas at Sadhibandha or first appointment,
the sale proceeds of Kothabhoga mahaprasad after Kheis are distributed to
various Sevakas, Sale procceds of the wood and cloth used in the cars, fees
realised from Dhwajalagi or for having flags and strips of coloured cloth hung
from the temple tower, Parimanik or fees realised from the pilgrims for going
near the deities beyond the time fixed for Sahanamela, fees for using fans,
flyflaps or lighted torches before the gods, and other miscellaneous receipts.
Besides some other lands and houses in Puri town and other places are under
direct possession of the temple.
Receipts from Pindika accounts for a
substantial income to the temple. Whatever is offered to the deities on the
Ratnavedi either in the jars placed there or on the Simhasana goes to the
temple fund after paying a small share to certain Sevakas.
