The temple committee had been looking for a proficient snake catcher a few days before to the Ratna Bhandar, the inner hidden chamber of Puri Jagannath Temple, being opened. This is in the midst of stories of a gang of serpents guarding the jewels and hissing noises coming from the Bhitara Bhandar. What are the myth and the fact?
Snakes and serpents are often considered guardians of treasures, whether it is the legend of the dancing Burmese pythons protecting the relics of Gautam Buddha hidden deep beneath the foundations of the Mandalay temple, or the snake tales of the world's richest temple, Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram.
The Hindu and Buddhist traditions have long been associated with the idea of snakes coiling around hidden wealth. Mythology and films such as Naag Nagin (1989) have also been replete with such stories.
Thus, the Jagannath Temple's Ratna Bhandar is not an exception. Legend has it that a gang of snakes watches over the belongings of Lord Jagannath, Mahaprahu, and the other Puri temple deities.
Ahead of Ratna Bhandar's opening, was there a snake scare at Jagannath Temple?
In 2018, six years ago, an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) team together with representatives from Puri's Jagannath Temple climbed into the Ratna Bhandar to assess its structural condition, per an order from the Orissa High Court.
Outside, two professional snake catchers who had been specially called in from Bhubaneswar were ready to help if needed, mingling with a bustling group of devotees and rescue workers.
A snake gained prominence in the artwork of sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik, who is currently a member of the temple committee, on the eve of the 2018 search when he highlighted the cause of the Ratna Bhandar on the Puri beach.
JULY 14TH IS THE DELIVERY DATE OF SKILLED SNAKE CATCHERS
A article in The Times of India stated that the temple committee was "hunting for a skilled snake charmer" because of worries that reptiles of various sizes could pose a problem, only days before the Jagannath Temple's Bhitara Bhandar is set to open on July 14.
On Sunday, July 14, the Bhitara Bhandar, or the inner hidden chamber, will be opened for the first time since 1985, at which point the snake charmer will be placed in the Ratna Bhandar.
Also, a group of health care providers will be ready for any emergency and will have a medical kit on hand.
A servant on the committee that recommended to the BJP administration to open Ratna Bhandar stated, "Although we are curious to know the types of ancient valuables in Ratna Bhandar,As The Times of India noted on July 11, "We are equally afraid of the potential presence of snakes."
There are tiny cracks and holes throughout the temple because it is an ancient structure. Harekrushna Mahapatra, another servitor, mentioned that there was a chance that snakes would creep into Ratna Bhandar through holes. Based on snake sightings in the vicinity of the Jagannath temple during the recent construction for the Jagannath Heritage Corridor Project, he made his statements.
SNAKES: ACTUAL OR FANTASY IN RATNA BHANDAR?
What do experts think about the accusations regarding snakes in the Bhitara Bhandar, hissing sounds reported from the Ratna Bhandar, and the cautious approach taken by the Jagannath Temple Committee?
Bhaskar Mishra, a former temple administrator, tells IndiaToday that these are only rumors and that there is nothing like in the Ratna Bhandar.Within. He refutes any rumours that serpents are defending the Bhitara Bhandar, which is stocked with treasures including monarchs' crowns and thrones.
Senior Jagannath scholar Mishra continues, "Don't believe these claims; they stand no ground."
The same was previously said by Rabindra Narayan Mishra, one of the six individuals that entered the hidden inner chamber in 1985.
The day he entered the Bhitara Bhandar, Rabindra Narayan Mishra, the temple administrator in 1985, disclosed in a 2018 YouTube video that he did not spot any snakes, reptiles, or cobwebs in the dark corridors.
The Bhitara Bhandar contains the priceless possessions of Lord Jangannath that are not often utilized, whereas the Bahar Bhandar (outside chamber) contains valuables that are occasionally used at certain rites and festivals like the yearly Rath Yatra.
There are neither snakes nor reptiles at the Bahar Bhandar, which is closed for 350 days of the year and only opens for 15 days on average, according to a 2018 statement by Rabindra Narayan Mishra.
However, Bhaskar Mishra, the Jagannath research scholar, told IndiaToday that small holes and cracks could not be dismissed given the temple was established in the 12th century, more than 800 years ago.Within.
There's a chance that holes will allow snakes to enter Ratna Bhandar. Ratna Bhandar should be opened with due caution, according to Bhaskar Mishra, a multi-book author about Puri and its patron god, Lord Jagannath.
However, it is impossible to overlook the 25 by 40-foot Bhitara Bhandar, which the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has previously noted was experiencing seepages and could be a hazard to reptiles, especially snakes.
The adjacent Ratna Bhandar was left undamaged when the ASI restored the Jaganmohan (prayer hall) years ago. This probably explains the Jagannath Temple Committee's cautious approach as they get ready to open the Bhitara Bhandar on July 14.
What counts most on July 14 is the completion of the exercise aimed at inventorying the valuables kept inside the Mahaprahu, not if snakes are discovered in the Ratna Bhandar.
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