Puri: Rumours of serpent guards protecting the Ratna Bhandar of the Puri Jagannath Temple, which stores the valuables of Lord Jagannath and other deities, are once again circulating as the temple committee prepares to open the inner chamber of the Bhitara Bhandar on July 14.

The legends of poisonous sentries defending temple treasuries, especially the ones dedicated to the service of the chief deity of that temple, from intruders is not new. 

Whether it's the tales of snakes at the world's wealthiest Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram or the stories of dancing Burmese pythons guarding the relics of Gautam Buddha beneath the Mandalay temple's foundations, snakes have long been considered guardians of treasures.

Six years ago, in 2018, following an Orissa High Court order, a joint team from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and officials from Puri's Jagannath Temple examined the structural condition of the Ratna Bhandar.

Outside, amid a crowd of devotees and rescue personnel, two expert snake catchers from Bhubaneswar stood ready to assist if needed.

On the eve of the 2018 search, sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik, now a temple committee member, featured a snake in his artwork on Puri beach, highlighting the Ratna Bhandar's cause, media reported.

Now, as the temple committee prepares to open the inner chamber of the Bhitara Bhandar on July 14, The Times of India reports the committee is seeking a skilled snake charmer due to fears of reptiles of all sizes.

The snake charmer will be present when the Bhitara Bhandar is opened for the first time since 1985 on Sunday, July 14. A medical team will also be on standby with a kit prepared for any emergencies.

"Though we are curious about the ancient valuables in Ratna Bhandar, we are equally scared of the possible presence of snakes," said a committee servitor who proposed opening the Ratna Bhandar to the BJP government, reported The Times of India on July 11.

Another servitor, Harekrushna Mahapatra, mentioned the possibility of snakes entering the Ratna Bhandar through holes and cracks, citing sightings during the recent Jagannath Heritage Corridor Project work.

The cautious stance of the Jagannath Temple Committee, along with claims of hissing sounds and rumours of snakes in the Bhitara Bhandar, raises questions about these claims.

Former temple administrator and senior Jagannath scholar Bhaskar Mishra dismissed them, saying these are just rumours and there is nothing like this in the Ratna Bhandar.”

Rabindra Narayan Mishra, who ventured into the secret inner chamber in 1985, expressed the same opinion in a 2018 YouTube video, revealing that he saw no snakes, reptiles, or cobwebs in the dark chambers.

The Bahar Bhandar (outer chamber), which houses precious items used occasionally during various rituals and festivals like the annual Rath Yatra, also reportedly had no snakes or reptiles.

However, Bhaskar Mishra acknowledged the presence of small holes and cracks in the 12th-century temple, suggesting a possibility of snakes entering the Ratna Bhandar through these openings.

Therefore, this needs adequate precautions during the opening of the Ratna Bhandar, noting that the 25 x 40 foot Bhitara Bhandar had previously been flagged by the ASI for developing seepages, raising concerns about reptiles, he stressed.

Years ago, when the ASI repaired the Jaganmohan (prayer hall), the adjoining Ratna Bhandar was left unrepaired, explaining the temple committee's cautious stance as they prepare to open the Bhitara Bhandar on July 14.

Regardless of whether snakes are found, the primary goal is to inventory the priceless valuables of the Mahaprabhu stored inside.