The Jagannath Temple treasure, amassed from the 12th century and sealed since 1978, is now being inspected by archaeologists. It contains gold and jewellery among other things.
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Jagannath is an avatar of the god Vishnu, the guardian of the Universe in the Hindu pantheon. A cult is dedicated to him in theEstate of Orissa, in eastern India, where the Jagannath temple was built from 1135. Over the centuries, a poorly catalogued treasure has been amassed in a secret chamber. Since 1978, a team has tried to enter it but the keys had mysteriously disappeared. For the past week, eleven experts have been tasked with returning and taking inventory.
Legend has it that Jagannath casts a curse on those who enter the treasure chamber, which is said to be infested with dangerous reptiles. Snake charmers were called in, but the expedition proved less perilous than the prophecy suggested. “We sought Jagannath’s blessing and entered the main hall of the temple.”explains Biswanath Rath, head of the inspection team.
“We opened the first treasure and moved the jewels to a safe place. The second chest wouldn’t open, so we had to break the locks and put new ones. Everything went well, we didn’t feel sick.”
Biswanath Rath, head of the inspection teamto franceinfo
Precious weapons and thousand-year-old statues never before recorded have been identified by archaeologists in recent days. But some are convinced that the temple holds more treasures, like Dibyasingha Deba, an honorary descendant of a Hindu dynasty that ruled the region. “The archaeological mission will use a very sophisticated instrument to carry out a laser scan, in order to find the secret tunnel that leads to a hidden treasure,” he assures.
A theory that experts remain skeptical about. While the operation has the feel of an adventure film, it is also political. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu ultranationalist party, the BJP, established itself in Orissa during the last legislative elections. To overthrow leader Naveen Patnaik, who had reigned for 30 years, the reopening of the Jagannath treasury was a campaign promise of the BJP. At the risk of disappointing the most fervent idolaters of this divinity.
