Ancient war weapons found in Jagannath Ratna Bhandar

BHUBANESWAR: Age-old weapons like swords, spears, and javelins used in past battles were among the items discovered in the Puri Jagannath Temple’s Ratna Bhandar during the shifting of valuables on Thursday. The Ratna Bhandar, closed for 46 years, was reopened by the Odisha government on July 14 for restoration and inventory.
“We found some ancient idols in Ratna Bhandar on July 14.We have now come across a few swords and javelins near a wooden chest within the inner chamber. The weapons were very heavy and had turned black,” said one of the 11 committee members who entered the treasury.
Ratna Bhandar supervisory committee chairman Biswanath Rath told journalists that they have “carefully sealed and preserved the battle items in the temporary strongroom.”
Rath, a retired Orissa High Court judge, did not divulge details about the weapons, their numbers, or the era to which they belonged.
The discovery of the weapons sheds light on the 12th-century CE shrine’s connection to the kings who ruled the region, offering a glimpse into the treasures they accumulated over centuries.
Anantavarman Chodaganga Dev of the Eastern Ganga dynasty built the Puri temple in the 1190s, according to sources in the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA). The 214-foot-tall temple is spread over 10.7 acres with 95 subsidiary shrines on its premises.
“Jagannath Temple had been invaded and plundered 18 times. For the invaders, the temple was a lucrative source of wealth. To protect the temple, the then kings may have kept the ancient weapons in the Ratna Bhandar,” said Shyama Mahapatra, a temple servitor.
According to Jagannath researcher Bhaskar Mishra, “King Kapilendra Deb in 1460 had emerged victorious over another ruler and used 16 elephants to transport a substantial amount of gold to Puri Jagannath Temple.”
Historians and heritage researchers have demanded a proper study of the recovered war weapons. They said the government should enlist eminent archaeologists to study the period during which the weapons were in use.
“These are very rare materials bearing historical significance. The weapons should be properly preserved and displayed in a museum,” said Sajiv Mishra, a historian.