Armed with metal detectors, a special team from the State Archeology Department resumed the search for silver ingots (bricks) in Emaar Mutt’s premises in Odishas Puri. The hunt takes place after the recovery of over 500 silver bars in two phases in 2011 and 2021.
The Emaar Mutt, which is located in front of the Lion Gate of Jagannath Temple, was built on five hectares of land. During the famine of 1866, the Emaar Mutt fed hundreds of people. It is believed that several assets, including gold and silver bars and other valuables that the mutt received as a donation, are still buried in the premises.
It is noteworthy that on February 26, 2011, the Endowment Department officials and the police recovered 522 silver bars weighing approximately 18 tons from the mutt. The value of the confiscated metal was estimated at around 90 billion rupees at the time.
At the beginning of April this year, 45 more silver bars, each weighing around 35 kg, were found inside the Mutt.
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Mutt’s hidden treasury came into the spotlight ten years ago when two workers involved in the renovation were caught by Dhenkanal police trying to dispose of two silver bars weighing over 30kg each.
During interrogation, the duo confessed to stealing Emaar Mutt’s valuables.
During excavations, in addition to silver bars, a silver tree and silver flowers, around 16 ancient swords and a bronze cow sculpture by the Mutt, who was founded by Ramanujacharya in 1050 when he came to Puri, were found.
THE ARCHEOLOGY TEAM’S HUNT FOR TREASURE
On Thursday, a special team from the State Archeology Department in the presence of officials from the Jagannath Temple Administration, the Puri District collector, the sub-collector Bhabataran Sahoo, the Puri SP Kanwar Vishal Singh and a trusted member of the Emaar Mutt began searching for hidden valuables.
In April of this year 45 silver bars, each weighing around 35 kg, were found in the Emaar Mutt. (Photo: India Today / Mohammad Suffian)
The inspection is based on a written request from the mahant of Uttar Parswa Mutt Narayan Ramanuj Das, the mahant (person in charge) of the management of Emaar Mutt.
That said, there is a need to use more advanced equipment as current detectors can signal the presence of buried objects below 1.5 to 2 feet in the ground.
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Puri sub-collector Binay Kumar Das said, “As of now, no such material has been discovered until Saturday. We will take appropriate action on the report from the technical team that checked the premises. “
WHERE DOES THE TREASURE COME FROM?
The silver bars that were recovered from Emaar Mutt in 2011 and in April of this year have connections to the Na’Anka Durbhikshya famine of 1866, according to a book by historian Anil Dhir published in 2017.
Anil Dhar’s book “Great Orissa Famine of 1866: Na’Anka Durbhikshya” mentions the hidden treasure of Emaar Mutt.
Speaking to India Today, historian and researcher Anil Dhir said, “My research into the Orissa Great Famine of 1866 (Na’Anka Durbhikshya) had conclusive evidence that the silver bar was part of the payment made by the British authorities, and rice of various rice Mutts in exchange for silver stones instead of silver coins. “
Anil Dhar continues: “During the Great Famine of 1866, when a third of the population of Odisha died, money had no value at that time, even if you had money there was nothing to buy.”
“The mutt were the biggest landowners during the time in Odisha and had huge granaries.
Anil Dhar further emphasized: “I have found various documents that confirm that the Mutts sold a large part of their supplies for the auxiliary kitchens set up by the authorities. This treasure is Mutt’s legitimate property. “
The Emaar Mutt was founded by Ramanujacharya in 1050. (Photo: India Today / Mohammad Suffian)
The treasures previously recovered from the mutt are now kept in the Police Armory in Puri and guarded by armed police around the clock.
Dhir previously asked the court for permission to examine the silver bars, but access was denied.
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