Two-day operation uncovers the long-hidden secrets of treasure room
Eyes Now on the Strong Room
2025.10.20 (Vrindavan Today News): After 54 years of speculation and mystery, the secrets of the Toshkhana (treasure room) of Thakur Shri Banke Bihari Temple have finally come to light. A two-day search operation ended the decades-old suspense, though the findings fell short of expectations. The focus has now shifted to a sealed box kept in the State Bank of India’s Bhuteshwar Road branch in Mathura, believed to contain valuables once belonging to the Toshkhana. The temple committee is currently gathering detailed information about it.
According to Sevayat Rajat Goswami, some items from the Toshkhana had earlier been deposited in the bank for safekeeping, following which the chamber was sealed. The recent operation aimed to reopen the Toshkhana and verify its contents after more than five decades.
Strict Vigil Throughout the Operation
Security was exceptionally tight during the investigation. The police barred entry to anyone near the Toshkhana. Throughout the operation, SP City Rajeev Singh and CO Sadar Sanjeev Kumar Singh remained stationed at the site, supervising the proceedings and briefing both sevayats and media representatives.
While limited access was granted to the temple courtyard on Friday, the disturbances that followed on Saturday prompted complete restrictions. Entry from the Toshkhana area up to the Jagmohan was entirely prohibited.
Despite being revered as Thakurji’s own Toshkhana, the scene inside painted a different picture—raising questions and sparking demands for an official inquiry.
Unearthing the Truth Behind the Myths
For decades, the Toshkhana of Banke Bihari Temple had been shrouded in myth and intrigue. Some believed it to hold diamonds and precious jewels; others imagined priceless artifacts of the Lord. Since it had remained sealed all these years, no one knew for certain what it contained.
When the High-Powered Committee finally opened it, the mystery unraveled within just six hours of inspection spread over two days. On the first day, the team discovered utensils, a wooden frame, planks, and a silver canopy. On the second, gold and silver rods, copper coins, and other metallic artifacts were recovered—confirming that at least traces of the temple’s lost treasures still remained.
Silver Rods with Traces of Gulal
Among the most intriguing finds were four rods, including silver ones covered with gulal (colored powder). Sevayat Dinesh Goswami explained their sacred significance:
“After Holi, Thakurji used to play with silver rods for three to four days during Dhulendi. Since objects used by the Lord are never washed, the rods still bore the original gulal. We had only heard about these from our elders—today, we finally saw them.”
A Hidden Chamber Beneath the Sanctum
Further exploration led to the discovery of a second underground chamber, located about 30 feet below the main sanctum of the temple. The locks were cut open with the help of tools, and the room was inspected by members of the High-Powered Committee, accompanied by officials from the administration, police, forest department, and sevayats.
Old Coins and Historic Relics
The team also uncovered old copper coins, silver bars, vessels, and remnants of temple paraphernalia. Though the long-awaited treasure hoard did not match public expectations, the operation succeeded in unraveling the truth behind one of Vrindavan’s most enduring legends — the mystery of the Toshkhana of Thakur Shri Banke Bihari Temple.
