Ancient Treasures Revealed: Copper Coins and Gold Stick Found in Banke Bihari Temple's Treasury After 54 Years

The 'Toshkhana' (treasury) is the room located adjacent to the temple's sanctum sanctorum.

Mathura:

The 'Toshkhana' (treasury) of the Banke Bihari temple in Mathura, which had remained sealed since 1971, was opened for a second consecutive day on Sunday to complete the remaining inspection work as directed by the Supreme Court-appointed high-powered committee.

The room was opened under the supervision of the civil judge (junior division) and the city magistrate, accompanied by committee members, including four Goswami representatives, as stated by committee member Shailendra Goswami.

Dinesh Goswami, another member of the high-powered committee, revealed that a comprehensive inventory was prepared of all items discovered inside the treasury.

"Two copper coins were found in one safe and three to four stones in another. Three silver sticks and one golden stick with gulal on it — presumably used by Thakur Ji during Holi celebrations — were also discovered in a box," he explained.

He confirmed that the inspection work inside the room has now been completed and "there is nothing left to search." City Magistrate Rakesh Kumar Singh declined to comment on the proceedings, stating he would submit a report to the high-powered committee for their review.

The treasury was initially opened on Saturday under court supervision after 54 years, in compliance with the Supreme Court's directive to the committee overseeing the temple's affairs.

The 'Toshkhana' is situated adjacent to the temple's sanctum sanctorum.

The Supreme Court, in its August 2025 order, had established a 12-member high-powered interim committee headed by retired Allahabad High Court judge Ashok Kumar to manage the day-to-day affairs of the temple.

"The room was opened under the supervision of a civil judge junior division with other members, including four Goswami members. There was some difficulty in opening the room. The process started at 1 pm and was finished at 5 pm, when the room was sealed again. Some brass utensils and wooden items were found, and no precious metal was found. Some boxes and wooden boxes were also found," ADM (Finance and Revenue) Dr Pankaj Kumar Verma stated regarding Saturday's developments.

Most of the work is complete, and the room may be opened again on the next date determined by the civil judge junior division to complete any remaining tasks, the ADM had indicated.

The auditor's team has created an inventory of all items discovered in the room, he added.

The Goswami community had expressed opposition to the inspection. A member of the high-powered committee, Shailendra Goswami, maintained that the room should not have been opened at all. "I have opposed the move and even wrote letters," he stated.

"This is an interim committee, not a permanent one; the Honourable Supreme Court constituted it to ensure facilitation of 'darshans' to devotees only. The committee should not interfere elsewhere. They are taking undue advantage and usurping authority. Why are they opening the room, and what do they want to prove?" Shailendra Goswami questioned.

Sharing similar concerns, Supreme Court lawyer and temple sewayat (servitor) Sumit Goswami argued that this interim committee was not granted powers to open the 'Toshkhana'; their responsibility was to address devotees' concerns and ensure ease of 'darshan' of Shree Bankey Bihari Thakur.

He claimed that live streaming of the process was not conducted.

However, Shailendra Goswami confirmed that videography was performed. One Goswami member of the high-powered committee, Srivardhan Goswami, was absent due to health reasons, he added.

Gyanendra Goswami, a functionary at the Banke Bihari temple, expressed concerns about the opening of the room, stating that the process should have been conducted with greater transparency.

He also questioned why media was not permitted access. The committee, he suggested, had forgotten the primary objective established by the Supreme Court during its formation: to improve facilities for devotees.