Rodent menace: Servitors say no to rat repellent machine in Puri Srimandir 

The rat-repellent machine donated by a devotee to Srimandir in Puri to do away with the rat menace can’t be used in the sanctum sanctorum of the 12th-century shrine. 

This machine named ‘Earth Innovation’, which is currently being used at the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) office for testing purposes, produces a kind of sound to repellent rodents. It is said that the humming sound produced by the machine would disturb the Holy Trinity’s sleep. This is the reason why the machine can’t be used in the sanctum sanctorum. 

“The decision has been taken after deliberations with the servitors,” said JItendra Sahu, Niti Administrator of SJTA. 

“The machine is donated by a devotee. It works like a repellent. It generates a kind of sound to drive away mice. We had a preliminary meeting to discuss the usefulness of the machine in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. Since it produces a sound, we have reached a consensus that it cannot be used in the temple,” said Sahu. 

It has been a tradition in the temple that there should be pin-drop silence and pitch-darkness from the Jay Vijay dwar (gate) to the sanctum sanctorum when the deities go to sleep. As the machine is producing a kind of sound, servitors objected its use.  

Presently, a traditional method to tackle the rat menace is in place. Wooden traps with molasses inside them are being used to get rid of rats.
 

(Reported by Madhusudan Mishra, OTV)