Karni Mata Temple

Karni Mata Temple[1] (Hindi: करणी माता मंदिर) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Karni Mata at Deshnoke, 30 km from Bikaner, in Rajasthan, India. It is also known as the Temple of Rats.

Karni Mata Temple
करणी माता मंदिर
Karni Mata Temple
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictBikaner
DeityDurga
Location
LocationDeshnoke
StateRajasthan
CountryIndia
Location in Rajasthan, India
Karni Mata Temple (India)
Geographic coordinates27°47′26″N 73°20′27″E
Architecture
TypeRajput
CreatorMaharaja Ganga Singh
Completed15th - 20th century

The temple is famous for the approximately 25,000 black rats that live, and are revered, in the temple. These holy rats are called kabbas, and many people travel great distances to pay their respects. The temple draws visitors from across the country for blessings, as well as curious tourists from around the world.[2]

The legend

Legend has it that Laxman, son of Karni mata, drowned in a pond in Kapil Sarovar in Kolayat Tehsil while he was attempting to drink from it. Karni Mata implored Yama, the god of death, to revive him. First refusing, Yama eventually relented, permitting Laxman and all of Karni Mata's male children to be reincarnated as rats.[3]

Eating food that has been nibbled on by the rats is considered to be a "high honour".[4] If one of them is killed, it must be replaced with another one made of solid silver.

Architecture
Marble carvings at The Temple.

The building was completed in its current form in the early 20th century in the late Mughal style by Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner.

In front of the temple is a beautiful marble facade, which has solid silver doors built by Maharaja Ganga Singh. Across the doorway are more silver doors with panels depicting the various legends of the Goddess. The image of the Goddess is enshrined in the inner sanctum.

White rats
White rat at the Karni Mata temple

Out of all of the thousands of rats in the temple, there are a few white rats, which are considered to be especially holy. They are believed to be the manifestations of Karni Mata herself and her four sons. Sighting them is a special blessing and visitors put in extensive efforts to bring them forth, offering prasad, a sweet holy food. There is not any case of any disease being spread by the rats to date.

Worship and fair

Worship
Devotees performing the aarti at Karni Mata Temple.

The temple is opened to the public early in the morning at 04:00. Charan priests perform Mangla-Ki-Aarti and offer bhog (special food) in worship. Devotees make offerings to the rats, which roam about the temple in large numbers and are considered auspicious. There are two kinds of offerings made: the 'dwar-bhent' is attributed to the priests and the workers, while the 'kalash-bhent' is utilised for the temple maintenance and development.

Karni Mata Fair

Karni Mata Fair is held twice a year at Deshnok:

  • The first and larger fair is held in March–April during the Navratras from Chaitra Shukla Ekam to Chaitra Shukla Dashmi.
  • The second fair is held in September–October, also during the Navratras, from Ashvin Shukla to Ashwin Shukla Dashmi.

During Navratri thousands of people travel to the temple by foot.

Appearances in media

The temple appeared on the first season of the American reality television series The Amazing Race.[5]

Because of its revered rat population, the temple was featured in the 2016 documentary film Rats, directed by Morgan Spurlock.[6]

See also

References
  1. "Karni Matha Temple The Rat Temple of Rajasthan". www.rajasthantourplanner.com. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  2. Rats. Dir. Morgan Spurlock. Perf. Dr. Michael Blum, Ed Sheehan, Bobby Corrigan . Discovery Channel, 2016. Netflix. Chapter: Temple of the Rats
  3. Deshnok – Kani Mata Temple India, by Joe Bindloss, Sarina Singh, James Bainbridge, Lindsay Brown, Mark Elliott, Stuart Butler. Published by Lonely Planet, 2007. ISBN 1-74104-308-5. Page 257.
  4. Langton, Jerry (2007). Rat: How the World's Most Notorious Rodent Clawed Its Way to the Top. Macmillan. pp. 125–128. ISBN 978-0-312-36384-0.
  5. "7 Amazing 'Amazing Race' Tasks to Recreate and Locations to Visit ..." All women's talk. 5 May 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  6. Rebecca Hawkes (26 September 2016). "Rats: is Morgan Spurlock's new horror doc the most disgusting film of the year?". The Telegraph. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
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