Karni Mata temple — The Rat temple of Rajasthan.

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Karni Mata Temple in Rajasthan, India. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga. The temple is famous for the approximately 25,000 black rats that live, and are respected, inside the temple. these holy rats are known as kabbas, and lots of people travel high-quality distances to pay their respects. The temple is domestic to over 20,000 rats, that are dealt with as sacred. consequently, rats here are fed, protected, and worshipped. The temple attracts traffic from throughout the country for advantages, in addition to curious travelers from around the sector. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Karni, who is regarded because of the incarnation of Maa Durga, the goddess of power and victory. inside the 14th century, Goddess Karni is stated to have lived and achieved many miracles in the course of her life.the existing Deshnoke city become established by means of her in 1476. This temple was created following her mysterious disappearance from her domestic. The Karni Mata Temple changed into completed inside the early twentieth century in the overdue Mughal style via Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner. The temple became in addition improved through Kundanlal Verma of Hyderabad-primarily based Karni Jewellers in 1999. The silver gates to the temple and the marble carvings were also donated by way of him. The image of Karni Mata is 75 cms tall, decked with a mukut (crown), and a garland of vegetation. Many holes may be visible inside the courtyard of this temple. inside the place of those holes, one could see rats engaged in distinctive sports. but, it isn't the structure of this temple that draws travelers; it's far the heaps of rats that inhabit it.
 

The temple has around 20,000 rats. Out of all of those rats, there are some white rats, which can be considered to be in particular holy. they may be believed to be the manifestations of Karni Mata herself and her 4 sons. The followers accept as true with that after they die, they too may be reincarnated as a rat and subsequently, whilst a rat dies, it'll be reincarnated as a human once more.
bizarre but proper, eating food that has been nibbled on by means of the rats is considered to be an "excessive honor". it is seemed auspicious if a rat (Kaba) runs across one's feet. Even, a glimpse of Kaba (white rat) is taken into consideration promising and fruitful.peculiarly sufficient, these rats do not chew the barefooted pilgrims who input the temple. instead, they silently play with them, eat with them, run around them, and sit on their laps - which the devotees remember to be the benediction of the Goddess. An exciting fact is that these rats by no means depart the temple even though they're loose to do so. seemingly, even all through the worst of the plague, the metropolis of Deshnoke turned into no longer affected. Worshippers make pilgrimages to the Karni Mata Temple no longer most effective to worship the rats, however, to additionally heal their ailments.

 

History
 

As per legacy,Laxman, Karni Mata's stepson, 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. The story behind rats at the temple is different according to some local folklore. According to this version, a 20,000 strong army deserted a nearby battle and came running to Deshnoke. Upon learning of the sin of desertion, punishable by death, Karni Mata spared their lives but turned them into rats, and offered the temple as a future place to stay. The army of soldiers expressed their gratitude and promised to serve Karni Mata evermore. Eating food that has been nibbled on by the rats is considered to be a "high honor". If one of them is killed, it must be replaced with one made of solid silver.
 

Temple Opening Timings

5:00 AM - 10: 00 PM


Temple Festival

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.

 

Do:

  • Do pray your Ishta Devata before pilgrimage to Temple.
  • Do contact Temple Devasthanam information centre for enquiry, temple information and for Pooja details etc.
  • Do reserve your travel and accommodation at Temple well in advance.
  • Do bath and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
  • Do concentrate on God and Goddess inside the temple.
  • Do maintain silence and recite Om Namahsivaya or your Istamantram to yourself inside the temple.
  • Do observe ancient custom and traditions while in Temple.
  • Do respect religious sentiments at Temple.
  • Do deposit your offerings in the hundi only.


 

Don't s:

  • Do not come to Temple for any purpose other than worshipping of God and Goddess.
  • Do not smoke at Temple.
  • Do not consume alcoholic drinks at Temple.
  • Do not eat non-vegetarian food in the Kshetram.
  • Do not approach mediators for quick Darshanam. It may cause inconvenient to others.
  • Do not carry any weapon inside the temple.
  • Do not wear any head guards like helmets, caps, turbans and hats inside the temple premises.
  • Do not perform Sastanga Pranama inside the Sanctum Sanctorum.
  • Do not take much time while performing Sparsa Darshanam to God in Garbhagriha.
  • Do not buy spurious prasadams from street vendors.
  • Do not encourage beggars at Temple.
  • Do not spit or create nuisance in the premises of the temple.

Do:

  • Do pray your Ishta Devata before pilgrimage to Temple.
  • Do contact Temple Devasthanam information centre for enquiry, temple information and for Pooja details etc.
  • Do reserve your travel and accommodation at Temple well in advance.
  • Do bath and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
  • Do concentrate on God and Goddess inside the temple.
  • Do maintain silence and recite Om Namahsivaya or your Istamantram to yourself inside the temple.
  • Do observe ancient custom and traditions while in Temple.
  • Do respect religious sentiments at Temple.
  • Do deposit your offerings in the hundi only.


Don't s:

  • Do not come to Temple for any purpose other than worshipping of God and Goddess.
  • Do not smoke at Temple.
  • Do not consume alcoholic drinks at Temple.
  • Do not eat non-vegetarian food in the Kshetram.
  • Do not approach mediators for quick Darshanam. It may cause inconvenient to others.
  • Do not carry any weapon inside the temple.
  • Do not wear any head guards like helmets, caps, turbans and hats inside the temple premises.
  • Do not perform Sastanga Pranama inside the Sanctum Sanctorum.
  • Do not take much time while performing Sparsa Darshanam to God in Garbhagriha.
  • Do not buy spurious prasadams from street vendors.
  • Do not encourage beggars at Temple.
  • Do not spit or create nuisance in the premises of the temple.