Karni Mata
Rats Enjoying Milk.
Rat Carving in Silver.
Rats Drinking Milk.
Karni Mata Picture in Silver
These photographs are taken from Deshnok which is located at a distance of around 32 Kms from Bikaner which is a city of Rajasthan.The Karni Mata temple, Deshnok is situated 30 km from Bikaner. The temple is dedicated to an early 15th century mystic, considered to be a reincarnation of Goddess Durga. This temple is quite famous for a large number of brown rats running around the temple complex fearlessly. It is believed that the souls of dead Charans (traditional bards, the devotees of Mata) reside in these rats. It is considered very lucky seeing a white rat or when a rat runs over your foot.During the time of aarti, these rats are offered sweets, grains, etc by the devotees.The thing which strikes everyone with wonder is the presence of thousands and thousands of rats in the temple which freely moved about unscared of anyone Despite the presence of the pilgrims in great numbers. At no time in the past plague broke out here. There was no incidence of plague at all. People deem this as an miracle of Karanimata. In the whole world this is a unique temple where rats freely move out.
The priests of Shakta cult worshiped the Goddess. The rats are fed on Milk and Laddu. The descendants of Karnimata who are Depawats of the Charan Community worship the Goddess. Whenever someone's wishes are fulfilled, he prepares prasada in two big cauldrons of iron. This prasada is distributed amongst who are present and all who visit.
