This temple is famous for its black rats. They are treated as pious and are also given protection in the temple. You will get to see this at Bikaner, Rajasthan. Karni Mata is a temple located in a small town of Deshnoke, Bikaner in Rajasthan. Karni Mata is also referred to as ‘Nari Bai’.
The legend goes that Karni Mata, a mystic matriarch from the 14th century, was an incarnation of Durga, the goddess of power and victory. At some point
during her life, the child of one of her clansmen died. She attempted to bring the child back to life, only to be told by Yama, the god of death, that he had
already been reincarnated.
Karni Mata had cut a deal with Yama: From that point forward, all of her tribe people would be reborn as rats until they could be born back into the clan.
The most intriguing aspect is the 20,000-odd rats that call this temple as their home. These holy animals are called as ‘kabbas’ or ‘little children’ are fed grains, milk, and coconuts shells from large metal bowls.
Water the rats drink from is considered holy, and eating the rats leftovers is said to bring good fortune to those making the pilgrimage to the temple.
Smrutirekha
