The KarniMata Temple is a famous Hindu shrine in Deshnoke, Rajasthan, renowed globally as the ”Temple of Rates”. It is a dedicated to Karni Mata, a 14th century mtstic revered as an incarnation of the Goddess Durga. the temple is home to thousands of protected, sacred black rats. Known locally as a kabas,, more than 20,000 rats roam freely and are fed by priests and devotees. Spotting one of the rare white rate is considered highly auspicious and brings immense good fortune. It is believed that Karni Mata pleaded with Yamraj (the god of death) to reincarnate her stepon. Yamaraj granted that members of the Charan lineage (her clan) would be reincranated as rates before being reborn as humans. Karni Mata’s stepson Laxman drowed in Kapil sarovar. She asked Yama, god of Death, to revive him Yama refused saying he was reincarnted. Karni Mata made a deal: all her tribe’s people would to be reborn to as rats until they could be born back into clan.
- Where: Deshnoke town, 30km south of Bikaner, Rajasthan.
- Famous As: ”Temple of Rats”/”Rat Tample”.
- Diety: Karni Mata, incarnation of Goddess Durga.
- Also Called: Madh Deshnoke.
