History, Importance, Timings, Miracle, Festivals, Fair, Interesting Facts and Travel Guide of Karni Mata Temple, near Bikaner, Rajasthan, India
Karni Mata Temple is situated in small town named Deshnok of Bikaner district of Rajasthan, India at just 30 kms from Bikaner. The Karani Mata temple is also known as “Temple of Rats’ as there are more than 20,000 rats lived in the temple campus. These rats are believed to be highly sacred and devotee and tourist across the nation visits here in respect of these rats throughout the year. These rats are also known as Kabbas or little children. This temple is solely dedicated to Goddess Karni Mata the incarnation of Goddess Durga - the goddess of power and victory. Karni mata is also the Kul Devi of Bikaner's royal family. As per the temple laws, if one of the rats is accidentally killed then it must be replaced with a rat made of silver or gold.
As per the legend, Karni Mata temple history is 14th century dated back, Lakshamana, the step son of Karni Mata fallen down in the Kapil Sarovar while he was eating water from it and died. Thus, Goddess Karni Mata requested Lord Yama – God of death to give the life back. In first attempt Yama refuse to return life back but ultimately permitting Laxman and all of Karni Mata's male children to be reincarnated as rats here. It is believed to be highly fortunate to have a white Kaaba run across your feet. Around 600 families of the Charan clan are believed to be the descendants of Karni Mata and will be reincarnated as rats.
As per another folklore about the presence of Rats in temple is, around 20,000 soldiers abandoned a battle and came to Deshnok to save their life. Karni Mata became very angry on them as they left their work and escape from battle field. However, later on, Goddess saved their lives and offered them to stay in the temple in the form of rats.
The present temple structure of Karni Mata temple was built by Maharaja Ganga Singh Ji of Bikaner in 20th century. Temple was built in late Mughal architectural style where marble front of the temple with solid silver doors look fabulous. Within the temple campus there are more silver doors, representing the several legends of Goddess Karni Mata. The beautiful idol of Goddess is placed in the inner sanctum of Temple.
Devotee and tourist offer the Prasadi to Rats and then visitors and devotee eat sweets and drink the milk which is tasted by the rats. But no evidence found of plague or other disease in the past due to this Prasad, which is really the miracle of Karni Mata. Almost all rats are black but there are few white rat as well, these white rats are believed to be highly sacred to have darshan of them.
Karni Mata fair is arranged twice in year during Chaitra month Navratri – (around March or April) and Ashwin month Navratri – (around September or October). During this festival thousands of devotee visits here around the India.
How to Reach Karni Mata Temple, near Bikaner, Rajasthan, India
As Karni Mata temple is very popular across India, thus very well connected with all major cities of India via road, rail and air network. Its very near to Bikaner one of the largest city, ancient town, district head quarter of Bikaner district, thus it is very well connected via Road, Rail and Air Network with all the major cities of India. Bikaner railway station is major junction in north western railway zone thus it is connected with all major cities like Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Surat, Mumbai, Vadodara, Haridwar, Nagpur etc. Bikaner has domestic airport from where tourist can get regular flight to Delhi and Jaipur.
