Karni Mata Temple - Deshnok, Bikaner , Rajasthan

Location and Architecture

Ninteen miles south of Bikaner, on the road to Jodhpur stands the shrine of Karni Mata. a charan woman endowed with spiritual powers. The temple itself is extremely attractive with a richly carved entrance and solid silver doors adorned with images of Gods and Goddesses. These were donated by Maharaja Ganga Singh.

One panel features Karni Mata standing on a footstool holding a trident, surrounded by rats.  These harmless creatures scurry around the huge metal bowls full of sweetmeats, milk and grain donated by devotees. it is is considered highly auspicious to see a white rat near the vermilion splashed image of Karni Mata.

The main entrance, which somewhat resembles Marble Arch, is set in a long red-painted curtain wall which surrounds the compound and gives it rather the appearance of a small fort: especially as it has squat hexagonal towers at the corners. The entrance is flanked by two life size white marble carvings of Durgha’s mount

What’s Unique about Karni Mata Temple Temple – The Charisma

Karniji’s temple at Deshnok is home to  more than 20,000 little Rat, who swarm all over any proffered food, and sometimes over humans in the manner of the pigeons in Trafalgar Square. Beautifully carved marble arch which leads to a black and white marbles courtyard topped by wire mesh to protect the rats from eagles, crows and hawks.

Male and female rats in that area are called chuhas and chuhiyas – but the rats of Karni Mata are called kabas. Locals belive that the Kabas carry the souls of the futurecharans who inhabit the region.

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