Karni Mata

Infobox Mandir
proper_name = Karni Mata
date_built = 15^th Century
primary_deity = Durga
architecture = Mughal
location = Deshnoke, Rajasthan

Karni Mata (Hindi: करणी माता मंदिर) temple is a 600-year-old Hindu temple at Deshnoke, Rajasthan, India. Karni Mata is believed to be the incarnation of Hindu goddess Durga. The peculiarity of this temple is that thousands of rats are worshipped here. The temple in its present form was completed in the early 20th century in late Mughal style by Maharaja Ganga Singh.

This temple is dedicated to Karni Mata. There is a legend that she prophesied the victory of Rao Bika. The rats are seen as holy, owing to the belief that the souls of the followers of Karni Mata are in these rats and thus they must be looked after. The huge silver gates to the temple, and the marble carvings were a donation of Maharaja Ganga Singh.

Throughout the year pilgrims from anywhere come to pay religious tribute to Karni Mata. Outside Rajasthan she is respected and loved in areas like Gujrat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana. During Navratri thousands come to the temple on foot. If one of the rats is killed, it must be replaced with one made of solid gold.

External links

* [http://www.karnimata.com Karnimata.com]
* [http://cj_whitehound.madasafish.com/Rats_Nest/Ship_Rats/Deshnok.htm#Karni Karni] Explanation of Karni (Karniji)
* [http://cj_whitehound.madasafish.com/Rats_Nest/Ship_Rats/Deshnok.htm Deshnok] Overview of the Indian temple where ship rats are revered
* [http://www.religiousportal.com/KarniMataTemple.html Read Details about Karni Mata Temple]
* [http://blog.hotelclub.com/karni-mata-the-rat-temple/ Karni Mata -- The Rat Temple]
* [http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/06/0628_040628_tvrats.html National Geographic News: Rats Rule at Indian Temple]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACzWdSfZXmw Deshnok Temple] A three-minute video news report on Karni Mata, a/k/a the "Bagwati Karniji" temple in Deshnoke, Rajasthan. Accessed August 10, 2007.