https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Karni_Mata_TempleKarni Mata Temple - Revision history2026-07-31T11:05:47ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Karni_Mata_Temple&diff=222222&oldid=prev->Krayon95 at 08:02, 8 October 20212021-10-08T08:02:49Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Hindu temple in Rajasthan, India}}{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}<br />
{{Infobox temple<br />
| name = Karni Mata Temple<br />
| image = Le temple de Karni Mata (Deshnoke) (8423353617).jpg<br />
| alt = <br />
| caption = Karni Mata Temple<br />
| map_type = India Rajasthan#India<br />
| map_caption = Location in Rajasthan, India<br />
| coordinates = {{coord|27|47|26|N|73|20|27|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}<br />
| native_name = करणी माता मंदिर<br />
| country = [[India]]<br />
| state = [[Rajasthan]]<br />
| district = [[Bikaner district|Bikaner]]<br />
| location = [[Deshnoke]]<br />
| elevation_m = <br />
| deity = Durga<br />
| festivals = <br />
| architecture = [[Rajput]]<br />
| inscriptions = <br />
| year_completed = 15th - 20th century<br />
| creator = [[Maharaja Ganga Singh]]<br />
| website = <br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Karni Mata Temple''' ([[Hindi]]: करणी माता मंदिर) is a [[Hindu temple]] dedicated to [[Karni Mata]] at [[Deshnoke]], 30&nbsp;km from [[Bikaner]], in [[Rajasthan]], [[India]]. It is also known as the '''Temple of Rats'''.<br />
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The temple is famous for the approximately 25,000 [[black rat]]s that live, and are revered, in the temple. These holy rats are considered the ancestors of [[Charan|Charans]] and called kabbas, and many people travel great distances to pay their respects. The temple draws visitors from across the country for blessings, as well as curious tourists from around the world.<ref>''Rats''. Dir. Morgan Spurlock. Perf. Dr. Michael Blum, Ed Sheehan, Bobby Corrigan . Discovery Channel, 2016. Netflix. Chapter: Temple of the Rats</ref><br />
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==The legend==<br />
Legend has it that Laxman, son of [[Karni Mata]] , drowned in a pond in Kapil Sarovar in [[Kolayat]] [[Tehsil]] while he was attempting to drink from it. [[Karni Mata]] implored [[Yama]], the god of death, to revive him. First refusing, Yama eventually relented, permitting Laxman and all of Karni Mata's male children to be reincarnated as rats.<ref name=ind>[https://books.google.com/books?id=T7ZHUhSEleYC&pg=PA257&dq=Karni+Mata&as_brr=0 Deshnok&nbsp;– Kani Mata Temple] ''India'', by Joe Bindloss, Sarina Singh, James Bainbridge, Lindsay Brown, Mark Elliott, Stuart Butler. Published by Lonely Planet, 2007. {{ISBN|1-74104-308-5}}. ''Page 257''.</ref><br />
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Eating [[prasad|food that has been nibbled on]] by the rats is considered to be a "high honour".<ref name=Rats>{{cite book|last=Langton|first=Jerry|title=Rat: How the World's Most Notorious Rodent Clawed Its Way to the Top|publisher=Macmillan|year=2007|pages=125–128|isbn=978-0-312-36384-0}}</ref> If one of them is killed, it must be replaced with another one made of solid silver.{{what?|date=April 2021}}<br />
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==Architecture==<br />
[[File:Deshnoke Karni Mata.jpg|150px|left|thumb|Marble carvings at The Temple.]]<br />
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The building was completed in its current form in the early 20th century in the late [[Architecture of Rajasthan|Rajput architecture]] by [[Maharaja Ganga Singh]] of Bikaner.<br />
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In front of the temple is a beautiful marble facade, which has solid silver doors built by Maharaja Ganga Singh. Across the doorway are more silver doors with panels depicting the various legends of the Goddess. The image of the Goddess is enshrined in the inner sanctum.<br />
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<gallery><br />
File:Sculpture_de_la_fa%C3%A7ade_(Temple_de_Karni_Mata)_(8423356373).jpg<br />
File:Sculpture_de_la_fa%C3%A7ade_(Temple_de_Karni_Mata)_(8424446468).jpg<br />
File:Sculpture_de_la_fa%C3%A7ade_(Temple_de_Karni_Mata)_(8424447300).jpg<br />
</gallery><br />
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==White rats==<br />
[[File:White rat at the temple of Karni Mata.jpg|thumb|right|White rat at the Karni Mata temple]]<br />
Out of all of the thousands of rats in the temple, there are a few white rats, which are considered to be especially holy. They are believed to be the manifestations of Karni Mata herself and her four sons. Sighting them is a special blessing and visitors put in extensive efforts to bring them forth, offering [[prasad]], a sweet holy food.<br />
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==Worship and fair==<br />
===Worship===<br />
[[File:Devotees_performing_aarti_at_Karni_Mata_Temple.jpg|thumb|right|Devotees performing the ''[[aarti]]'' at Karni Mata Temple.]]<br />
The temple is opened to the public early in the morning at 04:00. [[Charan]] priests perform Mangla-Aarti and offer bhog (special food) in worship. Devotees make offerings to the rats, which roam about the temple in large numbers and are considered auspicious. Offerings include cheese and sweets. There are also bowls of milk around the temple for the rats to enjoy. There are two kinds of offerings made: the 'dwar-bhent' is attributed to the priests and the workers, while the 'kalash-bhent' is utilized for the temple maintenance and development.<br />
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Many worshipers believe the rats' saliva has healing properties and will share food and milk with the rats. A major speaking point for the temple is that it was around before the bubonic plague.<br />
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===Karni Mata Fair===<br />
Karni Mata Fair is held twice a year at [[Deshnoke]]:<br />
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* The first and larger fair is held in March–April during the Navratras from Chaitra Shukla Ekam to Chaitra Shukla Dashmi.<br />
* The second fair is held in September–October, also during the Navratras, from Ashvin Shukla to Ashwin Shukla Dashmi.<br />
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During [[Navratri]] thousands of people make pilgrimage to the temple by foot.<br />
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==In popular culture==<br />
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The temple appeared on [[The Amazing Race 1#Leg 8 (India)|the first season]] of the American [[reality television]] series ''[[The Amazing Race (American TV series)|The Amazing Race]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://travel.allwomenstalk.com/amazing-amazing-race-tasks-to-recreate-and-locations-to-visit/|title=7 Amazing 'Amazing Race' Tasks to Recreate and Locations to Visit ...|work=All women's talk|date=5 May 2014|access-date=1 January 2020}}</ref><br />
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Because of its revered rat population, the temple was featured in the 2016 [[documentary film]] ''[[Rats (2016 film)|Rats]]'', directed by [[Morgan Spurlock]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2016/09/26/rats-is-morgan-spurlocks-new-horror-doc-the-most-disgusting-film/|title=Rats: is Morgan Spurlock's new horror doc the most disgusting film of the year?|author=Rebecca Hawkes|publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=26 September 2016|access-date=31 December 2016|newspaper=The Telegraph}}</ref><br />
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The Temple was also featured in Season 2, Episode 3 of ''[[Mighty Trains]]'' as a stop on the week-long train route of the ''[[Maharajas' Express]]''.<br />
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==Gallery==<br />
<gallery><br />
File:La statue de la déesse entourée des rats sacrés (Temple de Karni Mata) (8423510937).jpg<br />
File:Karni_Mata_Tempel_Allerh_w.jpg<br />
File:Le_temple_de_Karni_Mata_(Deshnoke)_(8423354647).jpg<br />
File:Deshnok,_Karni_Mata_Temple_(6271597223).jpg<br />
File:Rat temple.jpg<br />
File:Volets_en_argent_(Temple_de_Karni_Mata)_(8424448520).jpg<br />
</gallery><br />
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==See also==<br />
* [[Karni Mata]]<br />
* [[Savitri Mata Mandir]]<br />
* [[Tourism in Rajasthan]]<br />
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== References ==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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{{Commons category|Karni Mata Temple}}<br />
<br />
{{Hindu temples in Rajasthan}}<br />
{{Tourism in India}}<br />
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[[Category:Tourist attractions in Bikaner district]]<br />
[[Category:Hindu temples in Rajasthan]]<br />
[[Category:Hindu animal worship]]<br />
[[Category:Charan]]</div>->Krayon95