Karni Mata Temple

Karni Mata Temple is a famous Hindu temple located in Bikaner district of Rajasthan. The idol of Goddess Karni Mata is installed in it. It is located in Deshnoke, 30 kilometers south of Bikaner. Karni Mata was born in the Charan clan. This temple is also called the temple of rats.The sight of white Kaaba (rat) in the temple is considered auspicious. About 25000 rats live in this holy temple.  People also come here especially to see the marble carvings at the main entrance of the temple. The silver doors, gold canopy and the large silver plate kept here for the offerings to rats (Kaaba) are also worth seeing.

Devotees believe that Karni Devi was the incarnation of Sakshat Maa Hinglaj Mata. About six hundred and fifty years ago, at the place where this grand temple is situated, the mother used to worship her favorite deity while living in a cave. This cave is still situated in the temple premises. After the mother passed away, as per her wish, her idol was installed in this cave. The idol installed in Mata’s own temple was made by Khati, a blind devotee. It is said that the states of Bikaner and Jodhpur were established only with the blessings of Mother Karni.

The grandeur of the temple made of marble is worth seeing. As soon as you cross the main door and enter the temple, you are stunned to see the chaos of rats. The abundance of rats can be gauged from the fact that to walk, one has to take the next step not by taking it, but by dragging it on the ground. In this way, people drag their steps and reach in front of the idol of Karni Maa.

Rats are present in the entire temple premises. They jump on the bodies of devotees, but do not harm anyone. To protect these rats from eagles, vultures and other animals, fine mesh has been installed at the open places in the temple. Due to the presence of these rats, this temple of Shri Karni Devi is also famous by the name of rat temple. It is believed that if a devotee sees a white rat here, it is considered very auspicious.

The procession of rats during Mangala Aarti at 5 in the morning and Aarti at 7 in the evening is worth seeing.

according to the story

The story of Karni Maa is the story of an ordinary rural girl, but many miraculous incidents are also said to be associated with her, which relate to different stages of her age. It is said that Shri Karni Jyotirlin took place on Thursday, Chaitra Shukla Navami of Samvat 1595. The service and worship of Shri Karni Mata Ji has been going on here since Chaitra Shukla 14 of Samvat 1595.

Karni ji’s incarnation in Charan clan, V.No. 1444 Ashwini Shukla Saptami Friday accordingly took place on 20th September, 1387 AD in the house of Mehaji Kiniya in Suap (Jodhpur). Karaniji took incarnation for public welfare and made the then forest state his workplace. It was Karniji who blessed Rao Bika to establish a kingdom in the jungle region. Karni Mata had established ten thousand bigha ‘Oran’ (grazing place for animals) in Deshnok for the welfare of human beings and animals and birds. Karni Mata had freed Rao Shekha of Pugal from the prison of Multan (presently located in Pakistan) and got her daughter Rangkanwar married to Rao Bika. Dashrath Meghwal was the shepherd of Karniji’s cows.

Dashrath Meghwal lost his life while fighting to protect the cows from dacoits Penthad and Pooja Mahala. Karni Mata ended the bandit Penthad and Pooja Mahal and made Dashrath Meghwal revered, which is a symbol of social harmony.

architecture

This temple was built by Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner in Rajput style around 15-20th century. Maharaja Ganga Singh also made silver doors in front of the temple. The image of the goddess is enshrined in the inner sanctum. The temple also had some expansion done by Kundan Lal Verma of Hyderabad in 1999.

traffic

Buses, jeeps and taxis are easily available from Bikaner to reach Maa Karni Temple. This temple is near Deshnok railway station situated on Bikaner-Jodhpur railway route. A huge fair is also organized at this temple twice a year on Navratri in the month of Chaitra and Ashwin. Then a large number of people reach here and celebrate their wishes. There are also Dharamshalas near the temple for the devotees to stay.