Karni Mata Temple, Deshnoke –
Religious Significance
This temple is famously called as the Temple of
Rats. The temple has approximately 25,000 rats. These
rats are revered in the temple. These rats are considered the ancestors
of Charans and called kabbas. The temple draws visitors from across
the country for blessings, as well as curious tourists from around the world.
The rats are known as kabbas (little children). They are fed grains, milk, and
coconuts shells from large metal bowls.
The rats are fed by members of the extended Depavats
family. There are 513 Depavats families and devotees to Karni Mata. Though most
of the devotees work at the temple in shifts based on the lunar cycle, some
families live in the temple permanently, taking care of the rats and sweeping
the floor of excrement and food crumbs. The water drunk by the rat and the food
leftovers by the rat are considered holy. By doing so, it is said to bring good
fortune to the devotees.
It is said that if any one of the rats is accidentally
killed, it must be replaced with a rat made of silver or gold. Shoes are not
allowed in the temple, and it is considered auspicious for a rat to run over
your feet. Out of all the rats, white rats are held specifically sacred as they
are believed to be the incarnations of Karni Mata 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.
Because of its revered rat population, the temple was
featured in the 2016 documentary film Rats, directed by Morgan
Spurlock. The temple appeared on the first season of the
American reality television series The Amazing Race. 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. Rajputs also come with
their children on jadula (first haircut of children), to take the blessing of
the goddess for their children.
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