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Karni Mata
temple is located in Deshnoke, a small town near Nokha in Bikaner
district. Karni Mata Temple is devoted to Karni Mata, a famous
spiritualist of her times, she is believed to be an embodiment of
goddess Durga. According to a legend, she predict the victory and
success of Rao Bika and the prediction come true. Today along with
her, thousands of rats are respected here. This strange mode of
worship owes to the belief, that the souls of her devotees are housed
in these rats and as a result they must be protected and well fed. The
entrance of temple is fully decorated with large silver gates and
marble carvings.
Foundation
of temple in Deshnoke is laid near Bikaner, to follow the
disappearance of Karni Mata from her home. The main followers of
Karnimata worshipped her as a goddess. The temple is well-known for
its black rats, which are treated as holy and are given protection in
the temple. Another temple which is devoted to her during her lifetime
differs from others in that it does not have an image or idol of her
inside, but it contains a foot-print to indicates her visit to that
place. Karni mata is also known by the name of Nari Bai. |
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There is a
legend which is associated with Karni Mata Temple. Once upon a time, a
lady take the body of her recently dead son to Karni Mata and pray to
her, to bring back the life of her son. Karni Mata fell into a deep
dream and meet Yamaraja, the lord of death. But he told her that the
boy had already accepted another body and it is not possible now to
bring back his life. Karni Mata declines to accept this and said that
Yamaraja would no longer rule her tribe of Charans. They would enter
the bodies of holy rats at death and when the rats died they will take
birth as Charans. |
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Karni Mata
fair is celebrated two times in a year, at Deshnoke in the month of
Vaishakha (April to May) and Kartika (October to November). Devotees
from all over came to Deshnoke to worship goddess Durga and her
embodiments. Rajputs also come with their childrens on jadula (first
hair cut of childrens), to take the blessing of Mata for their
childrens. |
