Bikaner - Karni Mata Rat Temple

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Deshnok is a pilgrim centre for worshippers of Karni Mata considered an incarnation of Goddess Durga and who lived here in the 14th century and who it was said performed many miracles. Originally the village was called 'dus-nok', meaning ‘ten corners’ as it was formed by taking ten corners of ten villages.

Unprepossessing, the temple nevertheless has a beautiful marble facade, with solid silver doors built by Maharaja Ganga Singh. Across the doorway are more silver doors with panels depicting the various legends of Karni Mata. The image of the Goddess is enshrined in the inner sanctum.

This is, of course, not the unique reason to consider a visit. The temple is also home to thousands of rats, said to be the descendants of Karni Mata and thus holy and they have free reign throughout the temple precinct.

Visitors leave their shoes at the entrance and pad their way across the stone floor. On a hot day evidence of the rats is not immediately apparent, they lie still, resting. Slowly though the visitor sees them, a twitch here and a scurry there. The pilgrims buy prasad, holy food, from the Brahmins with which to feed the rats and thus they remain here, in the temple. A visit is not for the squeamish.

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