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| Karni Mata Temple, Bikaner |
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Karni Mata temple is situated in Deshnoke, a small town near Nokha in Bikaner district. Karni Mata Temple is dedicated to Karni Mata, a famous mystic of her times, believed to be an incarnation of goddess
Durga. Legend goes that she foretold the victory and success of Rao Bika and the prophecy came true. Today along with her, thousands of rats are revered here. This strange mode of worship owes to the belief, that the souls of her devotees are housed in these rats, and consequently they must be protected and well fed. The main entrance of the temple is intricately carved in marble. Karni Mata laid the foundation of Deshnoke and her principal followers, Charans as well as the rulers of Bikaner worshipped her as a goddess. |
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History of the Karni Mata Temple |
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The story of the temple is that a woman brought the body of her recently dead son to Karni Mata and asked her to restore the boy to life. Karni Mata fell into a deep trance and encountered
Yamaraja, the lord of death. But he
told her that the boy had already accepted another body and could not be recalled. Karni refused to accept this and said that Yamaraja would no longer govern her tribe of
Charans. At death they would enter the bodies of kabas,
or sacred rats, and when the rats died they would be reborn as Charans.
Karni Mata Fair
Karni Mata fair is held twice a year at Deshnoke in the month of Vaishakha (April to May) and Kartika (October to November). The devotees came to Deshnoke to worship goddess Durga and her incarnations. The Rajputs also bring their children on jadula (their first hair cut) and place them at the deity's feet for blessing.
How to reach here
The Karni Mata temple is connected by rail and road with Bikaner, Nagaur, Jodhpur and Jaipur and regular buses ply on these routes. |
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