Karni Mata Temple
Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (May 24) visited the Karni Mata temple in Deshnok, a small town about 30 km from Bikaner, Rajasthan.
Important Pointers:
Location: Situated in Deshnok, around 30 km from Bikaner, Rajasthan.
Deity: Dedicated to Karni Mata, a 14th–15th century mystic and saint, believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Durga.
Birthplace of Karni Mata: Born in 1387 CE in Suwap village near Phalodi, Rajasthan.
Architecture: Built in the early 20th century by Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner, featuring Rajput architecture, a marble façade, and silver doors.
Sacred Rats (Kabas): Over 25,000 rats live in the temple and are worshipped as reincarnated devotees of Karni Mata.
White Rats: White rats are especially revered, believed to be Karni Mata and her sons.
Religious Legend: According to legend, Karni Mata pleaded with Yama to revive her stepson Lakshman, who was later reborn as a rat along with other descendants.
Devotional Practices: Devotees offer milk and sweets to the rats; eating food nibbled by rats is considered auspicious.
Temple Rule: If a rat is accidentally killed, the devotee must replace it with a silver or gold rat idol.
Karni Mata Fair: Held twice annually during Navratri, drawing thousands of pilgrims from across the country.
Military Association: The temple has traditional links with the armed forces, especially the 19 Rajput Battalion and 41 Field Regiment Artillery.