Hinduism in India is ancient, and its roots run deep. It is a faith where not only are deities in human form revered, but all living beings are respected. Today, we will tell you about a temple where rats are honored just like a deity.

The Karni Mata Temple in Bikaner, Rajasthan, is one of the region's most famous pilgrimage sites. Dedicated to Maa Karni—whom locals regard as an incarnation of Goddess Durga—the temple honors a figure who was a Hindu warrior-saint belonging to the Charan caste and lived during the 14th century.

Karni Mata is worshipped with great reverence and respect by the local people. While there are many temples dedicated to Maa Karni across the country, the one located in the town of Deshnok, 30 kilometers from Bikaner, is the most renowned.

What makes the Maa Karni Temple so special?
You might be surprised to learn that the temple is famous not for its architecture, but for being home to over 25,000 rats that roam the premises fearlessly. Emerging from cracks in the walls and floors, these rats often scurry right over the feet of visiting devotees.

Most astonishingly, food nibbled by these temple rats is not considered impure or spoiled; instead, consuming it is viewed as a sacred act. People from across India and the world travel here to witness this extraordinary sight.

Devotees also bring offerings such as milk, sweets, and various other *prasad* (sacred food offerings) for the rats. While the majority of the 25,000 rats are black, spotting a white rat is considered particularly auspicious, as they are believed to be incarnations of Maa Karni and her sons.

Why is a gold rat offered?
Devotees visiting the temple attract the rats by offering sweets. Devotees visiting the temple are particularly mindful of the fact that harming or killing a rat—even accidentally—is considered a grave sin.

Anyone who causes harm to a rat is required to offer a rat made of gold or silver at the temple as a replacement for the deceased rat.

A Legend Associated with Maa Karni
There are many fascinating legends associated with Karni Mata. Among them, the most well-known story concerns her stepson, Laxman. One day, while drinking water from the Kapil Sarovar in the Kolayat tehsil, Laxman drowned.

Grieved by her stepson's death, Karni Mata prayed to Yama, the God of Death. Although Yama initially refused the request to revive her son, he was eventually moved by her sorrow and unwavering determination; he accepted her plea and brought back to life not only Laxman but all of Karni Mata's sons, reincarnating them as rats.

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