Of the thousands of kābā rats in the temple, there are a few white kābā, which are considered to be especially holy. They are believed to be the manifestations of Karni Mata herself and her four nephews.

Jun 25, 2015 · At India's Karni Mata Temple, followers are devoted to the 20,000+ rats that live inside the place of worship. Here's why.

At first glance, this temple in northern India looks like any other. But this temple also houses other deities. And there's not one...not two...but more than...

Jan 17, 2014 · At Karni Mata temple in Rajasthan, rats aren't shooed away — they're worshipped. Thousands of the rodents scurry across the temple's checkerboard floors, getting tangled in each other's tails and...

May 3, 2024 · Visitors from all over India leave their shoes at the door as they enter to pay homage to the 20,000 rats that make the temple their home. There is a legend about a 14th century mystic matriarch, Karni Mata, who was considered the incarnation of Durga, the goddess of power and victory.

Jan 1, 2025 · Are you ready to meet thousands of rats at Karni Mata Temple?! Make sure you read my post with all my top tips to prepare for the Temple of Rats!

Jun 4, 2018 · At the Karni Mata Temple in northwestern India, the basic brown rat is pampered, fed, sacred and revered. Story and Photos by Gessi Kanellopoulos. It was 7:30 in the morning, and I had finished checking out of my hotel in Bikaner, a city in …

Apr 29, 2020 · Rat is considered as the divine vehicle of Lord Vinayaka, and they are believed to be the favourite creatures of Karni Mata, a form of Mata Durga Devi. The great King Mahabali, who was the grandson of Bhakta Prahalad, in his previous birth took the form of a rat, and due to his intelligence, he was blessed by Lord Shiva to be born as King Mahabali.

Oct 25, 2016 · Inside the temple, the 20,000 rats that inhabit it run freely, some eating and some sleeping awkwardly on metal railings. Called kabbas (little children), the rats subsist on seeds, milk, and coconut shells. They are fed by the Depavats family, temple devotees of …

Dec 6, 2016 · In a land of stunning monuments, it might appear underwhelming, but once you get closer the senses go to work. And by far its strangest site has to be Karni Mata—the temple of rats.