Historical Period16c CE
15th–16th c. CE; temple expansion 20th c.
📷 Günther Jontes · [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0) · source
Deities
Karṇī Mātā of Deshnoke
Karṇī Mātā — the "rat-goddess" of Bikaner
Karṇī Mātā — the "rat-goddess" of Bikaner
Karṇī Mātā (1387–1538 CE) was a Charan community woman-saint who attained divine status. The temple at Deshnoke is famous for housing ~25,000 sacred black rats (kabās) who are believed to be the reincarnations of her devotees — the sons and grandsons of Karṇī Mātā returned as rats after her curse on Yama (god of death) that her clan would not die. Pilgrims eat food nibbled by the rats (considered highly auspicious). Sighting a rare white rat is said to grant extreme blessings. The temple's marble facade was donated by the Maharajas of Bikaner.
Daily aarati at dawn and dusk; abhisheka with water/milk/turmeric; kumkum offering; red hibiscus; oil lamp. For Tantric or non-Brahmin shrines: goat-sacrifice (traditional; increasingly symbolic pumpkin-breaking).
Hinduism's goddess-traditions are vast and diverse — 51 Shakti Pīṭhas, 10 Mahāvidyās, 9 Navadurga, 8 Ashta Matrika, hundreds of regional forms. Each is a distinct face of the one supreme Mahā-Devī.
