Among all Rajasthan’s Temple, the Karni Mata between Bikaner and Jodhpur at Deshnok in Western Rajasthan must be unique for its most important occupants are rats.

Karni Mata – a female saint is the local Rajasthani incarnation of the mother Goddess, born in 1387. Karni Mata is the patron Goddess of the Maharajas of Bikaner – the rulers never engaged in battle without first seeking the saint’s blessing.

Karni Mata Temple was built in the 16th century. The Temple in white marble has lavishly decorated gateways, pavilions, columns and balconies. The silver doors of the Sanctuary where She is shown with the Sun and the Moon and a pair of rats on either side, are particularly admirable. It houses the image of the saint believed to be carved by a blind artisan Bana whose eye sight was restored by the miraculous powers of Karni Mata.

Legend has it that Karni Mata - earlier name Karanji was born in the family of traditional bards – Charan. Once the dead body of a boy was brought to her, the parents begging her to restore the boy to life or else their line would die out. Karni  confronted the Lord of Death – Yama, asking for boy’s soul, but Yama pleaded helplessness and told that it was no longer in his power to grants as it had already been reincarnated. Karni swore that now onwards none of Charans should ever come under Yama’s power but that when they died they should inhabit the bodies of rats. These rats are believed to be the repositories of the soul of dead Charans. These live sacred rats are called Kabas and it is prohibitive to kill them. Sighting a white rat among these brown rats is considered very auspicious. The Temple at Deshnok is 32 Km from Bikaner.