Why Do Some Temples Have Rat Worship Karni Mata Temple Complete Guide

The Temples Have Rat Worship Karni Mata Temple in Deshnoke, Rajasthan, approximately 30 kilometers from Bikaner, is home to over 20,000-25,000 sacred rats called “kabbas” that devotees worship as reincarnated souls of the goddess Karni Mata’s family members, devotees, and descendants. These rats roam freely throughout the marble temple complex, drinking milk from silver bowls, eating grain and sweets offered by pilgrims, and are treated with profound reverence rather than disgust or fear.

The rat worship originates from a legend where Karni Mata, a 14th-15th century mystic considered an incarnation of Goddess Durga, negotiated with Yama (the god of death) to reincarnate her drowned stepson Laxman and all her male descendants and followers as rats before their next human birth, ensuring they would never truly die and would remain under her divine protection. This extraordinary theological concept transforms what most cultures consider pests into sacred beings embodying departed ancestors and spiritual guides, creating one of Hinduism’s most unique temple traditions where devotees consider sighting a rat, especially a rare white rat, as highly auspicious and receiving prasad (blessed food) that rats have touched as particularly sacred.

The temple’s architecture features stunning white marble construction with ornate silver gates, commissioned by Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner in the early 20th century with renovations modeling elements after the Taj Mahal. The main shrine houses gold idols of Karni Mata and her sisters adorned with elaborate jewelry, flowers, and clothing, while a subsidiary shrine honors Laxman, whose drowning and reincarnation legend established the temple’s sacred rat population.

Karni Mata: The Goddess Behind the Legend

Historical Figure and Divine Status

Karni Mata (1387-1538 CE) was a 14th-15th century Hindu mystic and sage born into the Charan caste in the village of Suwap near Phalodi, Rajasthan. The Charan community, traditionally bards, genealogists, and advisors to Rajput rulers, held unique religious practices including rat worship connected to their patron deity Karni Kumar, a rat-riding war god. This cultural background later influenced the temple’s distinctive rat veneration.

Karni Mata demonstrated spiritual powers from childhood, performing miracles that led devotees to recognize her as an incarnation of Goddess Durga, the supreme mother goddess in Hindu philosophy. Local legends and folklore recount numerous miraculous deeds including:

Healing the sick and injured through divine intervention
Producing water from barren desert lands
Protecting devotees from dangers and enemies
Manifesting food during famines
Helping establish the town of Deshnoke

Foundation of Deshnoke and Temple Origins

Karni Mata is believed to have helped found Deshnoke, where she established her spiritual headquarters and where devotees later built the temple in her honor. During her lifetime, she attracted a large following who revered her as a living goddess, seeking her blessings for health, prosperity, protection, and spiritual guidance.

The original 15th-century temple was relatively modest, consisting of simple structures built during or shortly after Karni Mata’s lifetime. The current magnificent white marble complex with elaborate architecture came much later through Maharaja Ganga Singh’s early 20th-century renovations.

Temples Have Rat Worship Karni Mata’s Divine Powers

Devotees believe Karni Mata possessed extraordinary divine powers (siddhis) enabling her to:

Negotiate with death itself: Her ability to bargain with Yama, the god of death, demonstrated supreme spiritual authority
Grant reincarnation boons: Ensuring her followers would be reborn in protective circumstances
Perform miracles: Manifesting divine intervention in material reality
Protect devotees: Providing divine shield from negative energies, enemies, and misfortune

These powers established her reputation not merely as a holy person but as a living manifestation of divine feminine energy (Shakti), making her worthy of temple worship and continuing devotion centuries after her physical death.

The Legend: Why Rats Are Sacred

The Story of Laxman’s Drowning

The most famous legend explaining rat worship centers on Karni Mata’s stepson (or devotee’s son, depending on version) named Laxman, who drowned in a pond near Deshnoke, specifically identified as the Kapil Sar river or lake in some accounts.

The narrative unfolds as follows:

The Tragedy: Laxman, while playing near water or attempting to drink from a pond, fell in and drowned. His body was recovered, but his soul had already departed to Yama’s realm—the land of the dead where souls await judgment and reincarnation.

Karni Mata’s Grief: Devastated by the loss, Karni Mata refused to accept death’s finality. Unlike ordinary mortals who must bow to death’s authority, she used her divine powers to confront Yama directly.

Negotiation with Yama: Karni Mata pleaded with Yama, the god of death, to restore Laxman’s life. Initially, Yama refused—death’s laws are inexorable, and souls cannot simply return to their previous bodies once departed.

The Divine Compromise: Through persistent pleading and her status as Durga’s incarnation, Karni Mata convinced Yama to grant a unique boon:

Laxman would be reincarnated not into the normal cycle where souls forget previous lives
Instead, he would be reborn as a rat, maintaining connection to his divine protector
All of Karni Mata’s male descendants, family members, and devoted followers would similarly reincarnate as rats before their next human birth
These rat incarnations would live within Karni Mata’s temple under her divine protection
They would never truly “die” in the conventional sense, as they remained within the goddess’s sacred domain

Theological Significance: This arrangement ensured that Karni Mata’s devotees would bypass the terrifying uncertainties of normal reincarnation. Instead of potentially being reborn in unfavorable circumstances (as lower beings, in suffering conditions, or forgetting their spiritual connections), they would:

Remain in sacred space (the temple)
Stay close to the divine presence (Karni Mata)
Be protected, fed, and worshipped by living devotees
Eventually reincarnate into better human births after their rat lifespans

Variations in the Legend

Different versions of the story exist:

Version 1: The deceased was Karni Mata’s own stepson Laxman

Version 2: The victim was the child of one of her clansmen or devotees

Version 3: One of her devotee’s sons died, prompting her intercession

Despite variations in whose child died, the core narrative remains consistent: Karni Mata’s divine intervention with Yama resulted in her followers being reincarnated as rats living in her temple.

The Decree and Its Implementation

Karni Mata’s dictate became spiritual law: Upon death, all her male descendants and devotees would be reborn as rats. Some accounts specify:

Male descendants particularly affected
All devoted followers included
The reincarnation occurs before their next full human birth
The rat life serves as an intermediate stage under divine protection

This transformation from pest to sacred being reflects Hindu theology’s flexibility regarding divine manifestation and reincarnation. If the goddess decrees rats sacred, they become so—divinity determines sacredness, not cultural prejudices.

The Kabbas: Sacred Rat Population

What Are Kabbas?

The rats living at Karni Mata Temple are called “kabbas”, an affectionate term meaning “little children” or “sons of Karni Mata”. This designation emphasizes their status not as animals but as reincarnated family members and devotees deserving love, care, and protection.

Population Numbers: Estimates consistently cite 20,000 to 25,000 rats residing in the temple complex. This enormous population includes:

Multiple generations born within the temple
Rats arriving from surrounding areas, possibly attracted by food abundance
Various species, though the majority are common Indian field rats

Rat Species and Characteristics

The majority are common Indian field rats (Rattus rattus), small brown or black rodents typical throughout South Asia. However, visitors report spotting:

Larger rat species among the population
Predominantly black rats dominating the visible population
The rare and highly auspicious white rats (albino variants)

The rats exhibit remarkable tolerance of human presence, having adapted over generations to:

Crowded temple conditions with thousands of daily visitors
Constant handling, feeding, and worship activities
Flash photography and tourist attention
Close proximity to devotees during prayers and circumambulation

Daily Life of Temple Rats

The kabbas lead privileged existences far removed from typical rat survival struggles:

Food Abundance: Devotees bring offerings including:

Milk poured into large silver bowls where dozens of rats drink simultaneously
Grain, especially bajra (pearl millet) and wheat
Sweets, coconut, and prasad offerings
Specially prepared food items

Protective Environment:

No predators (cats, snakes, raptors) allowed in temple precincts
Climate-controlled shelter protecting from desert heat and cold
Medical care if rats appear injured or ill
Constant human guardianship preventing harm

Sacred Status: The rats enjoy rights and privileges including:

Freedom to roam anywhere in the temple complex
Access to the main shrine and deity images
Ability to consume food offerings before human devotees
Legal and religious protection from harm

The White Rats: Ultimate Auspiciousness

Spotting a white rat among the thousands of black ones is considered supremely auspicious and a sign of direct blessing from Karni Mata herself. These rare albino rats are believed to be:

Manifestations of Karni Mata: According to legend, white rats represent Karni Mata herself and her four sons. When devotees see a white rat, they believe they’re experiencing direct darshan (sacred viewing) of the goddess in her rat form.

Extreme Rarity: With only a handful of white rats among 25,000, sighting one requires significant luck. Some devotees visit repeatedly over years hoping to glimpse these sacred beings.

Special Blessings: Those fortunate enough to see white rats receive:

Direct divine blessings from the goddess
Enhanced fulfillment of prayers and wishes
Protection from misfortune
Spiritual merit and good karma

Pilgrimage Goal: Many visitors specifically seek white rat sightings, considering their pilgrimage incomplete without this ultimate blessing.

Temple Rituals and Devotee Practices

Approaching the Temple

Visitors must follow specific protocols respecting the sacred rats:

Barefoot Entry: All devotees remove footwear before entering, walking barefoot on marble floors where thousands of rats roam. This practice:

Shows respect for sacred space
Creates intimate connection with temple environment
Demonstrates willingness to share space with holy beings
Tests devotees’ faith and devotion

Mental Preparation: Devotees mentally shift from viewing rats as pests to recognizing them as sacred reincarnated souls deserving reverence and love.

Feeding the Kabbas

Offering food to rats constitutes a primary ritual:

Milk Offerings: Devotees pour milk into large communal silver bowls positioned throughout the temple. Dozens of rats gather around these bowls, drinking together in remarkable scenes of peaceful coexistence.

Grain and Sweets: Pilgrims bring:

Bajra (pearl millet) and other grains
Coconut pieces
Traditional sweets like ladoos and pedas
Specially blessed prasad

Feeding as Worship: Providing food to kabbas equals feeding one’s own ancestors and departed loved ones, creating spiritual connection across the boundary of death.

Receiving Blessings: When rats accept food offerings, devotees interpret this as ancestors accepting their devotion and granting blessings in return.

The Sacred Prasad

Prasad at Karni Mata Temple follows unique practices that outsiders find startling:

Rat-Touched Food: Food items that rats have nibbled, walked over, or touched are considered especially sacred prasad carrying enhanced divine blessings. Devotees:

Deliberately offer food to rats first
Wait for rats to taste offerings
Then consume the same food as blessed prasad
Believe rat-touched prasad carries Karni Mata’s direct blessing

Theological Basis: Since kabbas embody reincarnated devotees and the goddess herself manifests as white rats, food they touch becomes prasad—sanctified through divine contact, not contaminated by animal contact.

Cultural Divide: This practice sharply divides believers and outsiders. While devotees consider it profoundly sacred, many visitors (even other Hindus unfamiliar with this tradition) find it difficult to accept.

Protection of Kabbas

Harming rats is strictly forbidden and considered extremely offensive:

Prohibition Against Harm: Injuring, killing, or disturbing rats incurs:

Religious offense against Karni Mata
Social censure from other devotees
Karmic consequences and bad luck
Mandatory restitution

Compensation Required: Anyone who accidentally injures or kills a rat must:

Replace the deceased rat with a solid gold or silver rat statue
Perform appropriate penance and rituals
Seek forgiveness from the goddess

This strict protection ensures rats live without fear, contributing to their remarkable tolerance of human proximity.

Temple Architecture and Layout

Exterior Design

The current temple complex showcases stunning architectural elements:

White Marble Construction: The entire structure built from pristine white marble creates visual splendor contrasting with Rajasthan’s desert landscape

Silver Gates: Ornate silver gates mark the main entrance, featuring intricate designs and religious symbols

Taj Mahal Inspiration: Maharaja Ganga Singh’s early 20th-century renovations deliberately incorporated design elements inspired by the iconic Taj Mahal, creating aesthetic parallels with India’s most famous monument

Expanded Complex: The renovations transformed the modest 15th-century temple into a two-building interconnected complex featuring:

Elaborate pillars and columns
Decorative arches and entrances
Extensive marble work and carved details
Spacious courtyards accommodating thousands of pilgrims and rats

Interior Sanctuaries

The Main Shrine: Located straight ahead from the entrance, the primary shrine houses:

Gold idols of Karni Mata cast in pure gold and adorned with:
- Elaborate clothing and textiles
- Precious jewelry
- Fresh flowers changed daily
- Decorative ornaments
Karni Mata’s sisters similarly honored with gold images
Ritual implements and worship articles

Laxman’s Shrine: A subsidiary shrine to the right honors Laxman, the stepson whose drowning and reincarnation originated the rat worship tradition. This shrine maintains direct connection to the legend explaining the temple’s unique character.

Marble Floors: Throughout the complex, polished marble floors provide walking surfaces where rats and humans intermingle freely.

The Rat Experience Inside

Visitors encounter remarkable scenes:

Ubiquitous Presence: Rats are everywhere—scurrying across floors, climbing walls, congregating around food bowls, resting on architectural features, and casually interacting with devotees.

Peaceful Coexistence: Despite thousands of rats and humans sharing cramped spaces, surprising harmony prevails. The rats show little fear, and devotees carefully navigate without disturbing the sacred beings.

Sensory Immersion: The experience engages all senses:

Visual: Constant movement of thousands of small furry bodies
Auditory: Squeaking, scratching, scurrying sounds
Olfactory: Distinctive smell from concentrated rat population
Tactile: Occasional contact as rats brush against bare feet

Theological and Cultural Context

Reincarnation in Hindu Philosophy

The Karni Mata legend exemplifies core Hindu concepts about reincarnation (samsara):

Fluid Boundaries Between Species: Souls reincarnate across species boundaries—humans can become animals and vice versa based on karma and divine intervention.

Divine Authority Over Reincarnation: While karma normally determines rebirth, gods and goddesses can modify reincarnation outcomes for their devotees, as Karni Mata did by ensuring followers became protected temple rats.

Intermediate States: The rat incarnation represents an intermediate stage between human births, serving as a period under divine protection before eventual return to human form with enhanced spiritual merit.

Divinity in All Beings

The temple demonstrates Hindu theology’s acceptance that divine presence permeates all creation:

No Absolute Hierarchy: While humans typically rank “higher” than animals, divinity transcends species categories. God can manifest as humans, animals, or any form.

Sacred Animals: Many Hindu temples feature sacred animals:

Monkeys at Hanuman temples
Snakes at Naga shrines
Cows universally sacred
Rats at Karni Mata Temple

Contextual Sacredness: The rats aren’t inherently sacred because they’re rats, but because divine decree and legendary circumstances elevated them to sacred status within this specific theological context.

Cultural Symbolism of Rats

The Charan caste’s rat veneration stems from multiple cultural factors:

Karni Kumar Worship: The rat-riding war god Karni Kumar, patron deity of the Charan community, established cultural precedent for rat reverence.

Survival Attributes: In harsh Rajasthani desert environments, rats demonstrate:

Adaptability to extreme conditions
Resourcefulness in finding food and water
Resilience and survival despite challenges
Prolific reproduction ensuring lineage continuation

These qualities resonated with desert-dwelling communities, making rats symbols of persistence and survival rather than merely pests.

Visitor Experience and Practical Information

Temple Location and Access

Karni Mata Temple location details:

Location: Deshnoke village, approximately 30 kilometers south of Bikaner, Rajasthan

How to Reach:

From Bikaner: 30 km drive (about 45 minutes by car or bus)
Nearest Railway Station: Bikaner Junction (30 km)
Nearest Airport: Jodhpur Airport (250 km); Bikaner has small airstrip with limited service

Transportation:

Private taxis and cabs available from Bikaner
Local buses connect Bikaner and Deshnoke
Many visitors include the temple in Rajasthan tourism circuits

Temple Timings and Entry

Visiting Hours: The temple typically opens early morning (around 4:00-5:00 AM) and closes late evening (around 10:00 PM), though specific hours may vary

Entry Fee: No entrance fee charged; donations voluntary

Best Visiting Times:

Early morning (6:00-9:00 AM) for fewer crowds and active rats feeding
Late afternoon (4:00-7:00 PM) for golden hour light and evening rituals
Avoid midday when desert heat makes the experience less comfortable

Duration: Plan 1-2 hours for meaningful visit including darshan, feeding rats, and exploring the complex

What to Expect and Prepare For

Mental Preparation:

Expect close encounters with thousands of rats
Prepare to walk barefoot on floors where rats freely roam
Accept that rats may touch your feet or brush against legs
Understand you’ll witness rats eating food that humans later consume as prasad

Physical Preparation:

Wear easily removable footwear (sandals rather than laced shoes)
Dress modestly and comfortably (pants/long skirts, covered shoulders)
Bring socks if concerned about foot hygiene (though many devotees prefer barefoot)
Consider bringing hand sanitizer (though use discretely to avoid offending devotees)

Photography:

Photography generally permitted; be respectful
Avoid flash directly on rats or disturbing worship
Ask permission before photographing devotees in religious activities

Health and Hygiene:

Wash hands thoroughly after visiting
Avoid touching face or eating before washing
Be cautious if you have compromised immune system
Consider whether comfort level with rat exposure justifies visit

Cultural Sensitivity

Respect Sacred Space:

Remember that for devotees, this is profoundly sacred—not a curiosity or zoo
Avoid expressions of disgust, fear, or mockery
Don’t harm or deliberately disturb rats
Follow all temple protocols and priest instructions

Appropriate Behavior:

Maintain quiet, respectful demeanor
Cover head if requested (women especially)
Remove shoes before entering temple area
Don’t eat non-prasad food inside temple
Respect devotees’ prayers and rituals

Festivals and Special Occasions

Karni Mata Jayanti (birthday celebration) and Navratri see enormous crowds with:

Special decorations and celebrations
Thousands of pilgrims visiting
Enhanced rituals and ceremonies
Festive atmosphere

Visit during regular days if you prefer less crowded, more contemplative experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are rats worshipped at Karni Mata Temple?

Rats are worshipped as sacred reincarnations of Karni Mata’s family members, descendants, and devotees. According to legend, when Karni Mata’s stepson Laxman drowned, she negotiated with Yama (god of death) to reincarnate him and all her followers as rats living under her divine protection in the temple. The rats, called “kabbas” (little children), are considered embodied souls of departed ancestors and spiritual guides.

How many rats are in Karni Mata Temple?

The temple houses approximately 20,000 to 25,000 sacred rats called kabbas. The rat population includes multiple generations born within the temple and various species, though most are common Indian field rats. This enormous population roams freely throughout the marble temple complex, drinking milk, eating offerings, and being revered by devotees as holy beings.

What is the significance of white rats at Karni Mata Temple?

White rats are believed to be manifestations of Karni Mata herself and her four sons. Spotting a white rat among the thousands of black ones is considered supremely auspicious and a sign of direct blessing from the goddess. The sighting is extremely rare and believed to bring enhanced blessings, protection, and spiritual merit. Many pilgrims specifically seek white rat sightings as the ultimate goal of their visit.

What happens if you harm a rat at Karni Mata Temple?

Harming or killing a rat is strictly forbidden and considered extremely offensive. Anyone who accidentally injures or kills a rat must replace it with a solid gold or silver rat statue, perform penance rituals, and seek forgiveness from the goddess. The act incurs religious offense, social censure, karmic consequences, and is believed to bring bad luck. The strict protection ensures rats live without fear in the sacred space.

Do people eat food that rats have touched?

Yes, food touched or nibbled by rats is considered especially sacred prasad carrying enhanced divine blessings. Devotees deliberately offer food to rats first, wait for them to taste it, then consume the same food as blessed prasad. Since kabbas embody reincarnated devotees and the goddess manifests as white rats, food they touch becomes sanctified through divine contact rather than contaminated. While profoundly sacred to believers, this practice challenges many visitors unfamiliar with the tradition.

Where is Karni Mata Temple located?

Karni Mata Temple is located in Deshnoke village, approximately 30 kilometers south of Bikaner, Rajasthan. The temple is accessible by private taxi or local bus from Bikaner (45-minute drive). The nearest railway station is Bikaner Junction (30 km away), and the nearest major airport is Jodhpur (250 km away). Many visitors include the temple in broader Rajasthan tourism circuits.

Who was Karni Mata?

Karni Mata (1387-1538 CE) was a 14th-15th century Hindu mystic and sage from the Charan caste, recognized as an incarnation of Goddess Durga. She performed numerous miracles including healing the sick, producing water in desert lands, and protecting devotees from danger. She helped found Deshnoke and possessed divine powers enabling her to negotiate with Yama (god of death) and decree that her followers would be reincarnated as protected temple rats.

Is it safe to visit Karni Mata Temple?

Visiting is generally safe with proper precautions. The temple welcomes thousands of visitors annually. Rats at the temple are accustomed to human presence and rarely aggressive. However, visitors should practice good hygiene—wash hands thoroughly after visiting, avoid touching face or eating before washing, and consider personal comfort level with close rat exposure. Those with compromised immune systems should consult healthcare providers before visiting. The experience requires cultural sensitivity and respect for sacred space.

Conclusion

The Karni Mata Temple represents one of Hinduism’s most extraordinary and distinctive traditions—a sacred space where cultural prejudices dissolving in devotional fervor transform common rats from reviled pests into beloved sacred beings embodying reincarnated ancestors and divine presence itself. The legend of Karni Mata’s negotiation with Yama, ensuring her devotees would bypass normal reincarnation uncertainties by being reborn as protected temple rats, demonstrates Hindu philosophy‘s remarkable theological flexibility regarding divine manifestation, reincarnation mechanics, and the fluid boundaries between species in the cosmic cycle of birth and rebirth.

The 25,000 kabbas living in palatial conditions—fed milk and sweets, protected from harm, worshipped by thousands of pilgrims, and believed to carry souls of departed loved ones—enjoy privileges exceeding those of many humans, illustrating how divine decree can completely invert normal hierarchies and valuations. The practice of consuming rat-touched prasad, while challenging for outsiders, reveals profound faith that divinity transforms whatever it touches, regardless of cultural conditioning about cleanliness or disgust. The rare white rats, believed to be Karni Mata’s direct manifestations, create pilgrimage goals pursued with the same devotion as darshan of major deities at celebrated temples.

The temple’s architecture, combining white marble splendor with living rat habitation, creates a unique sacred geography where humans and animals coexist in remarkable harmony—thousands of barefoot pilgrims navigating floors teeming with rodents, both species sharing space, food, and devotional atmosphere in ways unimaginable in conventional contexts. This physical coexistence embodies theological principles about divine presence permeating all beings and the possibility of sacred relationship transcending species boundaries when proper devotional and cultural frameworks support such recognition.

Understanding Karni Mata Temple enriches appreciation of Hinduism’s diversity and adaptability—a tradition capable of finding divinity in unexpected places, honoring local deities and regional legends alongside pan-Indian gods, and creating devotional practices that, while shocking to outsiders, carry profound meaning for practitioners rooted in specific historical, cultural, and theological contexts. The temple reminds us that sacredness is contextual, culturally constructed, and ultimately determined by devotional communities’ collective recognition rather than universal absolute categories—what one culture dismisses as pest, another reveres as embodied ancestor under divine protection, and both perspectives reflect valid though incompatible frameworks for understanding the relationship between humans, animals, and the sacred dimensions pervading existence.

About the Author

Neha Kulkarni – Cultural Heritage & Temple Architecture Specialist

Arvind Mehta is an accomplished writer and researcher specializing in Hindu festivals, temple architecture, and India’s rich cultural traditions. With a Master’s degree in Indian Art History from Maharaja Sayajirao University, she has extensively documented pilgrimage sites, temple iconography, and folk traditions across India. Her work focuses on making India’s spiritual heritage accessible to contemporary audiences while preserving authentic cultural narratives.