A video that shows mice scurrying around the kitchen and utensils of a temple in Rajasthan, India, has sparked curiosity and controversy among netizens. The video, which was posted on social media, reveals the unusual practices of Karni Mata temple, also known as the “temple of rats”.
Karni Mata temple is located in Deshnoke, about 30 km from Bikaner, and is dedicated to a 14th-century female sage who is believed to be an incarnation of Durga, the Hindu goddess of war and power. The temple is home to about 20,000 black rats, who are considered sacred and are called “kabbas” by the devotees. According to the legend, Karni Mata’s son drowned in a pond and she asked the god of death, Yama, to revive him. Yama refused, but agreed to reincarnate her son and all her followers as rats, who would eventually become humans again.
The temple attracts thousands of pilgrims every year, who come to seek blessings from the rats and offer them food and milk. The rats are allowed to roam freely in the temple premises and are protected from predators by metal grills. The devotees believe that seeing a white rat, which is very rare, is a sign of good luck and fortune. They also believe that eating the food that has been nibbled by the rats is a blessing and a way of receiving Karni Mata’s grace.
However, not everyone is impressed by the temple’s rodent residents. The video that went viral has raised questions about the hygiene and safety of the temple, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some people have criticized the temple authorities for allowing the mice to contaminate the food and water, while others have expressed concern about the risk of diseases such as plague, leptospirosis, and hantavirus. Some have also called the temple a “cruelty circus” and a “disgrace to Hinduism”.
The temple authorities, however, have defended their traditions and claimed that the rats are harmless and healthy. They have also said that they follow strict sanitation measures and that no cases of infection or illness have been reported from the temple. They have also appealed to the public to respect their faith and culture, and not to spread misinformation or negativity about the temple.
The temple of rats is one of the many examples of India’s diverse and colorful religious landscape, where animals are often revered and worshipped as symbols of divinity, power, and wisdom. Whether one finds the temple fascinating or repulsive, it is undeniable that it is a unique and intriguing phenomenon that reflects the complex and rich history and culture of India.