Why the Rats Are Treated as Kin
At Karni Mata Temple in Deshnoke, the rats are not regarded as pests that happen to live in a shrine. In local belief, they are kabbas: the reborn souls of members of the Charan community, often described in connection with the community’s storytellers and bards. That belief turns ordinary acts of care—feeding the animals and making room for them—into expressions of religious duty.
The tradition is also tied to Karni Mata, the revered figure to whom the temple is dedicated. Its meaning is therefore specific to this place: the animals are understood as part of a sacred community, not simply as symbols of good luck.
A Temple Built Around Sharing Space
Rats move freely through the complex, including around worshippers and offerings. Visitors remove their shoes before entering, and devotees take care not to step on or injure the animals. Food and milk are offered to them; eating food that a rat has touched is considered auspicious by some devotees. A rare white rat is especially significant, though spotting one is not guaranteed.
These customs shape the visit in practical ways. People watch the floor, move carefully, and accept that the animals may cross their path or share space near an offering. The temple’s central act of reverence is not keeping the rats at a distance, but accommodating them as members of the sacred household.
