KARNIMATA-The 8th wonder of the world???

SHRI KARNIMATA TEMPLE

THE KARNIMATA’S TEMPLE IS SITUATED IN THE CENTER OF A BEAUTIFUL COURTYARD, THE OUTER BOUNDARY WALL OF WHICH HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTED LIKE A BEAUTIFULL WALL FORT. THE BOUNDARIES ARE BUILT VERY HIGH WITH FOUR ORNAMENTED PILLARS AND THE PROVISION OF A HUGE PLATFORM FOR THE GUARDS TO PROTECT THE MIRACULOUS TEMPLE.

THE NEXT WONDER OF THIS TEMPLE, ARE THE RATS. THESE RATS COMMONLY KNOWN AS KABA RESIDE IN THE TEMPLE.

THE KABA(RAT) LEGEND

ACCORDING TO THE FOLKLORE,SHRI KARNI-MATA ONCE RESTORED A DEAD CHILD OF HER DEVOTEE BACK TO LIFE FROM YAMA. (THE GOD OF DEATH) THEN MATA ANNOUNCED THAT NO ONE FROM HER TRIBE WOULD FALL INTO YAMA’S HAND AGAIN. INSTEAD, WHEN THEY DIED ALL OF THEM WOULD TEMPARARILY INHABIT THE BODY OF A RAT (KABA), BEFORE BEING REBORN INTO THE TRIBE. A NORMAL HUMAN BEING WILL BE ABSOLUTELY SCARED OVER THE THOUGHT OF THE NUMBER OF RATS (THEY LOOK LIKE A RAT, BUT ACTUALLY THEY ARE NOT RATS) THAT EXIST BUT THE OUTSTANDING FACT IS THAT THESE KABA’S ARE HARMLESS AND PLAY AROUND IN THE TEMPLE WITHOUT DISTURBING THE DEVOTEES, RATHER THEY SIT ON THEIR LAPS, SHOULDERS, HEAD, HANDS WHICH THE DEVOTEES THINK TO BE THE DIVINE SPIRIT AND BLESSINGS OF THE GODDESS. ONE WOULD SURELY WONDER WHEN HE WILL COME TO KNOW THE FACT THAT WHEN THE KILLER DISEASE PLAGUE SPREAD OUT IN SURAT (GUJRAT) IN MID 90’S PEOPLE FROM SURAT AND OTHER AFFECTED AREAS WENT TO THE TEMPLE TO TAKE THE MILK AND WATER DRUNK BY THESE RATS AS MEDICINES TO GET THEMSELVES CURED. THE BEAUTY ABOUT THESE KABA’S IS THAT, DESPITE BEING INNUMERABLE IN NUMBER, THEY NEVER COME OUT OF THE TEMPLE BOUNDARIES. MOREOVER WITH THE BLESSINGS OF SHRI KARNIMATA THEY GET THEIR FOOD, SHELTER, LODGING AND THEIR LIFE CYCLE CONTINUES INSIDE THE TEMPLE ITSELF. THE MIRACULOUS FACT IS THAT NO DISEASES RELATED TO RATS HAVE BEEN FOUND TILL DATE. NIETHER THE TEMPLE STINGS OF FOUL SMELLS NOR IT IS DIRTY ANYWHERE. INFACT EVEN THE OFFERINGS LIKE MILK, SWEET, CEREALS, WATER AND GROUNDNUTS ARE FIRST OFFERED TO THESE HOLY KABA’S AND THEN DISTRIBUTED AMONG THE DEVOTEES, WHICH IS CONSUMED BY THEM AS A HOLY PRASAD. ESPECIALLY, THE WATER WHICH THESE KABA’S DRINK IS CONSIDERED VERY HOLY AND AUSPICIOUS. THERE HAS BEEN NO TRACE OF HOW THESE KABA’S ARE REPRODUCED, INFACT IT IS BELIEVED THAT THESE RATS HAVE THEIR OWN VIP MATERNITY HOSPITAL WHICH TAKES CARE OF THEIR DELIVERY. MOREOVER THERE HAS NEVER BEING A TRACE OF BABY RATS. ALL THE KABA ARE OF A STANDARD SIZE AND WEIGHT WITHOUT ANY CHANGES DOWN THE AGES. STRANGELY, RATS ARE USUALLY CONSIDERED AS A COWARD ANIMAL WHICH ARE SCARED OF HUMAN BEINGS. BUT HERE IN KARNIMATA’S TEMPLE UNDER HER SHELTER THESE KABA’S ARE SCATTERED ALL OVER THE TEMPLE, RULE THE TEMPLE LIKE A KING AND ROAR LIKE A LION AND ROAM ABOUT FREELY & COMFORTABLY. NOW, THE QUESTION IS-“WHEN RATS CAN BECOME BRAVE BY TAKING SHELTER IN THIS TEMPLE, THEN WHAT ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS.’ —??? WHEN THEY WILL TAKE SHELTER OF SRI KARNI MAA. -“VISIT THE TEMPLE AND JUSTIFY YOURSELF.” IS’NT IT A MIRACULOUS TEMPLE?????????? WON’T YOU LIKE TO FEEL THE WONDERS YOURSELF??????? MIRACLES OF SHRI KARNIMATA Shri Karni Mata is the incarnation of Devi HINGLAZ or Goddess DURGA (The Goddess of Power and Victory. Goddess DURGA is synonymous with Shakti, the cosmic power that wages an eternal war against the evil). The whole life of Shri Karni Mata was full of miracles and even after her disappearance from the earth, her innumerable devotees have experienced her merciful blessings in form of help in their life. The word disappearance has been used, because it wasn’t a natural death of Shri Karni Mata, rather her human body disappeared in divine light at her desire. BIRTH Shri Karni Mata was born on Friday, Ashwin Shukla Saptami 1444 i.e. October 2, 1387 AD in village Suwap near Phalodi in Jodhpur District, Rajasthan. She belonged to Charan caste. Her father was Mehaji and Deval Bai was her mother. Mehaji was a staunch devotee of Hinglaz, a Shakti Peeth (Holy Shrine) in farwest of Baloochistan’s (at present in Pakistan) Lal Bela area, about 18 kilometres north of Arabian Sea. Once for the whole night, Mehaji prayed to mother Hinglaz that “His name remains alive forever”. The next morning he heard a voice mentioning “Tathastu” (Yes, it will be).

CHILDHOOD

When Karniji was six years old a snake bit her father in the jungle. She put her hands on the effected limb and removed the poison. This way she saved the life of her father. Meantime, the stories of the miracles of Karniji had begun to spread far and wide. Rao Sekha of Pugal also heard about her. He wanted to take revenge on his enemy. So he went to Karniji to seek her blessings for victory. Rao Sekha met Karniji on the way while she was taking meal for her father towards the field. He begged for her blessings. Karniji welcomed him and asked him to visit her house. Sekhaji begged her pardon, due to paucity of time at his disposal and desired to leave, but Karniji would not let the guest go without having the meal. She offered him food, which she was taking for her father. Sekhaji knew that the food was not enough to be served to his army accompanying him. He therefore asked his men, to accept whatever she served and not to ask for more. Abiding by his orders, they forwarded their utensils to be served and Karniji served the breads and the curd from her pot one by one to every soldier. When she went from one soldier to other, her pot never emptied of curd and breads. Seeing this miracle all the soldiers were amazed. Rao Sekha achieved victory over his enemy and none of his soldiers died, except one, who did not eat the breads and curd treating it as a bad omen. Karniji’s aunt sought her blessings, so that a son is born to Mehaji (Karniji’s father), as an outcome of which two sons were born to Mehaji named Satal and Sarang and also one daughter named Gulab Bai.

MARRIAGE

By this time Karniji became over aged & her parents became anxious for her marriage. Inspite of their best efforts, they could not find a suitable match for Karniji. Seeing her parents anxious & worried, Karniji herself suggested her father to go to village Sathika and talk on her marriage with Depaji, son of Rao Kelu- a great Philosopher of that area during that time. According to history, the marriage took place in 1416 AD, in a quite simple manner. When the marriage procession was returning to Sathika from Suwap, the people, horses and cattle felt thirsty, but there was no water nearby to quench their thirst. Karniji at that time indicated a certain place behind a sand-dune for water. Everyone was amazed to see a tank full of water. The bridegroom Depaji went to Karniji’s doli (palanquin) and raised its curtains to thank her. He was amazed to see that, inside was a Goddess sitting beside a lion. After a few seconds Karniji transformed herself into human body. She told her husband to marry her sister Gulab Bai, mentioning that she was born on the earth only to serve people. On the way to Sathika there was a village named Kaluja. The villagers already aware of her miracles requested her to solve their water problem. She blessed and told them to put her idol made of clay in the well and abstain from cutting trees. Soon the well was found to be full of water and still exists. Today this well is known as “Shri Karnisagar”.

DEPARTURE FROM SATHIKA

FOUNDATION OF JODHPUR

Rao Jodha, the founder of Jodhpur, was Karniji’s devotee. She blessed him with her help in 1453 AD, in conquering Ajmer, Merta and Mandover (now known as Mandor). In 1457, she went to Jodhpur, on Rao Jodha’s request to lay the foundation stone of the renowned fort of Jodhpur. During her stay at Mandor, Shri Amara, the Charan of Mathaniya (a village) requested her to visit the place and sought her permission to construct her temple there. She accepted his request and asked him to put her footprints instead of her idol in the temple. The temple of Mathaniya is the first temple of Karnimata built during her life.

FOUNDATION OF BIKANER

Rao Bika was the fifth son of Rao Jodha of Jodhpur. He came to Jangloo area with his uncle Kandhalji to establish a new kingdom, a state that would belong to him. He stayed at Deshnoke serving Karniji for many years. He carried out his mission under the guidance and blessings of Karniji. Karniji helped Rao Bika in carrying out his mission. She solved his problems from time to time. The biggest hurdle was the enmity and bitterness between Rathors and Bhatians. Karniji decided to remove this problem. To pacify this and facilitate smooth success for Rao Bika, she arranged the marriage between Rao Bika and Rang Kanwar, the daughter of Rao Shekha of Pugal. Rao Shekha, during that time was imprisoned at Multan. Karniji brought him from there overnight, to Pugal on the day of marriage in 1472 AD Thereafter, Rao Bika, smoothly succeeded in his goal. Rao Bika finally got the foundation stone laid by Karniji for his Durg (Fort) and Bikaner City in Rati Ghati (valley) in 1485. Bikaner City and the Fort were inaugurated on Vaisakh Shukla Divitiya V.S. 1488.

During the time of Rao Bika’s efforts to establish his own state, Shri Jeevraj, a Charan from Kathiawar, came to Jangloo area with good horses. Kandhalji, uncle of Bikaji purchased the horses but couldn’t pay the full price and for part payment, gave him the Jagir of Chhotadia (Now in Ratangarh Tehsil of Churu District). People of Chhotadia did not accept Jeevaraj as a Charan of their grade and cadre. Jeevraj being dissatisfied went to Karniji and complained her about the behaviour of the Charans of Chhotadia. Karniji married her grand daughter “Shanpu” with Jeevraj. Thereafter to pacify the Charans of Chhotadia Karniji herself visited the village Chhotadia several times. Presently situated in Chhotadia is a famous temple of Karni Mata. In 1538, when Karniji had attained the age of 151 years she went to Jaisalmer to cure some unknown disease of the Maharaja. At that time, she went to village Kharida to visit her sister. There lived a carpenter named Bana, who was her devotee. He was blind. Karniji called him and said, “I will bless you with eyesight, so that you can see me, and when you see me carve out my image on a sandstone as per what you see. On finishing the carving, put my idol under your head and sleep. When you awake, you will find yourself in Deshnoke outside my cave. You have to install my idol in that cave. On completion of this job, you will get your eyesight for good”. After Bana completed his work and obeyed the orders, the idol was installed in the cave as desired by Karniji. The image that Bana carved is not the image of Karniji as she actually existed in human form. Infact the image carved is an incarnation of Durga. The mouth of the image is a bit long, there is a crown on the head, round earrings, a necklace round the neck and bangles on both the hands.

There is a Trishul (a weapon having three prongs on the upper part) in the right hand and in the left hand hangs the head of a demon (in human form). At the lower end of the Trishul there is a head of buffalo. Thus Karniji had imaged herself in the idol as an incarnation of Durga & did not allow to worship her as an idol of human being. This is why she did not allow her idol in Mathaniya, permanently.

On the first day of “Chaitra Shukla” 1595(Vikram Samavat) i.e. 1538 AD, Karniji with her stepson Poonraj, started her journey for Deshnoke. She reached Dhaneri Tank on “Chaitra Shukla Navmi”, i.e. 21^st March, 1438 AD. It is situated between Gadiyala and Girirajsar of Kolayat Tehsil in Bikaner District. She stopped her chariot at some distance from the tank and expressed her desire to have a bath. Poonraj looked in the water pitchers and found them to be empty. Karniji asked him to fetch water from the tank. When Poonraj went away, she told the driver of the chariot to see whether there were any drops of water in the pitcher. There were a few drops in it. She asked the driver to pour the drops on her head. At that time she sat in padmashana posture (a posture in meditation) gazing at the sun. As soon as the drops of water fell on her head a divine light flashed and her body disappeared in form of light. When Poonraj returned, he enquired about the incident that occurred. He cried. At that time a voice was heard telling, “Return to Deshnoke, you will find a carpenter there sleeping with my idol, outside the cave”. Install that idol in the cave. I will remain there forever and help all those who pray there with faith and pure heart”.

This long period of 151 years of Shri Karni Mata’s life is full of miracles. Only a few of them have been mentioned here in brief. Her merciful miraculous deeds have been and are still being experienced by her devotees, even after her disappearance.

POWER

As per Hindu conviction, the acts of Generation (UTTPATI), Operation (PALAN) and Destruction (SANHAR) are performed by the Supreme Power, which entitle him to be called “GOD”. These acts are not possible without “SHAKTI” – The Power.

The goddess of the power is DURGA and KARNIMATA is incarnation of the Durga – the goddess of Power.

If this shakti is the driving force behind God’s acts you can imagine the effect it will bring about in human being who worship KARNIMATA THE INCARNATION OF SHAKTI HINGLAZ (Baluchistan, now in Pakistan this is one of the shaktipith out of 64 shaktipith of Devi Durga.). The devotees get this divine power at the time of worship and feels through out of the day.

In 5th century Shree Karni Mata was the one who forced the King to stop the “NAVROJA” (The exploitation of women by the Mughal Emperors)

In Hindu mythology the rat is considered the vehicle of Lord Ganesh, son of Durga. Since here rats live in thousand numbers it’s obvious that Ganesh (Son) should live be living there. Once the son resides at the place, naturally the mother “Durga – the goddess of Power” will also accompany her son (Ganesh). Devotees can obtain the same power from mother by worshipping at this temple.

The power of the Karni Mata can’t be described by anyone in the whole universe, it can be experienced only by one oneself.

LOCATION

Deshnok is only 30 KM from Bikaner (by road). Bikaner is well connected through National Highway with Delhi, Agra, Jodhpur, Jaipur and other cities of India.

Rail service is also there, you can reach Bikaner by meter gauge or by broad gauge train.

Airport : The airport is in Jaipur, Agra, Jodhpur and Delhi.

Bikaner is about 450 KM by road from Delhi, 350 KM from Jaipur, 350 KM from Jodhpur. The condition of the road is good.

TRAVEL INFORMATION :

• AIR :- THE NEAREST AIRPORT IS JODHPUR 253 KM.
• RAIL :- BIKANER IS CONNECTED WITH DELHI, JAIPUR, JODHPUR, BHATINDA, KALKA AND HOWRAH ( KOLKATA).

SOME IMPORTANT TRAIN CONNECTIONS ARE :

• KALKA EXPRESS (BIKANER- JODHPUR);
• BIKANER EXPRESS (DELHI SARAI ROHILLA- BIKANER);
• CHETAK EXPRESS (DELHI SARAI ROHILLA-BIKANER);
• BIKANER MAIL ( DELHI SARAI ROHILLA-BIKANER).

THE FOLLOWING ARE THE PLACES FOR STAYING AND DINNING AT BIKANER CITY(NEAR TO DESHNOK)
LOCAL TRANSPORT :- UNMETERED TAXIS, AUTO- RICKSHAWS AND TONGAS.
WHERE TO STAY : PALACE/ HERITAGE HOTELS :

• LALLGARH PALACE HOTEL, TEL : 523963
• GAJNER PALACE HOTEL, GAJNER,
• HOTEL BHANWAR NIWAS,
• HOTEL BASANT VIHAR PALACE, TEL : 528162.
• HOTEL KARNI BHAWAN, TEL : 524701-10

STANDARD HOTELS :-

• RTDC HOTEL DHOLA MARU,
• THAR HOTEL,
• HOTEL JOSHI,TEL : 527702-7
• SAGAR HOTEL, TEL : 520677, 528377

DINING :-

• AMBAR RESTAURANT, STATION ROAD,
• CHHOTU MOTOO RESTAURANT, STATION ROAD,
• THAR RESTAURANT, THAR HOTEL NEAR AMBEDKAR CIRCLE,
• SAGAR HOTEL RESTAURANT OPP BUS STAND, TEL : 528377;
• HOTEL BASANT VIHAR , TEL: 528162;
• HOTEL LALLGARH PALACE, TEL: 523963.

TEAM MEMBER (TRAVEL AGENT) AT KOLKATA :

M/S. CHANDAN TRAVELS
P 200, BLOCK – J, NEW Alipore,
KOLKATA – 700 053.
PHONE NOS. 446-8556, 478-2039
MOBILE : 98300 83527
E-MAIL : chandan_travels@rediffmail.com

• BANK OF RAJASTHAN,
• CENTRAL BANK OF INDIA,
• CENTRAL COOPERATIVE BANK,
• PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK,
• UNITED COMMERCIAL BANK,
• STATE BANK OF BIKANER AND JAIPUR,

JODHPUR (Jodhpur Division) Regional Tourist Office RTDC Hotel Ghoomar High Court Road Tel : 0291-45083/44010	CALCUTTA Tourist Office 2, Ganesh Chandra Avenue !st Floor, Commerce House Tel : 033-279740, Fax : 033-279051	KOTA Tourist Reception Centre RTDC Hotel Chambal, Tel : 0744-327695
UDAIPUR (Udaipur Division) Regional Tourist Office Fateh Memorial, Suraj Pol Tel : 0294-411535	CHENNAI (Madras) Tourist Office 28, Commander-in-Chief Road Tel : 044-8272093	MOUNT ABU Tourist Reception Center Opp. Bus Stand, Tel : 02974-3151 Tourist Information Counter Railway Station, Abu Road
AHMEDABAD (G.S.A.) Bhartiya Hotel Incorporated 11, Neptune Towers Opp. Nehru Bridge, Ashram Road Tel : 079-420925 Fax : 079-465048	CHITTAURGARH Tourist Reception Centre Janata Avas Grih, Tel : 01472-41089	MUMBAI Tourist Office 230, Dr. D. N. Road Tel : 022-2074162, Fax : 022-2075603
AJMER Tourist Reception Centre RTDC Hotel Khadim, Tel : 0145-52426Tourist Information Counter Railway Station	DUNGARPUR Tourist Office	NAGAUR Tourist Office
ALWAR Tourist Reception Centre Opp. Railway Station, Tel : 0144-21868	JAIPUR Tourist Reception Centre Tourist Hotel (Government Hostel) M.I. Road Tel : 0141-365256, 370180 (Extn.203) Tourist Information Counter Railway Station, Tel : 0141-315714 Tourist Information Counter Central Bus Stand, Sindhi Camp Tourist Information Counter Sanganer Airport, Sanganer	NATHDWARA Tourist Office
AMER Tourist Office Near Elephant Stand Tel : 0141-530264	JAISALMER Tourist Reception Centre Station Road, Tel : 02992-52406 Tourist Information Counter Railway Station	NEW DELHI Tourist Reception Centre Bikaner House, Pandara Road Tel : 011-3389525/3383837 Fax : 011-3382823
BANSWARA Tourist Office Near Bus Stand, Tel : 02962-41081	JHALAWAR Tourist Office RTDC Hotel Chandravati Tel : 07432-30015	PUSHKAR Tourist Office
BARMER Tourist Office	JHUNJHUNU Tourist Reception Centre Hotel Shiv Shekhawati Khemi Sati Road, Tel : 01592-32909	SAWAI MADHOPUT Tourist Reception Centre RTDC Hotel Vinayak Ranthambhor Road, Tel : 07462-20808Tourist Information Counter Railway Station
BHARATPUR Tourist Reception Centre RTDC Hotel Saras Agra Road, Tel : 05644-22542	JODHPUR Tourist Reception Centre RTDC Hotel Ghoomar High Court Road, Tel : 0291-45083 Tourist Information Counter Ratanada Airport	SIKAR Tourist Office, Collectorate Campus
BIKANER Tourist Reception Centre Hotel Dholamaru, Tel : 0151-27445 BUNDI Tourist Reception Centre Hotel Dholamaru, Tel : 0747-22697		UDAIPUR Tourist Reception Centre Fateh Memorial, Suraj Pol Tel : 0294-411535Tourist Office Dabok Airport Tel : 0294-655433Tourist Information Counter Railway Station Tel : 0294-412984.

CONTACT:

KOLKATA

Address	:	IDEAL PLAZA, Suite No. S – 204 11/1, Sarat Bose Road Calcutta – 700020
Phone	:	22805102/03
Fax	:	033 – 2280 7117
E-mail	:	bhuwalka@vsnl.com