CleanupBot: Robot: Replacing encoded entity with character

2026-03-22T03:51:38Z

Robot: Replacing encoded entity with character

Show changes

Showbiz sportlight: Updated formatting and sections

2026-02-20T21:24:43Z

Updated formatting and sections

Show changes

imported>Mohata.om at 15:59, 20 August 2021

2021-08-20T15:59:52Z

New page

{{short description|Female Hindu warrior sage}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Hindu
| image = La statue de la déesse entourée des rats sacrés (Temple de Karni Mata) (8423510937).jpg
| name = Karni
| other_names = Riddhi Bai
| Devanagari = करणी माता
| affiliation = [[Charan]]s, [[Rajpurohit]]s and [[Rajput]]s
| god_of = Incarnation of [[Hinglaj]]
| abode = Western Rajasthan([[Marwar]] and [[Bikaner]])
| weapon = Trident
| mount = [[Lion]] and flanked by [[eagle]]
| mantra =
| spouse = Depa ji Charan
| parents = Meha ji Charan & Deval Bai
}}

'''Karni Mata''' ({{lang-hi|करणी माता}} or Maa Karni or Karniji;) (Karni Mata is also referred to as ''Mehaai'') (c. 2 October 1387 – c. {{Death date|df=yes|1538|3|23}},<ref name="gahlot1982">{{cite book |last=Gahlot |first=Sukhvir Singh |year=1982 |title=Rajasthan directory & who's who |publisher=Hindi Sahitya Mandir |page=20}}</ref>) was a female [[Hindu]] warrior sage born in the [[Charan]] caste. Also known as Shri Karniji Maharaj, she is worshiped as the incarnation of the warrior goddess [[Hinglaj Mata mandir|Hinglaj]] by her followers.<ref name="gahlot1982" /> She is an official deity of the royal families of [[Bikaner]] and [[Jodhpur]]. She lived an [[asceticism|ascetic]] life and was widely revered during her own lifetime. On the request of the Maharajas of Bikaner and Jodhpur, she laid the foundation stones of Bikaner Fort and [[Mehrangarh Fort]], the two most important forts in the region. The [[Karni Mata Temple|most famous of her temples]] is in the small town of [[Deshnoke]], near [[Bikaner]] in [[Rajasthan]], and was created following her mysterious disappearance from her home. The temple is famous for its [[rat]]s locally known as ''kabas'', which are treated as sacred and given protection in the temple. Another temple dedicated to her during her lifetime differs from others in that it does not contain an image or idol of her, but rather a footprint to symbolize her visit to that place. Karni Mata is also known as "dadhi wali dokri" or Dadhali ("beard bearing old lady"). There is one more famous temple, situated at [[Indrabaisa temple|Khurad]], near [[Besroli, Rajasthan|Besroli]] railway station. This temple of Maa Karni, [[Indrabaisa]] was built by [[Ganga Singh|Maharaja Ganga Singh ji]] of Bikaner. Karnini Mata laid the foundation stone of Mehrangarh fort during reign of Rao Jodha. By the orders of her, Rao Jodha's son [[Rao Bika]] founded new city Bikaner (state at that time).

==Biography==
According to tradition, Karni Mata (Riddhi Bai) was daughter of Meha ji, residing at Suwap village. And she was married to Depa ji [[Charan]], residing in the village of Sathika.
However, she later expressed unwillingness to her husband to engage in conjugal relations. He initially humoured her, thinking that she would relent in time. Instead, Karni arranged for him to marry her younger sister, Gulab, so that he might have a proper married life. She herself remained celibate all her life with the agreement and support of her husband, who died in 1454.

Maa Karni lived in her husband's village for about two years before leaving with her followers and a herd of cattle, to live a nomadic life. She and her followers once made camp at the village of Jangloo. A servant of Rao Kanha who was ruler of Jangloo denied Karni, her followers, and their cattle access to water. Karni Mata declared her follower, [[Ranmal|Rao Ridmal]] of Chandasar, the new ruler of the village and continued on her journey. Karni Mata stopped wandering further and settled at village, near Bikaner - [[Deshnoke|Deshnok]].

Once a devotee [[Jagadu]] or [[Jagadu|Jhagdu Shah]], a gujarati trader was sailing in sea, and was stuck in sea storm. Then he called Maa Karni from his small ship, and was helped while she was milking cow at her home. And get him reached [[Porbandar]] port. After reaching safely, [[Jagadu|Jhagadu]] shah came to Maa Karni for thanksgiving her kindness, and told his wish to construct temple. Then Karni Mata told him to construct temple at Porbandar as [[Harsiddhi]] temple.

Her favorite son Lakhan (son of her sister Gulab Bai) went to the nearby village of [[Kolayat]] to the yearly kartik fair with friends, but he was drowned in Kapil Sarovar, and died. When she saw his body, and her sister started crying, Karni Mata took his body in to a room and locked herself in. When she came out, she came out with Lakham who was alive. People assume that she fought with Dharmraj, the Lord of death who told her that from that time, her descendants will become ''kabas'' (rats) after death, and ''kabas'' will become human after death, respectively. So the temple of Deshnok is also famous as the temple of the ''kabas''.

In 1453, she gave her blessing to [[Rao Jodha]] of Jodhpur for conquering [[Ajmer]], [[Merta]] and [[Mandor]]. In 1457, she went to [[Jodhpur]] at Rao Jodha's request, to lay the cornerstone of the Mehrangarh Fort at Jodhpur.

Her first temple was constructed in the village of Mathania during her lifetime by her follower Amara [[Charan]]. In 1472, she arranged the marriage between [[Rao Bika]] and Rang Kunwar. Rao Bika was the fifth son of Rao Jodha, and Rang Kunwar was the daughter of [[Rao Shekha]] of [[Pugal|Pungal]]. The marriage was arranged to turn the enmity of the [[Rathore]] and [[Bhati]] families into friendship.

In 1485, she laid the foundation stone of the [[fort of Bikaner]] at the request of Rao Bika.

In 1538, Karni Ji went to visit the [[Maharaja of Jaisalmer]].

On 21 March 1538, she travelled back to Deshnok with her son (son of Gulab Bai), Poonja, and a few other followers. They were near Gadiyala and Girirajsar of the [[Kolayat]] [[tehsil]], in Bikaner district, when she asked the caravan to stop for water. It was reported that she disappeared there at the age of 151 years.

In Rajasthan, the goddess Karni Mata is believed to protect the cows and Krishna Saara Mriga ([[blackbuck]]).<ref name=geer>{{cite book|last1=van der Geer|first1=A.|title=Animals in Stone: Indian Mammals Sculptured through Time |year=2008 |publisher=Brill|location=Leiden, South Holland (Netherlands)|isbn=9789004168190|pages=57–58}}</ref>

==Karni Mata temples==

===Mathania===
The first temple of Karni Mata was built by Amarji Barhath, who received Mathania as a Jagir from the ruler of Marwar, Rao Jodha. Karni Mata stopped at Mathania and gave her padukaayein to be placed inside the temple, which is still worshipped by the population, specially the lineage of Amar Ji Barath, called Amarawat. The ancient existence of Mathania run parallel to the founding stone of the Mehrangarh Fort.

===Deshnoke===

{{Main|Karni Mata Temple}}
The most famous temple dedicated to Karni Mata is at [[Deshnoke]], 30 km from [[Bikaner]]. It is also known as the [[Karni Mata Temple|Temple of Rats]].

===Udaipur===

Another temple dedicated to Karni Mata is Shri Manshapurna Karni Mata Temple or [[Karni Mata, Udaipur]], located on the Machla Hills, near Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Park in [[Udaipur]], [[Rajasthan]]. One can reach to the temple either by stairs, starting from Manikyalal Verma Park, or by ropeway.

Between the years 1620 and 1628, Maharana Karan Singh developed a residential area at Machla Magra for [[Udaipur]]'s safety. It was during this time that the Karni Mata Temple was built. Though for a long period the temple was deserted, in 1997 the Shri Manshapurna Karni Mata Development Committee rebuilt it.

===Alwar===
A further temple dedicated to Karni Mata is located in the historical city of [[Alwar]], Rajasthan. It is situated in the heart of city, near the Sagar Palace and Bala Qila.

=== Khurad ===
Another temple dedicated to Maa Karni is located at Khurad, 12 km NE from [[Gachhipura railway station|Gachhipura]] in the district of [[Nagaur district|Nagaur]], Rajasthan. It is built by the orders of [[Ganga Singh|Maharaja Ganga Singh ji]] of [[Bikaner]], in the form of fort. As it is very near to marble city [[Makrana]], it is built mainly of white marble.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

{{commons category|Karni Mata}}
* [https://vijayindiatours.com/rat-temple-india-karni-mata-temple/ Rat Temple India Karni Mata Temple]
* [http://cj_whitehound.madasafish.com/Rats_Nest/Ship_Rats/Deshnok.htm#Karni Explanation of Karni (Karniji)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070922005507/http://www.religiousportal.com/KarniMataTemple.html Read Details about Karni Mata Temple]
* [http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/06/0628_040628_tvrats.html National Geographic News: Rats Rule at Indian Temple]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACzWdSfZXmw Deshnok Temple] A three-minute video news report on Karni Mata, aka the "Bagwati Karniji" temple in Deshnoke, Rajasthan. Accessed 10 August 2007.
* [https://templeknowledge.com/about-karni-mata-temple/ Complete info about karni mata temple)]
{{Hindu temples in Rajasthan}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mata, Karni}}
[[Category:Rishis]]
[[Category:Ascetics]]
[[Category:Folk deities of Rajasthan]]
[[Category:People from Jodhpur district]]
[[Category:1387 births]]
[[Category:1538 deaths]]
[[Category:Charan]]

Karni Mata - Revision history

CleanupBot: Robot: Replacing encoded entity with character

Showbiz sportlight: Updated formatting and sections

imported>Mohata.om at 15:59, 20 August 2021