Deshnoke

Deshnoke
Town
Deshnoke Location in Rajasthan, India Deshnoke Deshnoke (India)
Coordinates: 27.791°N 73.341°E / 27.791; 73.341
Country	India
State	Rajasthan
District	Bikaner
Founded by	Karni Mata
Government
• Type	Municipal council
• Body	Chairman CA Om Prakash Mundhra
Elevation	265 m (869 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	15,791
Languages - Marwari
• Official	Hindi
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registration	RJ-07andRJ-50

Deshnoke is a small town in the Bikaner district of Rajasthan, India, near the Pakistan border and about 30km from Bikaner.

Deshnoke is famous for its 600-year-old Karni Mata Temple, where the local rats are held sacred due to local legends stating they are reincarnated ancestors of the Depawat Charans. The goddess Karni Mata has been worshiped by the royal family as well as the general public of Bikaner and other parts of Rajasthan since long ago. The original natives are Depawats, known grandsons of Karni Mata. Branches of the Depawat clan include Puna, Lakhan, Siyawat, and Narsingh. Other communities residing in Deshnoke beside Charans are Maheshwari's , Jain's , Brahmin, Meghwal, Nayak etc..

Geography

Deshnoke is located at 27°47′26″N 73°20′27″E. It has an average elevation of 265meters (869feet).

Demographics

As of the 2001 Indian census, Deshnoke had a population of 15,791. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Deshnoke has an average literacy rate of 51%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 60% and, female literacy is 41%. In Deshnoke, 19% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Karni Mata Temple

Karni Mata Temple

Main article: Karni Mata Temple

This structure is also known as the Rats' Temple. Located near the Pakistan border, the Karni Mata Temple is a popular tourist destination in the Bikaner region.

Karni Mata also has followers from outside of the state. During Navratri, thousands of devotees visit the temple mainly from Rajasthan, Gujarat, and also from Haryana and Madhya Pradesh. Biography of Karni Mata - According to tradition, Karni Ji was born in the Kiniya lineage of Charans. Many miracles were associated with her beginning from her childhood. Her parents arranged her marriage with Depa Ji Bithu of Sathika. However, after her marriage, she later expressed to her husband her unwillingness to engage in matrimonial relations. Respecting her wishes and on her advice, Depoji married Karni Ji's younger sister for the continuation of his line. She herself remained celibate all her life, with the concurrence and support of her husband.

Karni lived in Sathika village for about two years before leaving with her followers and a large herd of cattle. When she reached near Deshnok, Rao Kanha himself came to oppose her camping but he died.[clarification needed] Karni Mata declared her follower Rao Ridmal of Chandasar as the new ruler of the region and continued on her journey.

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 fort at Jodhpur.

Her first temple was constructed in the village of Mathania during her lifetime by her follower Amar Ji Charan. In 1472, she arranged the marriage of Rao Bika (the fifth son of Rao Jodha) and Rang Kunwar (daughter of Rao Shekha of Pungal) to turn the enmity between Rathor and Bhati Rajputs into friendship. In 1485, she laid the foundation stone of the fort of Bikaner at the request of Rao Bika. In 1538, Karniji went to visit the Maharaja of Jaisalmer. On 21 March of that year she was travelling back to Deshnok with her stepson Poonja Ji and a few other followers. They were near Gadiyala and Girirajsar of the Kolayat tehsil in Bikaner district where she asked the caravan to stop for water. She disappeared there, reportedly at the age of 151 years.