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Karni Mata

Karniji Maharaj · Mehai · Kiniyani · Karnal

  • 1 Mantras
  • 1 Tirth
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Karni Mata

मां करणी माता की जय

About

Karni Mata is a much-loved folk goddess of Rajasthan. Her devotees revere her as a form of Maa Durga and of Hinglaj Mata. By tradition she lived from about 1387 to 1538. She is the family goddess (kuldevi) of the Charan community and was deeply honoured by the Rathore royal families of Bikaner and Jodhpur. Her main temple is at Deshnoke, about 30 km from Bikaner. The temple is known for thousands of 'kabas' (rats), which are treated as sacred and looked after like family. Among the thousands of dark kabas, devotees consider it very lucky to see a white one.

The story

By tradition, Karni Mata was born on Ashwin Shukla Saptami in Vikram Samvat 1444 (1387 CE) at Suwap village near Phalodi, in the home of Mehaji Kiniya and Deval Bai. She was their seventh daughter and was named Ridhi Bai. When she showed a miracle as a small child, people began to call her 'Karni', the one who makes things happen.

When she grew up she was married to Depaji of Sathika village, but she gave her life to devotion and service. With her consent, Depaji married her younger sister Gulab Bai. Karni ji settled at Deshnoke and set up the 'oran', a sacred grove where no tree could be cut and no creature harmed. Devotees believe she blessed Rao Jodha to lay the foundation of Mehrangarh Fort and Rao Bika to found Bikaner.

Once Gulab Bai's son Lakhan drowned in Kapil Sarovar at the Kartik fair of Kolayat. Karni ji took his body into her hut and sat in meditation for three days; on the fourth day Lakhan walked out alive. Devotees believe that she then told Dharmraj (Yamraj) that her Charan family would no longer go to his realm: they would live as kabas in the Deshnoke temple and then be born again as humans. This is why the kabas are cared for with such respect. Tradition says Karni Mata lived for about 151 years.

How they are shown

In the Deshnoke sanctum, Karni Mata's murti is carved from yellow Jaisalmer stone, by tradition the work of a craftsman named Banna Khati. She holds a trishul and is adorned with a crown and a flower garland. In pictures she appears in a simple odhni, with a lion and with kabas at her feet. The trishul stands for her power, the lion for her form as Maa Durga, and the kabas for her family. The kite (cheel, 'Sawali') is also seen as her form; devotees take a kite in the sky as her darshan.

How to worship

Offerings

Laddoos, coconut, mishri, dry fruits, milk and grain. At the temple the offering is first shared with the kabas.

How

Keep a picture or small murti of Karni Mata in your puja place. After bathing, light a lamp and incense, and offer a red chunari, flowers, roli and rice. Offer laddoos or mishri as bhog. Say 'Maa Karni Mata ki Jai' and read the Karni Mata Chalisa, or sit quietly and think of the Mother for a while. During Navratri this puja can be done every day. Share the prasad with the family, and, remembering her care for all creatures, put out grain and water for birds or animals.

Their festivals

Aarti, chalisa and katha

Temples and tirth

Sources