Life in Statues

"Sculptor gives life to a sculpture."

Life in statues...doesn't it sound uncanny.! Even I was surprised to hear that. 

Hei Peeps..!

How are you all doing?

This is my actual first blog and I was waiting since long to write about it and sharing with you guys about this amazing story.

Life in statues is just an inconceivable part of this blog about a temple- Karni Mata Temple.

Karni Mata Temple which is also known as 'Temple of Rats' is located in Deshnok, 30 km away from Bikaner, Rajasthan.

This temple is also near my village and ever since I was young I have visited this temple quite a couple of times. But am very scared to enter it as it is a home to over 20,000 rats. But when I got to know about the the life in statues I could not resist myself from going there. Yes, there are these so many rats over here who are not at all dangerous and are sacred ones. Also rare white rats are found here which are the holiest rats. Spotting these rats is considered as lucky.! This place is plague free and is not affected by any contagious diseases. These rats are known as kabbas there. 

History

According to myth, once Laxman, stepson of Karniji, drowned in a pond in in Kolayat while he was drinking water from it.On beseeching his life to Yama, god of death, Yama first refused. Then he reincarnated Laxman and all the male sons of Karniji's as rats. Karni Mata then decided that all the people of her tribe will take rebirth as rats before humans in her temple. Even she died and became a rat. These rats die, take birth as human beings, again reincarnated as rats. And this cycle continues.

It is believed that if someone kills the rat, he has to make a solid gold rat of same size and same weight. And therefore these sacred rats are taken of a great care.

And the startling part comes here...

Life in statues...

There are the two marble statues of lions at the entrance of the temple. It is believed that they are becoming old over years. There skinny bones are being visible as it is on old aged people. You can see there bone linings on their stomach part in the pictures below.

Ain't it surprising. The marbles turning old.! 

Found everything so amazing and interesting about this temple.!

Also if you feel the same and if you have already visited or planning to visit, do lemme know by commenting below...

Have a nice day..! :)