Show Navigation

Search Results

Refine Search
Match all words
Match any word
Prints
Personal Use
Royalty-Free
Rights-Managed
(leave unchecked to
search all images)
{ 4 images found }

Loading ()...

  • Devotee drinking from the milk bowls with the rats. Karni Mata Temple. Deshnoke Rajasthan, INDIA (THE RAT TEMPLE)<br />
Karni Mata is the patron goddess of the Maharajas of Bikaner. The most famous Rajasthani incarnation of Devi (The Mother Goddess) is Karni Mata, who lived for 151 years. The 15th century miracle worker could not revive the only son of a distraught Charan couple who came to her for help. Yama, the Lord of Death told her that the boy had already been reborn. So Karniji degreed that henceforth all dead Charans would be reborn only as sacred kabas (rats) in her temple to escape Yama's clutches and reincarnated into humans at her command. The temple is populated by rats who are fed on the offering of the devotees which include milk, grains and sweets. The temple itself is superbly carved in white marble with heavy silver gates. The entrance has rat carvings all around the doorway.
    IND2734_Devotee_in_Rat_Temple.tif
  • Karni Mata Temple. Deshnoke Rajasthan, INDIA (THE RAT TEMPLE)<br />
Karni Mata is the patron goddess of the Maharajas of Bikaner. The most famous Rajasthani incarnation of Devi (The Mother Goddess) is Karni Mata, who lived for 151 years. The 15th century miracle worker could not revive the only son of a distraught Charan couple who came to her for help. Yama, the Lord of Death told her that the boy had already been reborn. So Karniji degreed that henceforth all dead Charans would be reborn only as sacred kabas (rats) in her temple to escape Yama's clutches and reincarnated into humans at her command. The temple is populated by rats who are fed on the offering of the devotees which include milk, grains and sweets. The temple itself is superbly carved in white marble with heavy silver gates. The entrance has rat carvings all around the doorway.
    IND2702_Karni_Mata_Temple.tif
  • Junagarh Fort, Bikaner, Rajasthan, INDIA<br />
This fort is well preserved. Built in 1588 by Raja Rai Singh it is unusual in the sense that it was one of the few forts in Rajasthan not built on a hilltop but instead built on the desert plains. Beyond the main gate lies a complex of splendid palaces, each built by a different ruler over the centuries. <br />
Bikaner was founded in the 15th century by the son of the Rathor Raja of Marwar (Jodpur). Taking offence at a comment that his father had made he left with a band of horsemen to set up his own kingdom in the desert. Spurred on by the blessing of Karni Mata (whose rat temple is whorshipped by Hindus till today) he fought the local desert clans for 30 years, ultimately carving out a kingdom approx. the size of England. Today this town is still at heart a medieval walled desert town. The thick crenelated walls encircling it are still there studded with five huge gates that were once locked at night. It is a pink city as it is carved out of pink sand stone characteristic of this region.
    IND2777_Junagarh_Fort,_Bikaner.tif
  • Lallgarh Palace Hotel, Rajasthan, INDIA<br />
Bikaner was founded in the 15th century by the son of the Rathor Raja of Marwar (Jodpur). Taking offence at a comment that his father had made he left with a band of horsemen to set up his own kingdom in the desert. Spurred on by the blessing of Karni Mata (whose rat temple is whorshipped by Hindus till today) he fought the local desert clans for 30 years, ultimately carving out a kingdom approx. the size of England. Today this town is still at heart a medieval walled desert town. The thick crenelated walls encircling it are still there studded with five huge gates that were once locked at night. It is a pink city as it is carved out of pink sand stone characteristic of this region.
    IND2773_Lallgarh_Palace_Hotel.tif
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
x

http://www.peteoxford.com

  • About
    • Covers
    • Contact
  • Photo Galleries
    • All Galleries
    • Search
    • Cart
    • Lightbox
    • Client Area
  • Travel with Pete
  • Blog
  • Instagram