The idol of deity is one feet three inches wide and two and half feet tall. Bikaner's ruler Ganga Singh had the whole temple built in marble. The domes of the temple are made of silver and gold. The manadap and the panels above the image are also golden. Devotees place offerings in silver and gold when their prayers are answered.The elaborate works on the main gate of the temple is a tribute to the fine craftsmanship of the artisans of those days. The principal temple alongwith the circumambulatory path and outer walls is built of red stone but the main gate is grand and high and it is made of marble on which beautiful carving work has been done. Infrornt of the inner temple marble has been elegantly used. The entire floor of the temple is also of marble. Inside the inner temple the small shrine which is said to have been made 600 years ago by Karni Mata herself is present. This shrine the small one and it was built with brick and round stones.
Legends:- The temple is also famous for its holy rodents who are revered as 'Kabas'. The legend goes that Karni Mata, a mystic matriarch from the 14th century, was an incarnation of Durga, the goddess of power and victory. At some point during her life, the child of one of her clansmen died. She attempted to bring the child back to life, only to be told by Yama, the god of death, that he had already been reincarnated. Karni Mata cut a deal with Yama: From that point forward, all of her tribespeople would be reborn as rats until they could be born back into the clan.In Hinduism, death marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one on the path to a soul's eventual oneness with the universe. This cycle of transmigration is known as samsara and is precisely why Karni Mata's rats are treated like royalty. According to another legend, the Maharaja of Bikaner had a vision where Karni Mata appeared and asked him to protect her rats. The Maharaja then built the Karni Mata temple with marble and silver adornments.
Places of Interest
ShivBari Temple - Built
by Dungar Singhji in the late 19th century.
An embattlement wall surrounds the temple. It has
four-faced black marble Shiva statue and a bronze Nandi facing the Shiva-Lingam.
There are two large reservoirs of water known as bawaris.
Sri Kolayatji Temple - A
famous pilgrimage spot with a temple dedicated to Kapil Muni (saint). The
temple is the venue for an annual fair held in the month of Kartik (Oct-Nov)
when the thousands of devotees gather in a large number
to take a sacred dip in the holy waters of the Kolayat lake (Kapil Sarovar)
on the full moon day. A cattle fair, especially for the trading
of camels is a part of he festivities. The small oasis town is now an
ideal picnic spot.
Nagnechiji Temple - Situated
in the southeast of Bikaner city, has a historical importance.
The statue of 18 armed Goddess having different weapons
in her arms was brought here from Jodhpur by Rao Bikaji. It was one of
the 18 heirlooms which the founder king got after a confrontation with the
then king of Jodhpur.
PAGE 2
