KARNI MATA: holy indian rat temple

[fverkell]

Heaven for cats.

[cinnamongrrrrl]

@taintedsoul888 per Wikipedia: According to a local legend, Karni Mata, the 14th century mystic and an incarnation of Hindu goddess Durga, implored Yama, the god of death, to restore the life of the son of one of her storyteller. Yama refused, and Karni Mata incarnated the dead son and all of the storytellers as a rat, under her protection.

[ddkhan1]

as a Muslim, I find this extremely interesting.

[taintedsoul888]

I've been to this temple, it's not that they are worshipping the rats, I don't think rats are particularly significant in hindu mythology, apart from the fact that Ganesh travelled on a rat (yeah, elephant on a rat, fucking hell) Karni Mata also had nothing to do with rats.

I thinks it wa a case of the temple not minding the rats as such, extermination is certainly not an option, not in a temple. So they can't really do anything! So the rats stayed and eventually people started to like them haha

[daTruChosen]

Until I saw this video, I had NO idea rats even could be seen as sacred ... the idea is still difficult to accept, from a Westerner's frame of reference, wherein rats are invariably associated with corruption, uncleanness, and moral reprehensibility. Though it was hard to watch; exceedingly so, in fact, I admit to finding it informative, as such knowledge of these creatures invalidates many of my biases against them. I also wasn't aware they were so intelligent and adaptable, either.

[daTruChosen]

I have had a deathly, paralyzing fear (and thus, a burning, bitter hatred) of rats for most of my life, and am seeking to rid myself of it (along with that of heights). I understand that a certain amount of fear is a necessary result of the self-preservation instinct, but my fear of rats seems to serve no purpose, at all ... it's gripping on an almost primal level to me. Can ANYONE offer any suggestions as to what can be done to overcome it. I detest and am ashamed to have this weakness.

[mrsmaeee]

@daTruChosen I understand your fear I have one of spiders. You should go to a pet shop with rats and just watch them or if you know someone who has a pet just slowly become used to them just being around. As an owner a pet rat I can vouch that they are extremely intelligent animals and extremely loyal and affection creatures. They are like little dogs - to me anyway.

[chavochavo22]

Hey where are the cats?

[madiushrat]

Props on the orchestral Aphex.

[Luccasio1]

everywhere they killing rats, nice to see some place like that, India the rat heaven

[Daligang]

@Luccasio1 It's because everywhere else, rats can easily catch a disease and spread it around like fire, in that temple they can't

[VolumeLowHigh]

0_0

[johnmythology]

so cute...

[mermaidofsuburbia]

Ever see Tori Amos' God video with all the rats? I think she visited this temple for that.

[AlekseiRatel]

Rats are highly intelligent.

[ericberner]

All of my poetry is experessed to God alone in the form of prayer anyway. I pray for Rats and Mice every day. And also for plaster and plastic, all of Gaia's forms I pray for.

[ericberner]

'And why shouldn't they?'

[dharmabird67]

Beautiful - hope to visit this temple some day..

[bonniebeams]

Oh to be blessed to be in the company of those rats...that would have to be my first stop in visiting India.

[antiochus66]

the one eyed rat at the start of the clip is famous...

his name is anjul which is sanskrit for the unwashed.

[certifiedloco]

I love rats so much. Once you have bonded with a rat/ rats they will never turn on you. They depend on us and are one of the most superior species on Earth. Some people hate them, some people love them. I think the reason people fear them so much is because they are so superior to humans in agility, instinct, intelligence, and survival.

[mrohida]

I don't see how people can find other rodents like Squirrels, Guinea Pigs, Hamsters, and porcupines so adorable while resenting the rat.

Rats are an amazing species, and every bit as cute! Sure, they encroach on property, spread disease, and they can smell bad - Just as humans do...

[LodemaiVicious]

Poor rat at the beginning.

I can't feel not even a little disgusted by this, I find this amasing and it's a prove that humans can respect life and protect it, no matter what creature is.

[getmeatgmail]

its only in hinduism i think each every animal and plants are considered as part of life with with humans, like snakes, crows, cows,parrots, buffallows, neem tree, basilika, etc amazing ancient ecological concept:))

[LodemaiVicious]

Indeed!

[J9xluvsxy00]

they at least respect and appreciate life over all. now im catholic, but i dont go around saying ppl go to hell and their religion is wrong. if you do believe/worship a god/gods then you should know not to condemn others for how they are.

[snuffles1111]

this religion is really amazing - such respect for life :-D

[Battybribri]

Happy rats are happy :D

[RepublicOfIndia]

The rat at 0:22 looked cute. :)

[trilok108]

Sorry for those people who can't understand the meaning and the beauty of hindu culture.

It is sad to see that it still have so much ethnocentrism and intolerance...

Oh yes amazing India! Bharat Mata Ki Jai!

[OokamiKun1]

Amazing! There has never been a disease in the time of this temple's existance.

[digit220bx]

amazing india

[dimplechugh]

good movie.i like it

[moirahmo]

jai karni mata ki

[kalinji]

They feed`em, protect`em, clean after `em - Rats paradise :)

[caelumarisen]

thank you for posting the one impartial, well-produced video on Karnimata that I could find on this entire site

[xyqk]

thats soooo cute...the cutest thing i've ever seen in the world