India’s Karni Mata Temple Is Devoted To

Rats
BY JESSICA FESTA  ON JUL 21, 2016

By Himanshu Agarwal

India is a land of rich traditions and culture, and religion plays a part in this.
Each religion has its own way of appeasing its Gods, with nature always an
integral part of worship. While sometimes Mother Nature’s creatures are
viewed as a form of their Lord, some others are sacrificed in the Lord’s name.

The Legend

The Karni Mata Temple in Deshnoke — about 20 minutes from Bikaner,

Rajasthan — holds two main legends spun around the mysterious worship of
rats. According to one, a 20,000 strong army fled battle and went running to
the Karni Mata Temple. The temple spared their lives, but banished the
cowards to live in the temple as rats. Thankful to not have been sentenced to
death, they vowed to serve Karni Mata for eternity.

The other legend has it that Karni Mata’s stepson drowned in a lake while
trying to drink water. Karni Mata then sent the God of Death to revive him.
The God of Death granted a special gift to Karni Mata, allowing all her male
children to be reincarnated as rats.

Architecture Of The Temple

Temple architecture is heavily influenced by the Mughal style, with the entire
structure showcasing beautiful white marble. In terms of idols there is a sacred
sanctum, a statue of a trident-touting Karni Mata and, of course, the many rats.
Silver doors with panels depicting the various legends are also featured.
Present Day Worship

Over 20,000 rats are worshipped in this temple, and visitors are prohibited
from harming them. Extreme measures like building netting and grills have
even been employed to ensure the rats’ safety.

Moreover, eating the food nibbled on by these rats is considered to be a “high

honor.” While the hygienic safety of this practice is questionable, it’s created a
sense of respect toward these often neglected, despised creatures. And if
someone happens to kill any of these rats they are to be replaced with a gold
or silver Khaba — a pharaoh of Ancient Egypt during the 3rd dynasty of the
Old Kingdom — of the same size, shape, height and weight.

Visiting Karni Mata Temple

The temple opens daily at 4am when the priests perform Aarti and offer

Prasad to the people. During this time visitors also make offerings to the rats.

Most of the rats are black, and the few white ones are considered Holy. In fact,
spotting them is deemed good luck! Despite the huge rat population the city of
Bikaner has never been affected by plague. Additionally, when these rats die
they produce no foul odor. Even crazier, it’s been noted that these rat deaths
are immediately followed by rat births. Coincidence? We may never know.

Myths & Realities

Whether you choose to believe in these legends or not, the folklore

surrounding the rats has made them beloved to the local people. That’s
truth. No matter your beliefs, it’s interesting to visit this temple when in
Rajasthan and celebrate these furry little creatures. You’ll no doubt be inspired
by the importance that mythology holds in local lives, and the positive feeling
that comes with helping nature’s creations.
Have you visited Karni Mata Temple? Share your
experience in the comments below! 

About Himanshu Agarwal

Himanshu Agarwal seeks to unravel the mysteries associated with the Indian
culture and travels places in search of such awe inspiring tales and legends
associated with religious worship and traditions. While not unravelling the
mysteries of unique destinations, he likes to devote time to writing a
travelogue, and blogs at Pearls India Tour & Tour To India. He has a keen eye
for the unusual, and loves to read about mythical places in India.

https://epicureandculture.com/karni-mata-temple/

MacQuarie University

Macquarie University is one of the largest universities in Australia. This year, in 2004, it
celebrates its 40 anniversary.
th

The university is located at the North Ryde Greenbelt, Sydney, where the New South Wales
government sets aside 135 hectares for the institution. In 1964, Macquarie area was a rural
retreat on the city fringe, but today the campus and its surroundings have evolved beyond
recognition. The North Ryde District has grown into a district of intensive occupation anchored
by a vibrant and growing university.Blessed with a fortunate location and room to breathe,
Macquarie can be proud of that careful planning that retains and enrich the university’s most
attractive natural features. A pleasing balance between buildings and plating is evident across
the campus. This emphasis on the importance of landscape has created images of Macquarie as
a place that members of the university are most likely to pleasurably recollect.

One of the highlights of the landscape is the Mars Creek zone. It comprises landscaped creek
sides and valley floor, a grass amphitheatre, and artificial lake… surrounded by rocks and
pebbles, native plants and eucalypts.

Today, a railway station is under construction. In three years1 time, Macquarie will be the only
university in Australia with a railway station on site. Macquarie is poised to be the most readily
accessible in Sydney region by rail and motorway, yet retaining its beautiful site.
 The SURAMDU Bridge

The Suramadu bridge is also known as the Surabaya-Madura bridge with three cable-stayed sections
constructed between Surabaya and on the island of Java and the town of Bangkalan on the island of
Madura in Indonesia.

The width of the bridge o\is 30 meters, while its height is 146 meters. It carries motors vehicles.
Opened on June 10, 2009, and the 5.4 km bridge is the longest in Indonesia.

The cable-stayed portion has three spans with lengths 192 m, 434 m and 192 m. the bridge has two
lanes in each direction plus an emergency lane and a dedicated lane for motorcycles. The first toll bridge
in Indonesia, fares have been initially set at Rp.30.000 for four-wheeled vehicles and Rp.3,000 for two-
whellers.

The bridge was built by a consortium of Indonesian Companies, PT. Adhi Karya and PT. Waskita Karya,
working China Road and Bridge Corp. and China Harbor Engineering Co.Ltd. The total cost of the project,
including connecting roads, has been estimated at 4.5 trillion rupiah (US$445 million).

1. The purpose of the text is …

a. To invite the builder of Suramadu Bridge

b. To inform the readers about something happened in the past

c. To entertain or to amuse the reader

d. To describe about Suramadu Bridge

2. The appropriate title of the text above is …

a. Surabaya and Bangkalan Bridge

b. The cable stayed in Suramadu Bridge

c. The Suramadu Bridge

d. The history of Suramadu Bridge

3. The three cable-stayed sections constructed between Surabaya and …

a. Bangkalan

b. Pasuruan

c. Madiun

d. Blitar
4. When was the bridge opened?

a. In 2008

b. In 2009

c. In 2010

d. In 2011

5. Which statement is not true according to the text?

a. The Suramadu bridge is the longest bridge in Indonesia

b. The bridge has two lanes in ieach direction

c. The bridge is 5.4 length

d. Cars must pay Rp.3,000 before passing the bridge

6. “…has been estimated at …”

The word estimated has the closest meaning to …

a. spent

b. Escaped

c. Counted

d. Claimed

And the answer keys are:

1. D

2. C

3. A

4. B

5. D

6. C
 BANDUNG ZOO

Bandung Zoo is one of natural attractions in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. It is located at Tamansari
Street. It opens from 8 am until 6 pm. Visitors must pay the ticket for 20.000 to enter the zoo. The zoo
occupies a land area of 13.5 hectares.

The zoo has collection of animals. There are hundreds of species. They are Indonesian’s animal and
imported animal, for example, camels, dragons, leopards, orangutans, bears, elephants, various species
of birds, and many more.

At the Zoo, visitors can not only see the collection of animals. They can interact directly with some types
of animals. They can also ride a camel, horse, or elephant accompanied by the officers. Zoo also provides
several facilities. There are flying fox, playground for children with a variety of games, such as swings, a
seesaw and special pond where the visitors can ride duck boat.

1. Where is Bandung Zoo? Bandung Zoo is located at …

Tamansari Street
Kebun Binatang
Dago
East Java

2. “Theycan also interact directly with some types of animals”

(paragraph 3 line 1) The word “they” refers to …
animals
visitors
officers
species

3. How can the visitors visit the zoo? They can visit the zoo …
before 8 a.m.
by looking at the animals
after 6 p.m.
by buying the ticket
4. According to the text, some imported animals are …
camels and leopards
chicken and horses
cow and birds
horse and cow
7. Where can we find swings and seesaws? We can find them …

in the flying fox

in the playground
at duck boat
in the special pond

10. What is the purpose of the text? It is to ….

show the steps
entertain the readers
describe something
explain how and why

Natural Bridge National Park

Natural Bridge National Park is luscious tropical rainforest.

It is located 110 kilometers from south of Brisbane and is reached by following the Pacific Highway to
Nerang and then by travelling through the Numinbah Valley. This scenic roadway lies in the shadow of
Lamington National Park.

The phenomenon of the rock formed into a natural ‘arch’ and the cave through which a waterfall
cascades is a short one-kilometer walk below a dense rainforest canopy from the main picnic area.
Swimming is permitted in the rock pools. Night-time visitors to the cave will discover the unique feature
of the glow worms. Picnic areas offers toilets, barbeque, shelter sheds, water and fireplaces; however,
overnight camping is not permitted.

1. What is the function of paragraph 1?

a. as an identification
b. as an orientation
c. as a thesis
d. as a classification
e. as an abstract

2. The text above is in form of………….

a. hortatory exposition
b. narrative
c. description
d. report
e. explanation

3.What is the communicative purpose of the text?

a. to present two points of views about natural bridge national park
b. to explain the bridge national park
c. to describe the bridge national park
d. to retell the bridge national park
e. to persuade readers to treat preserve the bridge nationl park

4. Where is the natural bridge national park located?

a. 110 kilometers from South of Brisbane
b. 110 kilometers from Pacific Highway
c. 110 kilometers from Numinbah Valley
d. 110 kilometers from Lamington National Park
e. 110 kilometers from Nerang

5. What the visitors will see in the night?

a. a common glow worm
b. the unique feature of the glow worms
c. a great dark cave
d. the unique rocks
e. the fantastic bridge

6. The word ‘luscious’ in the text means………..

a. succulent
b. dense
c. dull
d. dry
e. arid