কর্ণী মাতা

{{Infobox deity | type = হিন্দু | image = La statue de la déesse entourée des rats sacrés (Temple de Karni Mata) (8423510937).jpg | name = কর্ণী মাতা | other_names = ঋদ্ধি বাই | Devanagari = करणी माता | affiliation = [[চারণ], রাজপুরোহিত এবং রাজপুত | god_of = হিংলাজের অবতার | abode = পশ্চিম রাজস্থান (মারওয়াড় এবং বিকানের) | weapon = ত্রিশূল | mount = সিংহ এবং ঈগল দ্বারা পরিবৃত | mantra = | spouse = দেপা জি চরণ | parents = মেহা জি চরণ ও দেবল বাই }}

কর্ণী মাতা (হিন্দি: करणी माता or Maa Karni or Karniji;) (Karni Mata is also referred to as Mehaai) (c. 2 October 1387– c. ২৩ মার্চ ১৫৩৮(১৫৩৮-০৩-২৩),) was a female Hindu warrior sage born in the Charan caste. Also known as Shri Karniji Maharaj, she is worshiped as the incarnation of the warrior goddess Hinglaj by her followers. She is an official deity of the royal families of Bikaner and Jodhpur. She lived an ascetic life and was widely revered during her own lifetime. On the request of the Maharajas of Bikaner and Jodhpur, she laid the foundation stones of Bikaner Fort and Mehrangarh Fort, the two most important forts in the region. The most famous of her temples is in the small town of Deshnoke, near Bikaner in Rajasthan, and was created following her mysterious disappearance from her home. The temple is famous for its rats locally known as kabas, which are treated as sacred and given protection in the temple. Another temple dedicated to her during her lifetime differs from others in that it does not contain an image or idol of her, but rather a footprint to symbolize her visit to that place. Karni Mata is also known as "dadhi wali dokri" or Dadhali ("beard bearing old lady"). There is one more famous temple, situated at Khurad, near Besroli railway station. This temple of Maa Karni, Indrabaisa was built by Maharaja Ganga Singh ji of Bikaner. Karnini Mata laid the foundation stone of Mehrangarh fort during reign of Rao Jodha. By the orders of her, Rao Jodha's son Rao Bika founded new city Bikaner (state at that time).

জীবনী

According to tradition, Karni Mata (Riddhi Bai) was daughter of Meha ji, residing at Suwap village. And she was married to Depa ji Charan, residing in the village of Sathika. However, she later expressed unwillingness to her husband to engage in conjugal relations. He initially humoured her, thinking that she would relent in time. Instead, Karni arranged for him to marry her younger sister, Gulab, so that he might have a proper married life. She herself remained celibate all her life with the agreement and support of her husband, who died in 1454.

Maa Karni lived in her husband's village for about two years before leaving with her followers and a herd of cattle, to live a nomadic life. She and her followers once made camp at the village of Jangloo. A servant of Rao Kanha who was ruler of Jangloo denied Karni, her followers, and their cattle access to water. Karni Mata declared her follower, Rao Ridmal of Chandasar, the new ruler of the village and continued on her journey. Karni Mata stopped wandering further and settled at village, near Bikaner - Deshnok.

Once a devotee Jagadu or Jhagdu Shah, a Gujarati trader was sailing in sea, and was stuck in sea storm. Then he called Maa Karni from his small ship, and was helped while she was milking cow at her home. And get him reached Porbandar port. After reaching safely, Jhagadu shah came to Maa Karni for thanksgiving her kindness, and told his wish to construct temple. Then Karni Mata told him to construct temple at Porbandar as Harsiddhi temple.

Her favorite son Lakhan (son of her sister Gulab Bai) went to the nearby village of Kolayat to the yearly kartik fair with friends, but he was drowned in Kapil Sarovar, and died. When she saw his body, and her sister started crying, Karni Mata took his body in to a room and locked herself in. When she came out, she came out with Lakham who was alive. People assume that she fought with Dharmraj, the Lord of death who told her that from that time, her descendants will become kabas (rats) after death, and kabas will become human after death, respectively. So the temple of Deshnok is also famous as the temple of the kabas.

In 1453, she gave her blessing to Rao Jodha of Jodhpur for conquering Ajmer, Merta and Mandor. In 1457, she went to Jodhpur at Rao Jodha's request, to lay the cornerstone of the Mehrangarh Fort at Jodhpur.

Her first temple was constructed in the village of Mathania during her lifetime by her follower Amara Charan. In 1472, she arranged the marriage between Rao Bika and Rang Kunwar. Rao Bika was the fifth son of Rao Jodha, and Rang Kunwar was the daughter of Rao Shekha of Pungal. The marriage was arranged to turn the enmity of the Rathore and Bhati families into friendship.

In 1485, she laid the foundation stone of the fort of Bikaner at the request of Rao Bika.

In 1538, Karni Ji went to visit the Maharaja of Jaisalmer.

On 21 March 1538, she travelled back to Deshnok with her son (son of Gulab Bai), Poonja, and a few other followers. They were near Gadiyala and Girirajsar of the Kolayat tehsil, in Bikaner district, when she asked the caravan to stop for water. It was reported that she disappeared there at the age of 151 years.

In Rajasthan, the goddess Karni Mata is believed to protect the cows and Krishna Saara Mriga (blackbuck).

বহিঃসংযোগ

• Rat Temple India Karni Mata Temple
• Explanation of Karni (Karniji)
• Read Details about Karni Mata Temple
• National Geographic News: Rats Rule at Indian Temple
• Deshnok Temple A three-minute video news report on Karni Mata, aka the "Bagwati Karniji" temple in Deshnoke, Rajasthan. Accessed 10 August 2007.
• Complete info about karni mata temple)