Take off your shoes for the "Temple of Rats"

I just saw this the other night about a Temple in Bikaner, India.

Its a temple that is dedicated to Karnimata.

Original Kamat's Potpourri:
Mother Goddess is worshiped throughout India in various local forms. They are considered different incarnations Parvati, Consort of Shiva. Karnimata, the tutelary deity of Bikaner kings, is worshipped as incarnation of Durga or Parvati. It is only due to her blessings, it is believed, Rao Bika became the first king of Bikaner state. Rats reign roosts in the temple. Thousands of mice, big and small run everywhere freely and fearlessly. Temple priests warn tourists, not to tread on them. Devotees feed these rats with milk and sweets Devotees believe that the rats form the army of Karnimata. The temple is full of awe-inspiring rats of all color. Sighting of a white rat is considered auspicious and tourists flock the temple for its unusual attraction.

It seems kind of creepy walking around, drinking after the creature how started so many plagues. Apparently its a great honor to eat something that has been touched by one of these rats. But the really crazy think is that no one has ever gotten sick from or at the Temple. I saw it on tv and had flashbacks to that rat movie from the 70's7


more:

www.kamat.com...



[edit on 18-2-2007 by Royal76]

Nobody has anything to say about walking amoung the rats? Would this not creep you out. Even in the year of the rat.