{"id":101966,"date":"2022-05-11T09:43:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-11T07:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magikindia.com\/?p=101966"},"modified":"2022-06-28T15:28:04","modified_gmt":"2022-06-28T13:28:04","slug":"les-temples-les-plus-insolites-de-linde","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magikindia.com\/en\/les-temples-les-plus-insolites-de-linde\/","title":{"rendered":"Eight unusual temples in India"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The author of the slogan “Incredible India!” have been well-inspired. The slogan indeed applies to all aspects of Indian culture and Hindu temples are no exception. Some of these sanctuaries are known for the incredible technicality of their construction – Madurai<\/a>, Ellora<\/a> or Tanjore<\/a> – to name but a few, others for their unusual cults imbued with legends and popular beliefs.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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1 – Bullet Baba<\/strong> (Pali, Rajasthan)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The temple of the motorcycle-deity<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Bullet Baba or “Om Banna” is a relatively well-known temple among tourists, as it is on the “National Highway 65”, the main road connecting Udaipur<\/a> to Jodhpur<\/a> in Rajasthan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The particularity of this temple: the deity is a motorcycle! Or more exactly, a 350 CC Royal Enfield Bullet, hence the name of the temple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The moto-deity in its glass case<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The story goes that in 1991, a young man named Om Singh Rathore<\/strong> (Om Banna) was traveling to the town of Chotila on his motorbike when he hit a tree and was killed instantly. After the accident, the motorbike was taken to the nearby police station, but it moved again towards the accident site, and this, several times in a row.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the villagers heard of this miracle, they built a temple on the very spot of the accident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Royal Enfield adorned with garlands<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Every day, hundreds of passers-by stop to bow down to the motorcycle-deity that is believed to offer protection to travellers. They offer it garlands of flowers and bottles of alcohol (yes, that’s quite common in northern India) to ask for its blessing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Om Singh Rathore is worshipped<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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2 – Karni Mata, Deshnok<\/strong> (Bikaner, Rajasthan)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The temple of the rats<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Sensitive souls, scroll quickly to temple #3 or rather #4 as #3 may be just as disturbing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The entrance to the temple of Karni Mata<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The temple of Karni Mata, located 30 km from Bikaner <\/a>in the city of Deshnoke (Rajasthan<\/a>) owes its international fame to the thousands of rats that inhabit it. It is said that there are more than 20,000 rats living peacefully on the food offerings given by the faithful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The rats of the temple drinking milk offered by the faithful<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

According to a local legend, Karni, a 15th century mystical woman<\/strong> and the incarnation of the Goddess Durga, implored the god Yama (the god of the death) to resurrect the eldest son of one of her storytellers. Yama refused at first, then finally agreed and allowed Karni Mata to bring back among her own not only the soul of the dead son of the storyteller, but also that of all the other storytellers and poets – members of the Charan community – on condition that they reincarnate into rats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The idol of the goddess Karni Mata<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The black rats, known as “kabbas” or “little children”<\/strong>, are fed of treats as well as milk and cereal in large metal dishes on which they perch. Devotees have a custom of bringing back leftover food from rats as it is considered as a prasad (holy food).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among these black rats, there are said to be 6 white rats <\/strong>considered the most sacred as they are believed to be the reincarnations of Karni Mata herself and her family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Representations of Karni Mata in the temple<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\nKNOW MORE ABOUT BIKANER<\/span><\/a>\n\n\n
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3 – Mehandipur Balaji<\/strong>, Dausa (Rajasthan)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The exorcist temple<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Also located in Rajasthan<\/a>, Mehandipur Balaji, is another unique temple where Brahmin priests practice exorcism rites<\/strong> to free a person who claims to be under the influence of black magic or of an evil spirit. It is one of the last shrines in India where these healing rituals are conducted in public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The main shrine dedicated to Hanuman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For Westerners, it is a temple that can be disturbing, for we see people shouting, writhing, rolling on the ground or banging their heads against the walls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Indians, this temple is a must-see in Rajasthan.<\/strong> Thousands of devotees flock there every day (Saturdays and Tuesdays are the busiest ones) because, before being an exorcist temple, Mehandipur Balaji is a sanctuary dedicated to the monkey god Hanuman in his form of “Bala ” (child). Hanuman is known to be a “Sankat Mochan” i.e. one who eradicates pain, suffering and sorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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