ANOTHER VERSION OF THE STORY HAS IT THAT DURING THE TIMES OF KARNI MATA A TERRIBLE PLAGUE HAS SPREAD ALL OVER THE COUNTRY KILLING THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN. DESPERATE PARENTS HAVE ASKED THE GOD OF DEATH YAMA WEATHER HE WOULD RELEASE THE CHILDREN. KARNI MATA ACHIEVED A COMPROMISE IN WHICH FOR EVERY OFFERING MADE TO A RAT, A DEAD CHILD WOULD BE REINCARNATED AS ONE OF THE RODENTS.
HINDU BOYS ADMIRE THE WHITE RAT. THERE ARE ONLY TWO WHITE RATS LIVING IN THE TEMPLE AND THEY ARE CONSIDERED TO BE THE HOLIEST OF THE ENTIRE POPULATION.
MANY PILGRIMS GO TO SPECIAL LENGTHS TO SPOT THE WHITE RAT WHO IS SAID TO BE THE FIRST BOY REINCARNATED AS THE RAT. “THERE ARE TWO, MAYBE THREE WHITE RATS NOW,” TOLD ME A GROUNDSKEEPER OF THE TEMPLE. THE PLACE WHERE TWO OF THE TEMPLE’S WHITE RATS LIVE IS KNOWN WELL TO THE TEMPLE CARETAKERS. THEY POINT IT OUT TO THE PILGRIMS WHO SPEND HOURS TEMPTING THE WHITE RAT WITH BEST SNACKS THEY CAN AFFORD. SEEING A WHITE RAT IS A SPECIAL BLESSING TO PILGRIMS. WHEN THEY DO SEE IT, THEY BOW THEIR HEADS IN THANKS AND RESPECT.
THE TWO WHITE RATS BESIEGED BY HUMAN VISITORS VENTURE OUTSIDE THEIR RESIDENCE ALMOST ONLY AT NIGHT. THE PAIR LIVES IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO EACH OTHER, BEHIND CLOSED DOORS IN THE CORNER OF THE TEMPLE’S MAIN COURTYARD. OTHER THEN THEIR WHITE FUR THEY ALSO HAVE A DIFFERENT NATURE. WHEN MOST RATS CALMLY ACCEPT HUMAN PRESENCE THE WHITE RATS RUN AWAY. THEY SEEM AWARE OF THEIR “CELEBRITY STATUS” AND SPECIAL VENERATION OF THEIR HUMAN CARETAKERS.
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