Looked upon as the incarnation of goddess Durga or Hinglaj, Karnimata is an important deity in Rajasthan. She signifies power and victory of good over evil. She is the destroyer of evil forces and the protector of good souls. The living beings are dependent on her for their well being. As a result they flock to her temple in Deshnok. This small town is located at a distance of 30 kilometers from Bikaner. Apart from the religious association this temple is a living example of the culture, belief and traditions of the Rajasthani people. They believe that the goddess will take care of them. As long as she is there no evil force can harm them.

A lot of miracles and interesting tales are deeply associated with the history ofKarnimata Temple in Rajasthan. It is popular believe that a devotee who comes to the abode of the goddess with full faith and with a pure heart the goddess never fails him or her. People from all over Rajasthan come here to offer their prayers.

She is also synonymous with Shakti. Karnimata has performed several miracles and it is believed that she has disappeared from the face of earth through some miracle. Hence she did not face a natural death. According to legends she was born at Ashwin Shukla Saptami in Suwap village (Jodhpur district). She belonged to Charan caste. Both her parents were ardent devotees of Hinglaz, a Shakti Peeth. Impressed by his devotion it is said that the goddess herself was born to him in the incarnation of Karnimata. After the birth of the daughter the condition of the family improved. Though initially the child was named Ridhu Bai it was later changed to Karni. It literally means the one will do something miraculous on the earth.

From an early age she had been performing miracles. From curing her aunt`s defective hand to saving her father from the poison of a snake-she was always helping out the needy. When her parents were worried about her marriage she herself suggested her father to go to Sathika village and talk about her marriage with Depaji, son of Rao Kelu. After this a chain of miracles followed and today she is worshipped as a Supreme Power.

Another popular legend is the rat legend. They are known as Kabas. There are numerous kabas inside the temple and they play around fearlessly. Unlike rats these are not harmful at all. They are even allowed to sit on the devotees` laps, shoulders, hands and head. Such unique features had truly made the Karnimata Temple a popular religious site in Rajasthan.