WHILE rats are considered vermin in many cultures, in one Indian temple there are 20,000 of the rodents that are fed and worshipped.

    The Karni Mata Temple in Rajasthan, India, is known for its devotion to the furry creatures — with temple visitors prohibited from harming the swarms.

    In fact, measures have been put in place to protect the rats by building netting and grills to keep out predators such as raptors.

    According to folklore, there are two stories about the rats that explain why they are protected and revered in the temple.

    One is that all children were once born as rats and the other says that the 20,000 rats used to be soldiers — either way, the rats now hold a high place in the temple life.

    Out of all of the thousands of rats in the temple, there are even a few white rats, which are considered to be especially holy.

    These are believed to be manifestations of Karni Mata and her four sons. A sight of these is said to be a special blessing and visitors attempt to lure them out with sweet-tasting food.

    Photographer Nicolas Economou from Germany visited the temple and captured hoards of balding rats drinking milk from bowls, and scurrying through the legs of visitors.

    “I was worried not to get bitten, it was weird,” he told Mail Online Travel.

    “It is not like the other Hindu temples, there was movement everywhere, you could hear the rats above you, near you, behind you and it was terrible when the rats were touching my feet.”

    The 27-year-old Greek, who was born in Germany, was traveling to the country to photograph the area of Rajasthan and Thar desert.

    “I was not scared of the rats, as I remember myself when I was a child it was funny to hunt them with plastic guns, although I am aware of the infection they can transmit to the human body.”

    Small children can be seen playing and interacting with the rats — while scores of tourists flock there each day to catch a glimpse of the unique spectacle.

    Many visitors offer sweets and other candy to the vermin. The food nibbled by the rats is also considered holy and is sometimes consumed by a devotee — even if it has been half eaten by rodents.

    Priests at the temple treat the furry inhabitants with serious devotion and warn visitors to walk carefully within the temple premises to avoid trampling them.

    According to the temple rules, stepping accidentally on rat and killing it is a sin.

    The perpetrator is then bound to buy a gold or silver rat statue and place it in the temple as a payment for the sin.

    (SD-Agencies)