At first glance, this temple in Northern India looks like any other. Pilgrims come here to pray to the Saint and Goddess Karni Mata. But this temple also houses other deities(神)-- rats. They runrampant in the courtyards, spill out of doors, tumble downstairs, scurry(四处跑窜) around corners. And there's not one, not two, but over 15,000 of them inside. Welcome to the rat temple.

We consider the rats as a form of the Goddess. We worship them. Jutudon is a priest of the Karni Mata temple in the village of Deshnok(德萨努克), near Bikaner. It's his job to look after the rats. But he doesn't just serve them; he also drinks, eats and sleeps with them. Jutudon believes, they are his ancestors, reborn as rats.

Some are my fathers, my grandfathers, my whole family is here. When they die, they are born as rats; when the rat dies, it's born as us humans.

That might seem preposterous(十分荒谬的) to many in the west, but people here believe in reincarnation(再投胎). Tutundon and his clan(家族) are descendants of the Goddess. They believe it's a special gift to be born and reborn in her tribe under her care.

It is the order of the Mother Goddess. While we live, we'll live here; and when we die, we'll become rats.

So sacred are these rats that they are treated like celebrities. Everyday, busloads of tourists arrive at the temple. But to get in, they are required to do something that makes manyshudder. They must remove their shoes and go barefoot. The rule prevents people from squishing(踩扁) the rats, but it makes for a sticky experience. The floors are littered with rat excrement(排泄物), and there is just one man scooping up after the Gods.

All over the temple, visitors are taking chances they wouldn't normally dare, and children are allowed to do things people elsewhere would find horrific.

He fed the rats with his hands, he doesn't get scared. The rats here don't do anything, that's the special thing about this place. The rats here are harmless.

But outside this temple, when it comes to rats, there is always fear, the fear of disease. Rats can infect humans with over 20 kinds of illnesses. But even here, there are risks involved. Rats don't have to bite to infect humans. Fur, food and skin are all open channels. And rats can urinate(撒尿) anywhere, even on people. Many like this family are testing their courage.

I didn't want to come inside. I was so scared, but he dragged me here.

But getting dangerously close is just part of the experience, especially if it leads to God. Priest Jutudon and the other members of his clan devote themselves to serving the rats. Their belief in reincarnation is so strong that they never treat them as mere rodents. Clan members like Davidan eat and drink with the rats, and break bread with the family. He calls the rats "carvers" or "little children", and feeds them first before eating himself. In the temple's kitchen, Jutudon's wife is preparing lunch. The rats are the official tasters.

They can eat everything out here. Sweets, grains, snacks, even green chilies if it likes.

It's an act that would shut down any restaurant in the west, but in this kitchen, it's a sign of good fortune.

If they eat with us, we feel good. If you stop them, then the Mother Goddess will get upset. She will get angry.

The rats are even free to lick the plates. For the devotees of Karni Mata, embracing the taboo is an act of faith. What's important is not what these rats look like to others, it's what their worshippers see in them.