Karni Mata, a mystic from the 14th century, is believed to be an incarnation of the goddess Durga. Legend says that when the son of one of her storytellers died, she pleaded with Yama, the god of death, to revive him. Yama refused, so Karni Mata declared that from then on, her followers would be reborn as rats until they could be reincarnated as humans again. The temple was built in her honor in the 15th century by Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner and later enhanced in the early 20th century. It continues to be an important pilgrimage site for Hindus, especially those from the Charan caste.