英语听力：自然百科 老鼠入主印度圣庙

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 run rampant¹ 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 clan²(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 celebrities³. Everyday, busloads of tourists arrive at the temple. But to get in, they are required to do something that makes many shudder⁴. 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 scooping⁵ 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 mere⁶ rodents⁷. 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 chilies⁸ 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 taboo⁹ 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.

1 rampant   

adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的

参考例句：

• Sickness was rampant in the area.该地区疾病蔓延。
• You cannot allow children to rampant through the museum.你不能任由小孩子在博物馆里乱跑。

2 clan   

n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派

参考例句：

• She ranks as my junior in the clan.她的辈分比我小。
• The Chinese Christians,therefore,practically excommunicate themselves from their own clan.所以，中国的基督徒简直是被逐出了自己的家族了。

3 celebrities   

n.（尤指娱乐界的）名人( celebrity的名词复数 )；名流；名声；名誉

参考例句：

• He only invited A-list celebrities to his parties. 他只邀请头等名流参加他的聚会。
• a TV chat show full of B-list celebrities 由众多二流人物参加的电视访谈节目

4 shudder   

v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动

参考例句：

• The sight of the coffin sent a shudder through him.看到那副棺材，他浑身一阵战栗。
• We all shudder at the thought of the dreadful dirty place.我们一想到那可怕的肮脏地方就浑身战惊。

5 scooping   

n.捞球v.抢先报道( scoop的现在分词 )；（敏捷地）抱起；抢先获得；用铲[勺]等挖（洞等）

参考例句：

• Heated ice cream scoop is used for scooping really cold ice cream. 加热的冰淇淋勺是用来舀非常凉的冰淇淋的。 来自互联网
• The scoop-up was the key phase during a scooping cycle. 3个区间中，铲取区间是整个作业循环的关键。 来自互联网

6 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

7 rodents   

n.啮齿目动物( rodent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Rodents carry diseases and are generally regarded as pests. 啮齿目动物传播疾病，常被当作害虫对待。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Some wild rodents in Africa also harbor the virus. 在非洲，有些野生啮齿动物也是储毒者。 来自辞典例句

8 chilies   

n.红辣椒( chili的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Some people like to harvest the plants, when the chilies are green. 一些人喜欢在辣椒长成绿色的时候就采摘。 来自互联网
• Sprinkle with scallions and sliced chilies and served hot. 洒上葱粒、辣椒丝，趁热上桌。 来自互联网

9 taboo   

n.禁忌，禁止接近，禁止使用；adj.禁忌的；v.禁忌，禁制，禁止

参考例句：

• The rude words are taboo in ordinary conversation.这些粗野的字眼在日常谈话中是禁忌的。
• Is there a taboo against sex before marriage in your society?在你们的社会里，婚前的性行为犯禁吗？