The Living Goddess of Nepal

In Nepal, the only Hindu Kingdom in the world, there are many unique forms of worship. Not only do they have some 32 million gods and goddesses, Bodhisatvas or near Buddhas, avatars and other manifestations — they also have their own living goddess.

For hundreds of years the practice of worshipping a physical pre-pubescent girl as a source of supreme power has been a part of both Hinduism and Buddhism, and the Kumari Devi is worshipped on all the religious occasions.

The Living Goddess is worshiped as the reincarnation of Durga,the fearful aspect of Goddess Parvathi.

There are several Kumaris, or living goddess in the Kathmandu Valley, but the Kumari Devi, or Royal Kumari at Kathmandu is the most important.


The Legend

Legend has it that Kumari worship was introduced during the Jaya Prakash Malla’s reign, the last of Kathmandu’s Malla kings.

One theory is that a Malla king had intercourse with a pre-pubescent girl and that she died as a result. This is said to have led to the commencement of Kumari worship by a repentant king.

Another belief is that a Malla king who regularly played dice with the Goddess Taleju, the guardian deity of the valley had made advances to the Goddess. The angry Goddess had threatened to withdraw her protection but had later agreed to return in the form of a girl.

Another legend is that a young girl possessed by Goddess Durga was banished from the kingdom by an angry king. His furious queen had demanded that she be immediately brought back and be treated like a real goddess.



Selecting a Kumari

It is no mean task to select a girl who could qualify for reverential worship by the king himself.

She may be 4 to 7 years of age and is from the Buddhist Shakya lineage of Newari gold or silver smiths by esoteric rites. She has to meet 32 physical requirements in reference to the color of her eyes, eyelashes like a cow, a neck like a conch-shell, body like a banyan tree, her teeth and the sound of her voice. Also her horoscope can not be incompatible with that of the king.

The selection of the Kumari ceremony which is usually held on the eighth day of Dashain festival is called Kal-ratri.The potential Kumari candidates are then placed in a darkened room with buffalo heads displayed. Men dance around here with horrible masks and make loud scary noises. The girl who remains calm throughout is naturally selected, as people believe a reincarnation of Durga would not know fear.

Then as a final test similar to that of the Dalai Lama, the Kumari then chooses items of clothing and decoration worn by her predecessor.



Thereafter...

Once chosen, she moves into the state-maintained building Kumari Bahal with the state providing for her upkeep. She is always dressed in red and the third eye is painted on her forehead. During her period as the goddess she lives in seclusion and her feet are not allowed to touch the ground. She does not leave this place except for during Indra Jatra and several other festivals. Once a year, during Indra Jatra festival, she travels through the city for three days upon a massive temple chariot. During this period, it is customary for the monarch to seek her blessings.

When she reaches puberty, or when she has a serious accidental blood loss, a new Kumari takes her place. She is maintained by the temple throughout her tenure and upon her return to an ordinary existence, she is paid a government pension and also a dowry is offered for her marriage as superstition has it that the husband of a ex-Kumari will die early.