Goddess Kumari: The Living Goddess

Our culture and customs are more than rituals and keeping up the tradition; they are one of the factors that define who we are, and in many ways, paves our life to what we become. They are the ultimate identity that stands us out and being a multi-religious, multi-ethnic, and multi-lingual nation, in Nepal, there are several customs and practices, unlike any other in the world.

The tradition of keeping Kumari is one such unique practice, which can intrigue anyone hearing it for the first time. For this stirring tradition, Nepal is visited by authors and historian to unravel the truth and rack the details. Several books have been published by national as well as international writers shedding light on the life of Kumari.

Kumari is considered as one of the oldest and scared practices in Nepal; as much as it is revered, there are controversies surrounding it as well. So once you have been in Nepal, getting know of most baffling tradition can be a whole lot of excitement. Let us know everything associating to Kumari and her life.

Who is Kumari?

Kumari is a young prepubescent girl who is worshipped as Goddess in Nepal.

Also, known as Goddess Kumari or Living Goddess, she is believed to the manifestation of the divine female energy, incarnation of Goddess Taleju in Hindu religious tradition. Kumari is worshipped the same as other deities by some Hindus. “Kumari” is derived from Sanskrit word Kaumarya, meaning “princess.”

Although a prepubescent girl, she is selected specifically from Shakya or Bajracharya clan of Nepalese Newari community.

However, Kumari is not only one; you can find different Kumaris’ in different places, but the Kumari of Kathmandu is the “Royal Kumari”, as her selection is very rigorous and she lives in a palace in Basantapur Durbar Square, known as Kumari Ghar. 

Also, on the occasion of certain festivals like Navaratri or Durga Puja, a Kumari is generally chosen for one day and worshiped accordingly. 

It is mainly in the Kathmandu valley, where the prevalence is strong and rooted.

Kumari is dethroned when her first mensuration begins as it is believed that the goddess vacates her body in that point.

What is the history of Kumari? How did it start?

The tradition of Goddess Kumari in Nepal is relatively recent dating back to the 17th century; however, Kumari puja or virgin worship has been prevalent for more than 2,300 years.

It is really bewildering how the tradition of Kumari began, and of several legends, the one relating to King Jayaprakash Malla, who is the last Nepalese king of Malla Dynasty is the most popular and most followed one.

As the popular legend suggests, a king and his friend, goddess Taleju used to play tripasa (dice game) in King’s chamber. The goddess used to come along every night to play the game under the condition that the king keeps it a secret.

However, one night, King’s wife got curious and followed him to the chamber. As King’s wife saw Taleju, the goddess got enraged and told the king that, if he wanted to see her again and have her protect his country, he would have to search her among Shakya community of Ratanwali.

Then, King Jayaprakash Malla left the palace in search of a young girl possessed by goddess Taleju. Since then started the tradition of Living Kumari.

How is the Goddess Kumari selected?

The selection process of Goddess Kumari is very rigid and extreme. The search for Kumari successor begins once Goddess Taleju lefts the sitting Kumari after she attains her first mensuration.

Five senior Buddhist Bhajracharya priests, Chief Royal Priest, Achajau the priest of Taleju and the royal astrologer is involved in the selection of Kumari. 

The eligible girls are from Shakya caste of silver and goldsmiths family. To be an eligible candidate, she must be in excellent health, never have been shed blood or been afflicted by any diseases, without blemish and must not have lost any teeth yet. 

After passing these terms, she is examined for thirty-two perfections of a goddess. Also, her hair and eyes should be very black, should have dainty hands and feet, small and well-recessed sexual organs, and a set of twenty teeth. Her signs of serenity and fearlessness are also observed.

After candidates are chosen, they are put under many rigorous tests to ensure that she indeed possesses the qualities necessary to the living vessel of the goddess. She is taken to the Taleju temple and released, where heads of 108 buffaloes and goats are illuminated by candlelight, and masked men are dancing around.

If she passes the test with no fear, then she must spend a night alone in a room among the head of slaughtered goats and buffaloes. Then her final test is to pick out the personal belongings of the previous Kumari from an assortment of things laid out before her.

After a Kumari is chosen, she is taken by priests to purify and cleanse her body and spirit of her past experience. Now she is dressed and made up as Kumari. She leaves Taleju temples and walks across the square on a white cloth to Kumari Ghar.

Royal Kumari of Kathmandu

As Kumari enters her new life, she experiences a drastic change in her life. She is free of material trouble; at the same time, she has ceremonial duties to carry out. She is expected with continued serenity.

A Kumari never wears shoes; whenever her feet are covered, it is with red stockings. People wait for hours just to have a glance down from her in Kumari’s window or courtyard of her palace. Her visitors are mainly people suffering from blood or menstrual disorders, bureaucrats, and other government officials. During the visit, Kumari is closely watched, and her actions are interpreted as a prediction of petitioners lives, like:

-Silence: Wish is granted

-Crying and loud laughter: Serious illness or death

-Weeping or rubbing eyes: Imminent death

-Trembling: Imprisonment

-Picking at food offering: Financial losses

Before, Kumari received no education because she was widely considered to be omniscient, but now she is allowed for education. In the case of Royal Kumaris’, she is schooled in her residence, while other Kumaris’ are allowed to go to school on their conveniences.

Life after being Kumari

After a girl is dethroned as Goddess Kumari, she is taken as a normal child by society. However, after being revered as a goddess and suddenly taken back as a child, it definitely involves some time to get into normal life.

One of the Kumari has told, “After retirement, I couldn’t even walk properly because every time I had to move, I had been carried all the time. The outside world was a complete stranger to me.” It can’t be more true, as they are confined within a house or temple and are subject to strict daily rituals.

Also, there was a traditional belief that Kumari should not get married, as it was believed her husband would die early. However, such belief has been denied by former Kumaris’.

Child Right Issues on Kumari Tradition

It is heard from people that once a girl becomes Kumari, she lives a life of princess and supporters of this tradition even say that it is every girls’ dream to be a Kumari. However, defenders of human right consider it as a breach of their freedom and right to education.

Then, following the abolition of Nepalese monarchy in 2008, the Supreme Court ordered an investigation in the living condition of Kumari. Abolishing the tradition of no education for Kumaris’, the Court ruled that they should have greater freedom and access to education was given. 

However, despite the right to education, Kumari tradition is a highly controversial issue for defenders of human rights. 

Also on 2014, January 14, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City Office decided to grant NRs 10,000 of monthly allowance as pension to ex-Kumaries for coming ten years.

Who is the oldest Kumari in Nepal?

The oldest Kumari in Nepal is Patan, Kathmandu Valley; her name is Dhana Kumari Bajracharya.

However, it is very shocking that her mensuration cycle never started and the condition of having Kumari removed never came to apply to her. She is still the Kumari and has remained within the rules; she cannot even touch the ground outside her room.

On April 15, 2015, when 7.8 magnitudes of earthquake hit Nepal, Dhana was forced to walk in the street for the first time in her life. The only way she had appeared in public was while being carried in an ornate wooden palanquin.

It was 1954 when she was enthroned as Kumari, and she was only two then. Now, as of 2019, Dhana Kumari is 65 years old.

So, Patan has two Kumari, one is Dhana Kumari Bajracharya, and another is one who gets dethroned after her first mensuration begins.

Who is the present Royal Kumari?

The present Royal Kumari is Trishna Shakya (3 years old when dethroned), who became the successor of Kumari tradition on September 28, 2017, as Matina Shakya (2008-2017) stepped down.