Kumaris : The Living Goddesses of Nepal
In Kathmandu the capital of Nepal exists the centuries-old cultural institution of the child deity, Kumari Devi, which is deeply embedded in the history of Kathmandu Valley; these living Goddesses and temporary incarnations of Taleju (the Nepalese name for Durga), a goddess specific to Nepal, where Hinduism and Buddhism have combined in a unique way, is considered to be something of a "hybrid" deity worshipped by believers of all these religions of Hinduism. Taleju is the chief protective deity of Nepal and its royal family and it is believed that the king's power derives from her so when he fails to receive her blessing, there is a great possibility of him losing his kingdom.
There are several selected Kumaris throughout Nepal, with certain cities having more than just one, but the most renowned is the Royal Kumari, which resides in the Kumari Ghar, a palace located in the center of Kathmandu and is worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists.
Name and Origins
The word Kumari is derived from the Sanskrit Kaumarya and it means "princess" while in Nepali it means “virgin girl”. This tradition entails the worshiping of young pre-pubescent girls that are selected from the Shakya caste (the clan to which the Buddha belonged) as manifestations of the divine female energy or devil of Taleju; a tradition which is nurtured with vigor today still. Once a girl becomes Kumari Puja her basic target becomes to realize the potential divinity and goodness in every human being, especially female, as well as to be conscious of the universal power of humanity.
While the reverence of a living Kumari in Nepal is a rather recent custom, dating only from the 17th century, the tradition of worshipping virgins (Kumari Puja), started out in Nepal for more than 2,300 years ago, since before the 6th century, while there has been found written evidence describing the process and tradition of the Kumari since before the 13th century.
Hindu scriptures and tantras assign names to a Kumari depending on her state of age. For example a girl who's one years old is "Sandhya", a 9 year old "Kaalasandarbha" and a 16 year old "Ambika". The longest a girl can be assigned with the role of Kumari is up to 16 years depending on their menarche. Moreover specific names can be assigned to them in certain traditions and rituals which only last up to only a few hours.
Selection Process
The Kumari candidates are selected as toddlers, because of their naturally inherited chastity and purity, as once their their menarche starts, as mentioned, it is believed that the goddess vacates their body. There are also other factors that can contribute to loss of deity such as being affected by serious illnesses or suffering major losses of blood from injuries. If and when that happens many activities start in order to initiate the process of selection of the next Kumari successor.
The process of selecting a new Kumari is especially rigorous and time consuming. To be possible candidates all of the eligible girls must go through several stages of examination to determine whether they can be the temporary human vessels of the spirit of goddess Taleju. Apart from their origins and ancestry, from either the Newar Shakya or the Bajracharya clan, they are thoroughly examined on their health and physical characteristics. For example, no girl shall have suffered from major blood losses, have been afflicted by any disease, carry no blemishes or scars and must not have lost any teeth.
If they pass these first and basic requirements they are later inspected to see if they have the "thirty two perfections" of a goddess, or else the “battis lakshanas”. Some of them are: having "eyelashes like a cow", "thighs like a deer", "chest like a lion" and "voice soft and clear as a duck's". In addition, their hair and eyes must be of very black color, they should have dainty hands and feet, small and well-recessed sexual organs and a set of twenty teeth.
The girls are also observed for their serenity, patience and fearlessness while their horoscopes are examined to ensure that they are complementary and aligned to the King's in order to avoid any conflicts, as a Kumari is obligated to confirm the King's legitimacy each year of her divinity. This is because the astrological signs are believed to influence a person’s life so any inauspicious indications of the candidate’s horoscope must be analyzed. The most favorable sign for a Kumari is the peacock, the symbol of the goddess.
Her family also undergoes scrutiny to ensure its piety and devotion to the King.
Once the priests have chosen certain candidates, they then must go through a new round of testing, both physical and psychological, to ensure that they do actually possess the right and needed qualities to be considered the next living versions of Taleju. The biggest test is the Hindu festival of Dashain, according to which after 108 buffaloes and goats are sacrificed to the goddess Kali, the young candidates shall be taken into the Taleju temple and spend a night alone in the courtyard surrounded by their severed heads, which are illuminated by candlelight. Of course in the most recent years the sacrifices of animals do not take that much large proportions but the rituals still follow up on the same steps. If the candidates show no fear during this experience they are almost certified to be the next Kumaris as they prove that they possess the right qualities that typify the goddess who will inhabit them; in the opposite, if they oblige to fear, cry and anxiety another candidate will be brought in, to attempt it.
Chanira Bajracharya, a previous holder of the Kumari title says: "Actually the room was quite scary, only lit through oil lamps. But then when you get the power of the goddess you don't get scared at all. Even though I was 5 years old I was sitting there quite calm," she says.
If a candidate has passes all these previous tests successfully they are driven to the ultimate and last test which is to be able to choose and pick out from an assortment of various things the personal belongings of the previous Kumari. If one girl achieves that, then without hesitation she becomes the next Kumari Puja.
Life as a Kumari goddess
When a new young girl has been chosen to represent the new Kumari she has to become purified so that she can be considered an unblemished vessel for Taleju. To be able to reach purification she is taken by certain priests that implement a number of secret Tantric rituals to cleanse her body and spirit of her past experiences. Once they are completed, Taleju enters her and starts inhabiting her body and soul. She becomes dressed in the traditional red clothing of Kumaris and then leaves the Taleju temple only to walk on the opposite side of the Durbar square, where the Kumari Ghar resides, the building that is a sacred place where no visitors are allowed, and her home for the whole duration of her divinity.
As being young of age, a Kumari needs certain people to take care of her and her needs. The people that are in charge of these tasks are named Kumarimi (they are selected by priests) and they are responsible for dressing her, bathing her, doing her make-up and preparing her for all ceremonial occasions. They are not allowed to directly order her because of her inherited divinity, but they do try to guide her throughout life and fulfill all of her desires.
What is more, they must wear special clothes and makeup every day and have new festival dresses made of expensive cloth at least twice a year. They are allowed to eat only certain foods and not aqcuire taboo items, such as hen’s eggs or chicken. Everything in the house has to be kept ritually pure, while no one in contact with her can wear leather.
Traditionally, the Kumaris received no education as they were considered to be omniscient but the modernization of the new era has made it necessary for them to have an education for when they are forced to re-enter their mortal life. While many Kumaris, such as the Kumari of Bhaktapur, attend public schools, others, like the Royal Kumari, receive their education through private tutors in their private palaces.
What is more, her family can only visit her rarely and always in a formal manner, while her peers are chosen among, either a narrow pool of Newar children from her caste, or from the children of her caretakers. These playmates must learn to respect her every wish as well as surrender to her every belief.
When they reach puberty, they are all forced to relinquish their goddess-like position and therefore are abruptly returned to the ranks of mere mortals.
Attending Ceremonial Events
The most important duties of a a Royal Kumari are the ceremonial ones. At all times she is expected to behave like a goddess by presenting and acquiring the correct qualities, like serenity and patience even after the selection process. Misbehaving and an ill-tempered attitude are considered to be portending bad luck for her audience and believers.
A Kumari is only allowed to leave her palace for these events and every time she has to go outside it is imperative that she is carried in a golden palanquin as her feet are considered sacred and, therefore, are not allowed to touch the ground. She is also prohibited from covering her feet, with the only exception of sometimes wearing red stockings, so that when the petitioners reach out to her, they are able to touch and kiss them to receive the holly blessing.
The power of the Kumari is believed to be so strong that even just looking at her is perceived as a carrier of good fortune. The roads outside of the palace and of the courtyard inside are always crowded with people, who hope to catch a glimpse of her but entrance without permission is never allowed. Even the hope that she might stare down at them from the latticed covered windows is enough to ensure an atmosphere of absolute devotion, while all of her appearances always last a few minutes.
Her more frequent visitors are usually people and especially women who suffer from health disorders, government officials and bureaucrats. Before Nepal's monarchy was abolished in 2008, kings would also seek the Kumari's blessing. Since then the president bows before her. It is customary that upon their arrival they all bring gifts and offerings to the Kumari, while she offers them her feet to kiss or touch. During such visits the Kumari always stays silenced and is closely watched for her actions as they are interpreted as predictions of the petitioners’ lives. For example, crying or loud laughter could be interpreted as serious illness or death, picking at the food offerings as financial losses, trembling as chance of imprisonment and hand clapping as a reason to fear the authorities. On the other hand If the Kumari remains silent and impassive throughout the visit, it is a sign that the devotee's wishes have been granted.
Another former Kumari princess, aunt of Chanira Bajracharya, recalls "My behavior is not in my control. There is someone supreme over me that makes me listen to their prayers or just ignore them. You feel, you know, supreme." She mysteriously adds, "You're not you, actually."
All in all, it should be mentioned that despite the fact that the position of the Kumari is one of the highest honors both for the chosen girl and her family, which receive innumerable blessings, the financial burden, the personal sacrifices involved in maintaining a living goddess in the modern world and the challenges of her rehabilitation once she reaches puberty, are definitely a difficult task that demands a lot of time, effort and money from both her and her family.
