Kumari "The Living Goddess of Nepal"

Kumari "The Living Goddess of Nepal"
photo taken from internet (unknown source )

How kumari started ??
1. King Jayaprakash Malla (last king of Malla 17^th Century) used to play dice game with goddess Taleju in his chamber. Goddess came along every night to play, with condition that he would not tell anyone. 

One day, his king wife followed him to his chamber and saw Taleju and goddess was angered. She told king, if he wanted to see her again or have her to protect country, he have to search among Newari Community (Shakya, silver and gold smith), she would incarnated as little girl.
Then king went on search of young girl who was possessed by Taleju’s spirit.

2. A king was very attracted to young girls. Unfortunately during sex with a young girl she died. This left the king completely disturbed, guilty and saddened who regretted the sin by concluding the girl had returned to her goddess spiritual nature. He declared the creation of the kumari devi to perpetually remind the world of the sacred nature of young girls and virginity.

KUMARI SELECTION

Basic : Eligible only from Newar Shakya caste of silver and gold smith. She must have excellent health, never have shed blood or affected by any disease and must not yet lost any teeth.

Then girl is examined for thirty two perfections of a goddess (battis lakshanas)
A neck like a conch shell
A body like a banyan tree
Eyelashes like a cow
Thighs like a deer
Chest like a lion
Voice soft and clear as a duck's

Her hair and eyes should be black and she should have elegant hands and feet, small and well-recessed sexual organs and a set of twenty teeth.

The girl is observed for sign of serenity, fearlessness and her horoscope should be matched and above kings.

Greatest test is during Kalratri “Black night” a night during biggest Hindu festival of Dashain. 108 buffaloes and goats are sacrificed to goddess Kali. She is taken to the courtyard and watch this session. She should show no fear.

This proves that she has the serenity and the fearlessness like the goddess who is to inhabit her.

Once Kumari is chosen, she is taken by priest to undergo number of secret tantric rituals to cleanse her body, spirit and of her past experience. Once rituals is completed, Taleju enters her and she is represented as new kumari.

She is now dressed and made up like Kumari and start living in Kumari Ghar/home under supervision.

The power of Kumari is perceived to be so strong that even a glimpse of her is believed to bring good fortune.