Kumari
The Kumari ( Sanskrit , f., कुमारी , kumārī , literally: "girl") has been considered an incarnation of the terrifying Hindu goddess Taleju, who is a form of Durga in Nepal, since the 16th century . The beginnings of this tradition go back to the 14th century. In addition to Kathmandu, there are Kumaris in Lalitpur , Bhaktapur , Bungamati, Kwa Bahal, and Tokha. The Kumari is known as the child goddess , as it is pre-pubescent girls from the age of 2 to 4, because with the menarche the goddess status expires.
Kumari from Kathmandu
The most famous Kumari lives in a temple-palace on Durbar Square in Kathmandu , the country's capital. When she is a toddler between two and four years of age, she is selected from a respected family of the Buddhist Newar ethnic group on the basis of 32 physical characteristics and her natal chart and is worshiped as a “living goddess”. During public appearances, she sits on her throne, dressed in a red robe, relatively silent and motionless, with no visible movements, and receives pilgrims to bless them. Your feet, which are venerated, are then not allowed to step on or touch the ground, as it is considered unclean. She is subject to a partial ban on speaking as she is only allowed to communicate with her family and is largely tied to the house; When visiting religious festivals, she is transported in a golden litter by several male porters.
Once a year, as part of a major religious festival, Dasain , the King of Nepal came to see her and kissed her feet. He was blessed by the Kumari by having her dab a tilaka , a sign of blessing, on his forehead. How the divine child behaved towards the king was interpreted by many Nepalis as an omen for the fate of the country and the monarchy . Since the abolition of the monarchy in 2008, the Maoist prime minister has also been visiting them.
In the past, the Kumaris did not receive any schooling, as a goddess is considered omniscient. Today the Kumaris are taught by private tutors and their level of knowledge is checked. Since the girl goddess cannot be contradicted, the lessons are difficult. After losing their divine status, former Kumaris now receive a pension from the state (approx. € 30 per month) and continue to be cared for in order to facilitate their entry into a self-determined life.
Several times a year the Kumari leaves the palace and takes part in religious festivals. The largest of these festivals is Indra Jatra . The Kumari is driven through the streets of Kathmandu in a temple car ( ratha ) and worshiped by the faithful. This week-long annual festival also includes performances of dance dramas. In the dance drama called Mahakali pyakhan , Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Kumari, three incarnations of Durga, fight against a number of demons.
More Kumaris in the Kathmandu Valley
Kumari from Bhaktapur
The Kumari from Bhaktapur enjoy more freedom than their colleague in Kathmandu. She can go out and meet friends and also go to regular school.
The former Kumari of Bhaktapur , Sajani Shakya, became known far beyond the borders of Nepal when she traveled with her parents to the USA in June 2007 to see the premiere of the documentary Living Goddess at the Silverdocs film festival . Since she violated the tradition, which forbids a reigning Kumari to leave the country, she was removed from office. But she was reinstated under public pressure after she had undergone a cleansing ritual on her return.
Kumari from Lalitpur
Like her colleague in Kathmandu, the Kumari from Lalitpur is only allowed to leave the house for the big festivals and is taught by a private teacher. She lives in her parents' house.
There is a specialty in Lalitpur: a Kumari who has retained her divine status beyond her childhood. Dharma (Dhana) Kumari Bajracharya, who was appointed Kumari in 1953 at the age of 2, remained in office until 1985.
literature
- Gerhard Haase-Hindenberg : Temporary Goddess. Amita's childhood as a Kumari in Kathmandu . Heyne-Verlag, Munich 2006, ISBN 3-453-12033-7
- Marie-Sophie Boulanger, Karola Bartsch (translator): The goddess who is never allowed to smile. The mysterious cult of the Kumari . Goldmann, Munich 2004, ISBN 3-442-15269-0
- Rashmila Shakya, Scott Berry: From Goddess to Mortal: The True Life Story of a Former Royal Kumari . Vajra Publications, Kathmandu 2005, ISBN 978-99946-788-0-8
Web links
- Kumari Devi - The Living Goddess. Visit Nepal
- The Kumari, The Living Goddesses of Nepal Michael's website
- Kumari - temporary goddess in Nepal, child abuse for religious and political purposes? Internet publication for general and integrative psychotherapy
Individual evidence
- ↑ The Future of Nepal's “Living” Goddess: Is Her Death Necessary? by Deepak Shimkhada with reference to Bikrama Jit Hasrat, History of Nepal as Told by Its Own and Contemporary Chroniclers , Hoshiarpur: VV Research Institute Book Agency, 1970, 59-60. Michael Allen: The Cult of Kumari: Virgin Worship in Nepal . Institute of Nepal and Asian Studies, Kathmandu 1975, p. 37; Mary Shepherd Slusser: Nepal Mandala, A Cultural Study of the Kathmandu Valley . Vol. 1, Princeton University Press, Princeton 1982, p. 311.
- ↑ p. 163 - Nepal With Kathmandu, Annapurna, Mount Everest and the most beautiful trekking routes , Trescher, Berlin, ISBN 978-3-89794-198-4
- ↑ Kumaris, the Living Goddesses, of Nepal (or Kathmandu Valley) , Wagle Street Journal ( WebCite ( memento April 3, 2009 on WebCite ))
- ↑ Nepalese living goddess loses divine rights , The Telegraph ( WebCite ( Memento April 3, 2009 on WebCite ))
- ↑ Sajani Shakya reinstated as 'Living Goddess' in Nepal , xnepali.com ( WebCite ( Memento from April 3, 2009 on WebCite ))
- ↑ Nepal's Virgin Goddesses Hinduism Today