KUMARI Devi

  The three stories building with the artistic windows looking out of the durbar Square, and its door guarded by stone incons is the house of the Kumari the living goddes. The continued veneration of a young girl, as if she were a living goddess is part of the magic that makes kathmandu a living  museum.

 

The big gate besides the kumri House conceals the huge chariot which is taken around to city once a year in festival in September. Entering the house you reach a courtyard surrounded by balconies with 18^th century masterpieces of woodcarving. Perhaps you might catch a glimpse of the goddess at the window. She  is a young girl and easily recognizable  by the black shadowing around her eyes which extends as far as her ears. and by her hair which piled up over her head, photographing her is not allowed. The courtyard contains a stupa with a symbol of Sarawati, the goddess of learning in its side, looking like a star of David and mandala on a lotus. Non Hindu or Non Buddhist people are not allowed to go beyond this courtyard.

The kumari is not born a goddess nor does she remain one all her life. She is usually chosen from a caste of Newar goldsmiths when she is about five years old. It is essential that she has never been hurt or shed blood. After careful screening by a number of people, including the astrologer, the selected candidates, about ten in  number are locked in a dark room where fearful looking masks and freshly slaughtered buffalo heads are kept. Frightening noises are made from  outside and girl who shows least fear is  selected. She is installed on a throne in a room she lives in, during the Dashin festival. The spirit of the goddess is said to enter her body after this ceremony. As soon as she reaches pubery, the kumari becomes human once more and a new goddess must be chosen.

For three days during each September at the time of festival of  God Indra marking the end of the monsoon season the kumari is taken by chariot around kathmandu. The kumari also bless the king of Nepal, the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, on this occasion, putting a red Tika mark on  his forehead and receiving a gold coin in return. It is said that the kumari gave her blessing to the grandfather of the present King very reluctantly in the year that he  died. People say that she was feeling very sleepy and had to be literally forced to mark his forehead. The kumari goes out officially five to six times a year during the major festivals  including the big and small Dashin in October and April when she appears at the gold Royal Place at Hanuman Dhoka.

The expense of kumari are paid by Guthi, the lands under the ownership of temple or deities. These funds provide adequate amounts of rice, salt and dal but meal and firewood have to be purchased separately. The kumari also gets a considerable sum in offerings from devotees. She is not supposed to go to school but previous once have had visiting teachers. After retirement, the ex kumaris are paid an allowance before marriage and a dowry at the time of marriage.

There is a popular belief that a man who marries an ex kumari may die within six months and should. therefore be strong both physically and mentally. This could lead, not unexpectedly to a general reluctance to marry an ex kumari, but many people now believe this is a simple superstition and cite caste of husbands outliving an ex kumari.

The institution of Kumari dates back at least two centuries to the last Malla king of kathmandu, Jayaprakash Malla, He once had an intercourse with pre pubescent girl and as result the girl died later. The king was when told in his dreams to start the institution of Kumari, worship her, and once every year convey her around kathmandu as  penance of his sins.