Kathmandu [Nepal], September 30 (ANI): Toddler Aryatara Shakya has been anointed as the Royal Kumari, the Living Goddess of Nepal, after undergoing an ancient ritual in a ceremony on Tuesday. The two-and-a-half-year-old goddess passed the rigorous selection process, which included a traditional trial of bravery.
On Tuesday, she was carried by her father to the Taleju Bhawani Temple, where thousands of devotees lined up to catch a glimpse of her. The selection ritual of the Kumari was overseen by five senior Buddhist Bajracharyas, the Chief Royal Priest of Taleju, and a royal astrologer.
“There are a total of twelve criteria that must be met to formally anoint a Kumari. Following those criteria, we requested names of children from the Shakya clan, from which the Kumari is chosen. We sent notices to 12 Bahals (areas) to collect the names of eligible candidates. From the collected names, we shortlisted those who fulfilled the requirements. It is our duty to recommend one name to be the Kumari. This time, we recommended three names to the core selection committee, which included Aryatara Shakya. After passing all the criteria and meeting the qualifications, she has been anointed,” Sangaratna Shakya, a member of the Kumari selection committee, told ANI.
Some of the characteristics required include good health, no scars or marks on the body, uncut and blemish-free skin, being pre-menstrual, and no loss of teeth. The child also undergoes a test of courage, where she is shown several sacrificed buffaloes and masked men dancing in blood. If she shows fear, she is deemed unworthy of becoming the incarnation of Goddess Taleju.
After being chosen as Kumari, Aryatara Shakya left her parents’ home to reside in the Kumari Ghar, an old palace building without modern facilities, where she will remain until another goddess succeeds her. Parents are not allowed to visit their daughter except during special events and processions, which occur about 13 times a year.
On Tuesday, following the rituals at the Taleju Bhawani Temple, she was formally taken to the Kumari Ghar, succeeding Trishna Shakya, the reigning Kumari who has now retired. Trishna had served as Kumari until reaching puberty, a traditional threshold marking the end of her tenure.
The Kumari is regarded as the living embodiment of the Hindu goddess Taleju, and her selection follows a stringent process rooted in ancient tantric practices and astrological assessments.
Nepal’s centuries-old tradition of worshipping the Kumari Devi is believed to bring luck and fortune to those who see her. The Kumari is the only living goddess worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists, making Nepal’s tradition unique and deeply revered. (ANI)
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