A three year old girl was recently named Nepal's next "living goddess" or Kumari by Buddhist priests. Kumari candidates are voluntarily given up by their parents to be worshiped as goddesses, but in a republic that has a 50% unemployment rate, can such a status boosting offer be refused?
A New Living Goddess
As reported by CNN.com on Tuesday, October 9, 2008 the three year old Matina Shakya was named Nepal's newest Kumari in an ancient ritual that is thousands of years old. Of the numerous gods worshiped in the Hindu religion Kumari, which literally translates to virgin, is believed to be the living incarnation of the deity Taleju. Matina's term as Kumari will last until just before she begins menstruating when another Kumari will replace her.
Wild stories circulate about the trials that these girls are subjected to and the lives they lead. It is commonly believed that one of the 32 trials that the candidate must endure is to spend a night among the heads of ceremonially slaughtered goat and buffalo heads without showing fear. The recently "retired" Kumari states that this is not so.
Once selected, the Kumari lives in effective isolation in a temple in Katmandu leaving only on specific holidays and accepting worshipers who will bow before her.
Fear of dying young is believed to be common among men who consider marrying former Kumari, though there are conflicting reports on this from local news sources in the area. Nearly all sources agree that the girls have difficulty making the transition from deity back to that of ordinary citizen in a republic that doesn't exactly have a stellar track record in the area of women's rights.
Poverty Leaves Little Choice
Children’s rights activists have long argued that the conditions under which the Kumari live are a violation of their basic human rights. In 2006 this prompted an investigation and subsequent decision by Nepal's Supreme Court on the treatment of the Kumari. They are still largely isolated in the temple but they are now home schooled and provided health care.
Much is made of the fact that no child is ever taken and that Kumari candidates are willingly given by their parents. The also parents have the right to visit their child whenever they wish.
As reported in the CIA's World Fact Book, Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world with an unemployment rate that is roughly 50% of its population. For those that are employed the average salary is about $200 per year.
Faced with hard ship of this magnitude, not to mention ravages of civil war, it is no wonder that Nepal has developed such a deep spiritual identity. It is not a facet of their culture like it is in many western cultures. Spirituality is woven into the fabric of the Nepalese culture. To be chosen as a Kumari is clearly a great honor and to be the parent of a Kumari is not without its status. Though it is not acknowledged in the Nepalese culture, it wouldn’t be beyond the realm of possibility to imagine some level of social pressure to allow a child to become Kumari if the possibility is present to the average parent.
It may be easy to pass judgment on a practice from a safe distance and a different culture. It is far more difficult when you honestly believe you are being handed a gift from god.
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