Nepali 'Living Goddess' Retires Early after Symbolic Wedding

March 3, 2008

Nepali Living Goddess Retires Early

By Binaj Gurubacharya

Associated Press

March 3rd, 2008

KATMANDU, Nepal (AP)

An 11-year-old girl revered as a living goddess in Nepal has

retired early less than a year after she sparked controversy

by breaking tradition and traveling overseas, officials said

Monday.

Sajani Shakya was considered among the top three of

Nepal's several " kumaris, " or living goddesses.

Jaiprasad Regmi, chief of the government trust that manages

the affairs of the living goddesses, said Sajani is to be

replaced because she had " come of age " and said the

decision had nothing to do with last year's row.

" We have begun the process of searching for a new kumari, "

he said.

Sajani was temporarily stripped of her revered status last

July when she traveled to the United States to promote a

documentary about Nepal's centuries-old tradition of living

goddesses.

Officials removed her title while she was overseas because

of tradition that living goddesses do not leave the homeland.

Popular support for Sajani apparently forced officials to

reverse the decision and reinstate her.

On return to Nepal, Sajani was met by hundreds of her

supporters and followers who took her to the temple where

she is worshipped and held a brief ceremony to welcome her

back.

Selected as toddlers, living goddesses usually keep their

positions until they reach puberty, meaning that Sajani, at

age 11, is retiring slightly early.

Sajani's family wanted her to take part in another ritual

performed for all girls of the Newar ethnic community, to

which she belongs, Regmi said. She could not take part in

the ceremony while still continuing as the living goddess.

Living goddesses are worshipped by both Hindus and

Buddhists. The girls are selected between the ages of 2 and

4 after going through several tests.

They are required to have perfect skin, hair, eyes and teeth,

should not have scars and should not be afraid of the dark.

Devotees touch the girls' feet with their foreheads, the

highest sign of respect among Hindus in Nepal. During

religious festivals the girls are wheeled around on a chariot

pulled by devotees.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5itq-2eh6eOb-

8jzMJqvmR3MG0tbwD8V5S3S00

Living goddess wanted in Nepal: young girls only please

8 hours ago

KATHMANDU (AFP) - Religious leaders in a town near

Nepal's capital are searching for a young girl to worship as a

living goddess because the incumbent has just got married

to a fruit, officials said Monday.

" We have started the process to find a new Kumari for

Bhaktapur, " Jaya Prasad Regmi, the head of the committee

which manages the centuries-old Hindu tradition, told AFP.

" We are holding meetings with locals and people from (the)

Shakya cast. "

Three medieval towns in the Kathmandu valley worship

pre-pubescent girls as the living embodiment of the goddess

Taleju.

Eleven-year-old Sajani Shakya had served in the post for

nine years in the town of Bhaktapur, but is now obliged to

retire following her symbolic wedding.

Sajani's family caused controversy last year when they

travelled with the girl to the United States to publicise a

documentary that had been made about her role.

Traditionalists were angry that her family had not sought

prior permission for the trip, arguing that a Kumari loses

divine status by leaving the country.

Nhuchhe Shakya, Sajani's father, who also works for the

committee in charge of finding a replacement for his

daughter, said the trip had not caused her to retire early.

" In Bhaktapur, we have a tradition to get our girls married to

a Bael (Aegle marmelos), a fruit dedicated to Lord Shiva,

around the age of 10 or 11, " Shakya said told AFP.

Sajani was symbolically married to the fruit last month and

" there were no other specific reasons for her retirement, " he

said from the town 15 kilometres (nine miles) east of

Kathmandu.

The best known of such goddesses is the " Royal Kumari "

who blesses Nepal's king once a year and is confined to a

crumbling, ornate palace in the historic heart of old

Kathmandu.

Human rights groups say the practice abuses the rights of

the young girl selected from the Newar Shakya ethnic caste.

But in Bhaktapur, the local Kumari lives with her family,

goes to school and is paraded for worship just once a year

during the festival of Dasain.

Sajani's father predicted his daughter would have no

difficulty adjusting to life after serving as a living goddess.

" She knew that she was not going to remain a Kumari all

her life, so she is mentally prepared. I think she will handle

it well, " said Shakya.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i376Tvgyy8nBZVwix

oB9oPEilpjA

March 3, 2008

" In Bhaktapur, we have a tradition to get our girls married to a Bael
(Aegle marmelos),

a fruit dedicated to Lord Shiva, around the age of 10 or 11, " Shakya said told

AFP. [\quote]

Married to a fruit? Boy there's so much room for humor in that one... but

seriously. What is

this about?

What are the implications of marrying your 10 yr old daughter to a fruit

dedicated to Shiva?

Can she marry a person later on, or is she dedicated to the fruit? What happens

to the fruit

itself? Why this particular type of fruit?

Can anyone tell me where I can find more information on this?

namaste,

pr