Kumari - the living goddess of Nepal

Before writing about Kumari Ghar, let us know, “who is Kumari”? What is Kumari house? How the tradition begin and being continues till date? 

Kumari is related to Sakta sect of Hinduism that believes in divine power of female god (godess). The Sakta sect are the group of people who worship goddess (Durga) for salvation. 

Worshiping goddess has been practiced since historical period of time. The venus of Hohle Fels proved that female goddess were being worshiped since ancient time. Female statue (nari murti) dating back to 1st, 2nd century are the evidence of the practice of worshipping goddess in past time as well.

Sakti (female) are the powerful beings who can reproduce, Even the earth is also considered as female since it grows and feed living beings. Thus, the Kumari ghar was built to worship goddess, in respect of female, to show gratitude towards the divine power and fertility cult. 

Kumari – Who is Kumari?

Kumari is the form Parvati. The tymphanum of Kumari House consist the carving of Mahesmati devi which reflects the main deity to be worshiped in the house. The unmarries girl before getting mensuration are termed as Kumari. 

Kumari (unmarried girl) are required in all rituals and religious activities since vedic period. Married female are called Devi whereas unmarried female are called Kumari. It is believed that the Kumari has divine energy until 16 years old.

The form of Kumari based on the age:

1. One year old Kumari is called Sandhya
2. Two years old Kumari is called Saraswoti
3. Three years old Kumari is called Trimurti
4. Four years old Kumari is called Kali
5. Five years old Kumari is called Suvag
6. Six years old Kumari is called Uma
7. Seven years old Kumari is called Malini
8. Eight years old Kumari is called Sambhavi
9. Nine years old Kumari is called Kalaspradarsani
10. Ten years old Kumari is called Aparajita
11. Eleven years old Kumari is called Rudradi
12. Twelve years old Kumari is called Bhairavi
13. Thirteen years old Kumari is called Mahalaxmi
14. Fourteen years old Kumari is called Pithanayika
15. Fifteen years old Kumari is called Chetraja
16. Sixteen years old Kumari is called Ananda

Form of Kumari based on caste, whom to worship for what? 

Brahmin Kumari are worshiped for realization of wisdom

Chhetri Kumari are worshiped for success and victory

Vaishya kumari are worshiped for victory over enemies

Sudra Kumari are worshiped to get victory with illusion, attachment, eradication

When does the tradition of Kumari puja begin in Nepal?

Kumari Puja begin officially from late Medieval period (15th century to 18th century). Jaya Prakash Malla (1722 AD – 1768 AD), was the first king who begin the tradition of worshiping Kumari as living goddess. 

Kumari puja is related with Taleju bhawani, the family god of Lord Ram. Taleju Bhawani was brought to Kathmandu valley by Nanyadev as a sacred jar. 

King Prithvi Narayan Shah made Kumari house and worship sudra Kumari to get victory over enemies and successfully unified the present country Nepal. Since then, Kumari house is in use for Kumari.

How to select Kumari?

Selecting Kumari follow special rituals which is live and rare culture. Few unmarried young girl of Sakya family from Newar community within 18 Bahal is selected. Her age should be around 3,4 years The young female child with following characteristics are selected for Kumari:

• The girl should be from pure Sakya family enclosed to 18 bahal of Kathmandu
• The girl should have 32 perfection
• The birth chart of the girl should be matched with King’s or president’s or country birth chart. The girl with best matching birth chart is selected
• No blood should have flown from her body, even the milk teeth should not have unrooted
• She should show fearlessness during the test on Kalratri on which she will be kept in dark room with 108 cut heads of buffaloes and goats and masked men to produce scary noise.
• She should choose the ornament of Taleju Bhawani / old Kumari’s ornament when different traditional ornaments are kept infront of her.

The selected girls are settled for puja and soul prestige of Talaju bhawani. The one girl in which the soul prestige of goddess Taleju Bhawani succeed is finalized as Kumari. Then She is kept in Kumati Ghar. Her life will change after turning into living Goddess. She should leave her house and settled in this Kumari Ghar. All expenses for day to life, schooling and medication will be done by Guthi sansthan (Government trust), Kathmandu metropolitan and rental of fields, buildings, shops of Guthi.

Kumari Puja

Kumari is worshipped everyday by Karmacharya priest in Kumari house. Beside daily rituals, she is worshipped 13 times a year in different festival and special time when uncertain events occurs in country.

The culture of Kumari and her puja is famous in Patan, Bhaktapur, Kathmandu and Nuwakot as well. 

Kumari house

Kumari house is traditional house which is architecturally similar to Buddhist vihar. It was built in 1757 AD, 18th century, late medieval period. It is located near the southern entrance of Kathmandu durbar square. It is three storey building with amazing wooden craft, teracort art, iconograpy and architecture. The central yard has stupa of Pancha Buddha, Bajra and Shree yantra representing power and symbolizing Shakta sect. The triangle pointing downward represents matter (prakriti) and upward represents cosmic musculine principle. 

 Kumari is settled in send floor of Kumari house whereas Pancha Buddha are worshipped in ground floor.