Child goddess
Hi All. I hope you're all well.
I am asking a question to my Hindu or Buddhist QLers. I saw this article from AOL, like I always do. I just want to know and learn from you how does it work worshipping a child goddess? A child who has not reached some maturity of thoughts. I don't want to create a crisis here. I just want to learn and understand the concept behind it.
Also who is Deity Taleju. I studied a bit of Hinduism but have never come across that name.
Here goes the article(abridged by me). For a full script follow this link:
http://news.aol.co.uk/world-news/nepal-appoints-new-living-goddess/artic...
Hindu and Buddhist priests chanted sacred hymns and cascaded flowers and grains of rice over a three-year-old girl who was appointed a living goddess in Nepal.
Wrapped in red silk and adorned with red flowers in her hair, Matani Shakya received approval from the priests and President Ram Baran Yadav in a centuries-old tradition with deep ties to Nepal's monarchy, which was abolished in May.
The new "kumari" or living goddess, was carried from her parents' home to an ancient palatial temple in the heart of the Nepali capital, Katmandu, where she will live until she reaches puberty and loses her divine status.
She will be worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists as an incarnation of the powerful Hindu deity Taleju.
A panel of judges conducted a series of ancient ceremonies to select the goddess from several two to four-year-old girls who are all members of the impoverished Shakya goldsmith caste.
The judges read the candidates' horoscopes and check each one for physical imperfections. The living goddess must have perfect hair, eyes, teeth and skin with no scars, and should not be afraid of the dark.
As a final test, the living goddess must spend a night alone in a room among the heads of ritually slaughtered goats and buffaloes without showing fear.
Having passed all the tests, the child will stay in almost complete isolation at the temple, and will be allowed to return to her family only at the onset of menstruation when a new goddess will be named to replace her.
During her time as a goddess, she will always wear red, pin up her hair in topknots, and have a "third eye" painted on her forehead. Devotees touch the girls' feet with their foreheads, the highest sign of respect among Hindus in Nepal. During religious festivals the goddesses are wheeled around on a chariot pulled by devotees.
Critics say the tradition violates both international and Nepalese laws on child rights. The girls often struggle to readjust to normal lives after they return home.
In ancient Rome the Vestal Virgins were equivalent to priests but they were not Godesses.
some may like Hinduism and some may not, this could be a different topic to discuss further. In fact there has been never ending discussion regarding God's existence. Worshiping Virgin Goddess is Hinduism belief and been followed since 14th century. Hinduism believe virginity as purity and so as incarnation of Goddess.
In this sense they worship divinity Goddess Kumari as incarnation of Goddess Taleju. There's a myth regarding Taleju. It'd be better if I pass this link, if ur really keen to know more about this tradition. And yes, if you bother just bit to go through search engine you'll get loads and loads of information regarding this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumari
How sad!
For what I remember most of them do not get married.
Imagine the plight of the Husband who will marry this woman afterwards?
I remember watching a documentary on TV about this once. They showed how the previous "godesses" struggle to reintegrate back into society as they're used to being worshipped and, once they go back home, they're "normal" again.
I will give you my honest opinion here. Our religion is very vast. To study it thoroughly is not possible for any person. So the level of knowledge varies from one person to another,and so does the interpretation of the religious texts. I do not claim, that whatever I say is correct.The experts may disagree. But when I think rationally I feel a lot of people are more ignorant than myself and they are driven to these things due to blind faith. They have been brain washed by someone who thinks himself to be the champion of Hinduism.
I would never stoop so low. This practice is ridiculous, but it's true these things do happen in Hinduism. I will never worship such a godess,though I am a Hindu. I don't believe in such things. But people are entitled to do as they wish since India has freedom of religion, And people are free to choose their version of Hinduism.
Ya this is the tradition created by malla Dynasty.BTW Follower use to worship her.
"Drink Beer Save Water"
so it is really a tradition...but the article say people touch the feet of the goddess with their head..isn't that worshipping? i wonder what goes in the ind of the devotees when they bow...do you think they are praying as if they are praying to God?
i bet they stuggle! hinduism and Buddhism seem such lovely peaceful religions to me.
thank you...
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