Who is Aryatara Shakya, 2-year-old chosen Nepal’s new ‘living goddess’? Know about this ancient tradition and how Kumaris are chosen

Kumari Devi Nepal: Aryatara Shakya, a two-year-old girl, has been chosen as the new ‘living goddess’ or Kumari, of Nepal, and will be worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists in the Hindu-majority country. Under ancient Nepalese traditions, a new Kumari or “virgin goddess” is chosen when the previous Kumari attains puberty, which tenders her mortal and unable to continue as a goddess, according to beliefs.

What is Nepal’s Kumari tradition and Kumaris are chosen?

A Kumari or ‘virgin goddess’ is an ancient tradition in Nepal, under which a pre-pubescent girl, aged between 2 and 4, is anointed as a ‘living goddess’ who is then worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists in the Himalayan nation. Kumaris are chosen from Shakya clan of the Newar community, indigenous to the Kathmandu valley, and families from the clan who qualify for the prestigious seat compete to have their daughters selected as the next Kumari.

The candidates are girls aged between 2 and 4, who are believed to possessed by the goddess Taleju or Durga. These girls are required to have unblemished skin, hair, eyes and teeth and should not be afraid of the dark.

Once chosen as the Kumari, the young girl is always draped in red, has hair pinned up in topknots and a “third eye” painted on their forehead. The Kumari makes her appearances on important festivals to bless devotees, as was witnessed during the recent Indra Jatra festival earlier this month, when the former Kumari was wheeled around on a chariot pulled by devotees.

The weeklong Indra Jatra festival was the first of a series of celebrations in October including Dashain, the main festival, and Tihar or Diwali, the festival of lights.

While the Kumari title is considered an exalted one, the girl who is anointed as the ‘living goddess’ lives a sequestered life with only a few selected playmates, and is allowed outside only a few times a year for festivals, even as her family gains an elevated position in society and within their own clan.

What happens to former Kumaris?

Once a Kumari reaches puberty, she is replaced by a new one, and is quietly carried away in a palanquin from the temple palace via the rear entrance by her family and supporter. According to traditions, the deity vacates the girl’s body when her first menstruation begins, following which a new Kumari is chosen.

Former Kumaris often face difficulties adjusting to normal life, as they have to learn to do chores and attending regular schools as a regular teenager after their ‘goddess’ tenure ends. Many of the former Kumaris remain unwed as Nepalese folklore believes that those who marry a former Kumari will die young.

Over the past few years, Nepal has worked on bettering the lives of these young girls, with the Kumari now allowed to receive an education from private tutors inside the temple palace and even have a television set. The Nepalese government also introduced a monthly pension of about $110, which is slightly above the country’s minimum wage for the former Kumaris.

Who is Kumari Aryatara Shakya?

Aryatara Shakya, a 2-year-old girl from the Shakya clan, is the new Kumari, who replaced Kumari Trishna Shakya as Nepal’s new ‘living goddess’. Kumari Trishna, now 11, was chosen as the Kumari in 2017.

On Tuesday, Kumari Aryatara Shakya was carried by family members from their home in a Kathmandu alley to a temple palace during Nepal’s longest and most significant Hindu festival. The new Kumari will reside at the temple palace till she attains puberty.

Devotees paraded Aryatara Shakya through the streets of Kathmandu before entering the temple palace, and touched her feet with their foreheads, and the new Kumari will bless devotees including the president on Thursday, AP reported.

“She was just my daughter yesterday, but today she is a goddess.” her father, Ananta Shakya, told the Associated Press. The proud father claimed that there were already signs that her daughter would be the “goddess” before she was born. “My wife during pregnancy dreamed that she was a goddess and we knew she was going to be someone very special.”