As far as I can tell, it's more of the latter. But then I look at 'stage' mom and dads the same way. Just because it has a 'deity' name in it, doesn't make it less unkind.

But that's just my opinion.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7657349.stm


Marto

I read about this ages ago, Marto and I agree it is fundementally a cruel tradition. However it's not done to be intentionally unkind, from what I've read it is seen as a genuine honour and a really special role etc - but I imagine life for the outgoing goddess is hard to adjust to. Then again, generations before her have adjusted to it so maybe we're just being precoius about it. Still - not something I would imagine wanting for any child.

Kumari featured in a science fiction story in the Mammoth Imprint (Annual) Collections a few years ago - I think it was number 19. A very interesting story, and informative.

Not brilliant for the child afterwards, no - but then it's probably not that much different from being a child film star. Look at Lindsay (the) Lohan.
(If she's a Lohan, isn't she a sort of Goddess anyway?)

Yeah I kinda agree its the "after" that would be the worse.

Poor kid. Like Saramacha I dont think there is any malice intended but, yeah. Not easy for her or her family at all.

How does one adapt to no longer being the embodiment of a deity? With a degree of sadness but also acceptance and understanding, I'd imagine, if one truely believes. It might even be a bit of a relief, especially for someone on the verge of becoming a teenager.

well from a mothers point of view i would say this is awful,the poor child wont know whats going on and 3 years old is not a good time for a child to be seperated from her family,i dont know how a mother could do this ,they must have no maternal instinct

precisely look how screwed up she is now ,this practice could potentialy cause a lot of damage to these children

Most of the ex-kumaris hide their former status as there is a superstition that any man who marries one will die shortly afterwards. I have a friend in Dhulikel who was a Kumari and she works as a hotel function manager. She says that it is not much different to being sent to boarding school (although she was a bit older than three when it happened) and she seems quite well adjusted (as well adjusted as a Nepali can be that is, they all tend to be a bit "eccentric"). I have mixed feelings about the practice, the Nepalese people in general seem to be very much in favour of it but the maoists see it as an outdated superstition and I think it is in its last years as a tradition. Nepal is changing and not always for the better.

If only I were sitting in Durbar square drinking chai and watching the world go by right now...

In Tibetan Buddhism there is the Tulku traditions. High Lamas (Rinpoche) are said to take rebirth in order to continue teaching.

An example of that is HH Dalai Lama (currently the 14th emination)

I think the oldest Tulku tradition are the Karmapa's. The current Karmapa is the 17th incarnation.

But then again, they don't get sent home at puberty!