Reference
Loading content...
- Entry
- Reader's Guide
- Entries A-Z
- Subject Index
-
Kumari is a living virgin goddess worshipped in the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal. The living kumari is a young prepubescent girl who is chosen in an elaborate process similar to that of Tibetan lamas, after which the Nepalese believe the goddesses Taleju or Durga inhabits her body. Taleju is the protective goddess of the country and its ruler. The kumari is worshipped as the goddess and honored in the annual Indra Jaatra harvest festival. The kumari tradition originated from the unique Nepalese interplay of the Hindu and Vajrayana Buddhist religions. There are various kumari in Nepal, but the most significant is the Kumari Devi (Raj Kumari) of Kathmandu.
Kumari Devi, one of Nepal's virgin “Living Goddesses,” photographed in Kathmandu in 2007.
Senior Vajracharya Buddhist priests select the ...
-
-
- [0-9]
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
- F
- G
- H
- I
- J
- K
- L
- M
- N
- O
- P
- Q
- R
- S
- T
- U
- V
- W
- X
- Y
- Z
-
167860- Loading...
Similar content on SAGE Knowledge
Loading content...Also from SAGE Publishing
- CQ Library American political resources opens in new tab
- Data Planet A universe of data opens in new tab
- Lean Library Increase the visibility of your library opens in new tab
- SAGE Journals World-class research journals opens in new tab
- SAGE Research Methods The ultimate methods library opens in new tab
- SAGE Stats Data on demand opens in new tab