Kumaris Goddess of Nepal Stripped of Crown

Sajani Shakya, a 10-year-old girl from Nepal, defied her tradition by visiting the United States. BBC News reports Sajani Shakya was one of the three most-revered Goddesses of the Kumaris. The Hindus and Buddhist honor this tradition in the area.

A Goddess is chosen by having the special 32 attributes, including thighs like those of a deer and a neck like a conch shell. The Buddhist clan has a long tradition of choosing a Goddess between the ages of two and four, she must not venture outside of the palace more than three to four times a year, and have the thirty-two marks.

Being chosen after many rigorous test at the age of two. The ten year old Goddess was to bless and attend festivals until she reached puberty. The reign cut short after she went against the elders and traveled to America. Elders said, " the visit had tainted her purity, adding that they would now begin the search for a successor," says BBC News. There are several Kumaris living in Nepal that are forbidden to leave the country.

The Goddess was coming to America to promote a documentary. The documentary made its world premiere on June 16 at the American Film Institute's Silverdocs film festival. The documentary entitled "Living Goddesses". Kumaris Goddesses are thought to be inhabited by a Hindu goddess. The girls are an example of religious tolerance and used by kings to legitimize their rule. Whitaker says," I didn't start out to make the film political. I was fascinated by the female face of God, and a sort of search for the divine that involves worshipping young girls," from NPR News.

Goddess Sajani Shakya stopped by Lafayette Elementary in Washington DC to answer a few questions. Gold-and-saffron robes and with her ceremonial third eye painted on her forehead, Sajani, was simply majestic. Questions from the American children ranged from what Sajani eats, does she play video games, and does she like being a goddess? Kevin was excited to meet Sajani - "I've never met a goddess before," he said - but he confessed that she didn't look quite the way he had imagined, states NPR News. Sajani Shakya stated she'd like to be a teacher after she grows up.

All of these strict rules applied to the Kumaris Goddesses are producing questions within Nepal's Supreme Court. Last November the Court started looking into the old tradition to see if its practices involve the exploitation of girls.

Sources: BBC News, "'Goddess' sacked for visiting US," http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6264014.stm and Neda Ulaby, "She's Small, Sometimes Shy - and Totally Divine," NPR News, http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11077610