By: Yuvraj Acharya—Aleyna Castillo 10/7/08
In Katmandu, Nepal, a 3 year old child has been appointed as the new living goddess. Matani Shakya received approval from the priests and President Ram Baran Yadav in a centuries-old tradition. She will be taken away from her parents, placed in an ancient temple in Katmandu where “she will be worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists as an incarnation of the powerful Hindu deity Taleju” until she reaches puberty. At puberty, she loses her “divine status” and is returned back to her parents. In this tradition, Matani was chosen out of many other 2-3 year olds after successfully completing a series of tests. The panel of judges looks at the girls for “perfect” teeth, hair, and skin. Also, the girls cannot be afraid of the dark, and must prove that by being placed in a room to spend the night among beheaded goats and buffalo (ritually slaughtered).
Many critics find this ritual against the local and international law. It has been reported that these girls that undergo this tradition and live as the “chosen goddess” have problems later in life with finding husbands and adjusting to regular life. “Nepalese folklore holds that men who marry a former kumari will die young, and so many girls remain unmarried and face a life of hardship.”
I find this news very shocking and hard to believe! I could not imagine letting my daughter be taken away from me, put in an ancient temple in almost complete isolation, with all of this worshipping treatment being done to her, gone until puberty! I understand that this is a ritual among hindu’s and buddhists’, but I just could not imagine. I don’t agree with this tradition at all. Not only is it harmful to these young girls development, but it can’t be great for the parent’s mental state either.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081007/ap_on_re_as/as_nepal_living_goddess
2 comments:
Since I am from a buddhist background I highly respect tradition, and some cultures take faith to the next level. I think it is a very sad situation in our eyes but if you think about the parents, they probably feel very proud that their daughter has been chosen for this position. Yes, her hardships in life will be increased but with all sacrafices in religion, it is a risk many people are willing to take. If you think about it -- priest and nuns who devote their lives, are not allowed to marry while apart of the church. Yes, the restrictions aren't as extreme here, but also, this has been a traditon that has been ingrained in Napalese for centuries. Just look at it from a different perspective.
I do agree with you because I do have a christian faith background. Personally, I do not think that it is fair for the little girl because she did not have a choice. I do not understand why any culture would want to appoint someone that is basically worthless because she cannot make accurate decisions.
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