Living Goddesses
I’m back. It’s been just about two months since I blogged last. Things that got in the way of blogging include the end of school whirlwind, writing deadlines, and vacation. I missed you! But it was good to take a break from this topic–sometimes it’s a dark place.
Before I share a few thoughts on the living goddesses of Nepal, I did want to make one observation about this blog–it draws a fair share of critical comments! I don’t know if you read many other blogs, but most personal blogs draw a majority of positive comments. Things like "Right on!" "You go, sister,"
and the like.
However, "Unmasking the Goddess" has been drawing some strongly worded comments (which I
sometimes have to edit) from the pagan community; as a whole they tend to favor secrecy and I get the feeling they don’t really appreciate a Christian looking into their beliefs and practices. So far, I’m not dissuaded. I look to the apostle Paul as a mentor in this area; he studied other religions so he was prepared to engage in marketplace conversations about matters of the Spirit.
So where’s my marketplace? This blog. And you’re invited to join the conversation!
Now, on to the Living Goddesses. Did you see their photos in the news? Two little girls from Nepal, worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists, recently visited the U.S. to help promote a documentary on this ancient practice.
Each girl is selected between the ages of 2 and 4, on the basis of physical perfection, to serve as a "kumari," or living goddess.
After a special ceremony involving frightening tantric rituals, the spirit of the goddess is said to enter the
girl’s
body. She is then taken to live in a special house called Kumari Ghar at
Kathmandu’s Hanumandhoka palace square, where she reigns as a living deity, responsible for the country’s health and prosperity.
When puberty arrives, the goddess supposedly leaves, and the girl is returned to her family with a small pension, never to marry (it’s bad luck).
The Supreme Court in Nepal has investigated the practice as exploitative; I would agree. The girls are not allowed contact with family or other children, or to go to school. Objectified, subjected to scary occultic ceremonies, and said to be possessed by a violent goddess responsible for the welfare of her people—what a life for a little girl!
Goddess spirituality promises empowerment for women; but for the kumari, it means only slavery.
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SUSY FLORY is a New York Times best selling author, speaker, and journalist who searches out big stories with happy endings. She's I'm always looking for true stories that inspire and challenge her readers to embrace a life of passion, boldness, & adventure. 
First, I want to say, “You go girl!” I know this work is hard and emotional. I sometimes get a lump in my chest when I read the comments you’ve received, so I can only imagine how you feel. But you are doing the “good work” and will be richly rewarded.
We don’t get much world news out here in farm country, so we didn’t hear about these two little girls. My best friend has a 3-year-old daughter; I can’t imagine anyone doing these things to her. I’ll probably get wailed on for this, but this practice seems backwards.
Keep up the good work. As Christians, we need to be aware of other religions and practices. You’re helping us do jut that.
Do you think that if you were raised in this culture that it would still seem scary to you? I don’t think the little girls look on these practices as occult or scary at all. It is the norm in their society.
If you get the chance you should read what Goddess bloggers have said about this topic. They are angry that this is being done in the name of the Goddess and do not agree with it.
You can’t judge Goddess religion in general by this incident. If that were the case then you could be judged based on the scary Christians who murder abortion doctors in the name of God.
Respectfully.
I’ve missed you!
Thank you for your honest blog that exposes these things.
My heart breaks for these girls. Whether or not it is “normal”- I have to believe that in the heart of all of us that are created by God, we know that this is not how things should be.
The Holy Spirit is the same everywhere.
He reveals truth.
Sadly, these people do not receive it.
Keep up the good work.
Sue
Thanks for sharing this. Your blog is very informative and well-researched. Keep up the great work of shedding light in dark places.