Yahoo News is reporting that Hindu and Buddhist priests chanted sacred hymns and cascaded flowers and grains of rice over a 3-year-old girl who was appointed a living goddess in Nepal on Tuesday.
Wrapped in red silk and adorned with red flowers in her hair, Matani Shakya received approval from the priests and President Ram Baran Yadav in a centuries-old tradition with deep ties to Nepal’s monarchy, which was abolished in May.
The new “kumari” or living goddess, was carried from her parents’ home to an ancient palatial temple in the heart of the Nepali capital, Katmandu, where she will live until she reaches puberty and loses her divine status.
***You are only divine until you reach puberty? So that’s what happened to the band Hanson.***
She will be worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists as an incarnation of the powerful Hindu deity Taleju.
***At the same time most kids are watching Dora the Explorer, she will be the object of millions of devoted worshipees.***
A panel of judges conducted a series of ancient ceremonies to select the goddess from several 2- to 4-year-old girls who are all members of the impoverished Shakya goldsmith caste.
***I heard that Simon Cowell was one of the judges.***
The judges read the candidates’ horoscopes and check each one for physical imperfections. The living goddess must have perfect hair, eyes, teeth and skin with no scars, and should not be afraid of the dark.
***They used the infamous “Boogeyman” test for this one.***
As a final test, the living goddess must spend a night alone in a room among the heads of ritually slaughtered goats and buffaloes without showing fear.
***Isn’t that what most Nepalese Children do anyhow?***
Having passed all the tests, the child will stay in almost complete isolation at the temple, and will be allowed to return to her family only at the onset of menstruation when a new goddess will be named to replace her.
***That’s just crazy!!!***
“I feel a bit sad, but since my child has become a living goddess I feel proud,” said her father Pratap Man Shakya.
During her time as a goddess, she will always wear red, pin up her hair in topknots, and have a “third eye” painted on her forehead.
***Very Fashionable.***
Devotees touch the girls’ feet with their foreheads, the highest sign of respect among Hindus in Nepal. During religious festivals the goddesses are wheeled around on a chariot pulled by devotees.
Critics say the tradition violates both international and Nepalese laws on child rights. The girls often struggle to readjust to normal lives after they return home.
***Ya Think?***
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.
***Sounds like some smart fathers spreading that tale.***
13 Comments, Comment or Ping
JF
Although I don’t agree with what they believe, I think we shouldn’t mock at their believes.
Oct 10th, 2008
Tony
I don’t know if you are a believer or not (Christian), but I get my sense of humor with these false doctrines from Elijah in the Old Testament. Read 1 Kings 18:27
“And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleeps, and must be awaked.”
That is my attitude. People need to see the true God, and if they look at my website they will see who I am talking about.
Tonys last blog post..Are You Religulous?
Oct 10th, 2008
JF
I am a Christian.
You’re right. But I don’t think I would like anyone to have the same attitude when it comes to my faith. It happens and I don’t really like it. And I don’t think you’d make anyone come to Christ if you first laugh at them.
JFs last blog post..155
Oct 10th, 2008
Tony
My faith is mocked daily by everyone in the media. There is a new movie in the United States called “Religulous” that Comedian Bill Maher has where he mocks Christianity. It is going to happen. Jesus warned us that it would. All throughout the Bible God tells his people to tear down their false idols, not to tolerate or condone the worship of Baal, etc. This is my form of tearing down. I don’t agree with any other religions, and I won’t coddle them either. In this story, I am not laughing at people, but at the notion of a living goddess.
Oct 10th, 2008
JF
You don’t have to coddle, but if you want to talk to someone about Christ, it won’t work if you scare them off.
Wouldn’t be enough if you just say that you’re against their believes? You then give them chance to think about what you’re saying.
I don’t think anyone would consider leaving their religion if you start with mocking them.
Oct 10th, 2008
Tony
How many times in the Bible does God give harsh warnings about the foolishness of the “carrying ons” of the people of Israel. He sent many prophets to deliver a scary message to turn away from the fake gods, etc. The same is today. There is a scary fate for those who do not turn from their sin and trust in the real God. Souls are at stake. This topic happened to be under the Satire section of my website. This site is multi-faceted, dealing with False Doctrines, Devotions and Bible Studies, Politics, and Satire. That is my personality and those are my interests. I’m sorry I offended you, but the message still is the same.
Deuteronomy 4:23 Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee.
24 For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.
25 When thou shalt beget children, and children’s children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger:
26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed.
27 And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you.
Deuteronomy 6:14 Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;
15 (For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.
Tonys last blog post..Are You Religulous?
Oct 10th, 2008
Luis
Tony, I’m sick of all these idiots.
I must address this once and for all.
Seriously. That’s it. I’ve had it. I don’t care if people say I’m blasphemous. If you believe in any sort of religion, you’re dumb.
You’re simply scared of “hell”, something which doesn’t exist, and if it did it would be called planet EARTH, so you believe all the “mumbo jumbo” you’re told.
The top 5 religions,
Christianity: 2.1 billion
Islam: 1.5 billion
Hinduism: 900 million
Chinese traditional religion: 394 million
Buddhism: 376 million
all have their own set of specific beliefs and huge following. Yet they all say their religion is the correct one. All these people, and you really believe any one is right about a god?
They’re all wrong!
They’re simply non-critical thinking fools who listen to and do everything they’re told like puppeteers. “Religion” and the “10 commandments” were created by the Roman empire to control society’s behavior, and make people what they call “civilized” in the early stages of human civilization.
There’s a THOUSAND times more hard evidence to prove that, than there is to prove there’s actually a “divine one”.
I don’t know what to say anymore. To each their own I guess.
SMH . . . Living goddess . . . LMAO! People get away with what they want, and as long as they call it “religion” or their “beliefs” we have to listen to their bullshit and rants.
More people die over religion than anything else.
More people follow religion than anything else. Yet it is the only thing that ceases to provide proof of its origin and promises.
Luiss last blog post..Blog Debate: War In The Comment Section
Oct 10th, 2008
Kevin from Great Wall of China Facts
I think it simply ridiculous to worship a three year old let alone any man himself. I am a muslim and dont feel that god would make me worhip Jesus( a man). It seems rather ridiculous. I enjoy your blog and thoughts and love your insight!
Oct 10th, 2008
JF
Tony,
You didn’t offend me and I get your point. I’m just trying to think from their point of view. If you were a Hindu, Buddhist or whoever else and met someone who wanted you to convert to Christianity, which might have had a chance to work?
- I think you’re wrong, let’s talk about it.
- You’re stupid, ha ha.
Maybe not exactly using those words, but the attitude.
Oct 11th, 2008
scotti
I read this story on Yahoo a few days ago. I prayed for this poor little girl, that she would be released and find the True God, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Oct 11th, 2008
Matt Oxley
Tony,
if i remember correctly, there is a large religion that has been founded on the basis that a child was born of a virgin some 2000 years ago, the legend says that 3 wise men and angels and donkeys all went to worship him at his birth…
what religion is that?
Matt Oxleys last blog post..Want to win an 09 Civic Hybrid?
Oct 12th, 2008
Tony
Probably the same religion that you are running from, Matt. It seems like you have a deep hatred toward Christianity alone. Instead of making an atheistic statement against Hinduism or Buddhism, you gravitate straight toward Christianity. That is what a majority of Atheists do. For some reason, it is Christianity that they are atheistic toward, and not any other religion. The others never cross their mind. Could it be conviction? We will all find out one day, won’t we Matt.
Tonys last blog post..Young Evangelical Vote. McCain or Obama?
Oct 12th, 2008
Matt Oxley
Tony,
Thanks for the reply.
you really assume far too much, i just dislike the attitude with which you made the post…i spent 6 years in apologetics ministry as a christian and i made strives to not belittle other faiths…
If my bitterness seems to be focused on christianity, it is because it is the largest religion in my general area, probably yours too… Also , the fact that i am an EX-christian makes my atheism a little more directed….dont get me wrong, its utterly silly to worship three year olds, its also silly to worship godmen of virgin mothers…Christians tend to miss that…Christians forget that for the first 500 years of christianity, it was seen as utterly insane….now that it is a more homogeneous religion it suddenly makes more sense….it is just as mystical as every other religion to ever exist….that is reality.
I had to realize alot of things before i could let go of my faith…maybe you do too.
Matt Oxleys last blog post..Want to win an 09 Civic Hybrid?
Oct 12th, 2008
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