Kumari (goddess)

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/kumari--goddess-

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the selection demographics?Prepubescent girls from the Shakya clan of the Nepali Newari Buddhist community
2. What is the deity embodied?The goddess Taleju, a manifestation of Durga, representing divine feminine energy (Shakti)
3. What is a Kumari in Nepal?A Kumari is a prepubescent girl chosen to be a living goddess, believed to carry the goddess Taleju inside her.
4. How is a girl chosen to become a Kumari?She is selected from the Shakya clan and must pass physical and spiritual tests, such as showing courage and staying calm.

Shakti: The supreme cosmic energy in Hinduism and Buddhism, representing the divine feminine power.
Shaktism: A major branch of Hinduism that worships the Goddess (Devi) as the supreme being.
Newari: An Indo-Aryan ethnic group native to the Kathmandu Valley, known for their distinct culture, language, and traditions.
Kumari Ghar: The traditional palace in Kathmandu where the Royal Kumari resides and is worshipped.