NEWS: Thanks For Visiting America! By The Way, YouÂ’re No Longer A Goddess

POLITICS: Thanks For Visiting America! By The Way, You’re No Longer A Goddess

Sajani Shakya is pretty much your average 10-year-old Nepalese girl.

Well, except that up until recently, she was venerated by both Hindus and Buddhists in Nepal as a Kumari Devi, or ”living goddess”.

Sajani was one of the latest in a very long line of Nepalese girls considered to be an incarnation of the Hindu goddess Durga. Normally Durga is all fierce, riding a lion and kicking demon ass with her 10 arms, but camping out in a little Nepalese girl keeps Durga’s energy in check and keeps it on the “creation” side of things. The Kumari Devi is also the patron of Nepal’s monarchy, bestowing blessings upon the king.

Being chosen as a Kumari Devi is quite an elaborate procedure. The right girl has to match 32 “attributes of perfection,” ranging from eye color to the shape of her teeth. Apparently ancient Hindu goddesses use a procedure similar to eHarmony. Then the potential Kumari Devis are put in a dark room where dancers in demon masks attempt to scare them, since a true incarnation of a goddess who, among other things, kicks demon ass shouldn’t be scared by jazz hands.

However, itÂ’s a lot easier to stop being a Kumari Devi. Traditionally, itÂ’s the onset of puberty that signifies the goddess Durga leaving for a new incarnation in some other Nepalese girl, but even sustaining a scratch thatÂ’s deep enough to bleed can cut short a Kumari DeviÂ’s reign.

Sajani Shakya, however, lost her goddess status for other, less blood-based, reasons.

Was it because she blessed NepalÂ’s king during a decade-long civil war? Maybe itÂ’s because NepalÂ’s entire monarchy might soon be abolished?

Nope, itÂ’s because she set foot in the United States on a goodwill tour related to an upcoming documentary about both Kumari Devis and NepalÂ’s civil war. While there are a bunch of Kumari Devis living in various cities and towns in Nepal, Sajani was considered one of the major ones, and thus wasnÂ’t really supposed to leave Nepal.

SajaniÂ’s US tour was enough to anger temple elders in her town of Bhaktapur, who declared that setting foot on American soil had tainted her purity. ItÂ’s like theyÂ’ve heard of Britney Spears or something.

So now the newly de-goddessed Sajani returns to her life as a normal 10-year-old Nepalese girl (albeit with a government pension), and IÂ’m hoping America, having caused Sajani to lose her divinity, can learn something from this.

Like, why doesnÂ’t Jesus grow eight more arms and ride around on a lion, kicking demon ass?

um. sucks?

Was she stripped of devi status because she visited the U.S., or because she went on a promotional tour for a movie?

If it's the latter, why are her handlers not the ones being blamed?

This is interesting. But, if your fame and status rests on a spurious and silly foundation, don't be surprised when it's revoked for equally ludicrous reasons.

Also, it's a bit out of order to psychologically abuse a child to the point where they believe they're a divinity in human form.

She plays the role until she's about 12, knowing full well that it's temporary - and then goes on to have a normal life. I hardly think that constitutes "psychological abuse".

In the famous words of Nelson Muntz- "Ha Ha"

she was stripped of the title for leaving the country at all.

It is considered as abuse by some. It's a very controversial topic. The practice violates not only the rights of the child but the rights of women in general.

And that spurious and silly foundation would be...?

someone has probably already said this, but I dont care to check. Its fucked up logic that a girl who fights demons can have her purity taken so easily.

Also, instead of looking at teeth shape, wouldnt it be a better idea to pick goddesses for thier fighting ability?

They're vessels for divine power, not Potential Vampire Slayers

It's fucked up logic the way we see it, to them it makes perfect sense, so much that they went along and decided she was no longer a goddess. Personally, I don't understand it, but that's no reason to look down on ways that are different from mine, is it?

ಠ_ಠ

Makes me think of that one scene in Pan's Labrynth...

SPOILERS! (Click to view)

...where Ofelia messes up the third challenge by eating the grape and the faun tells her she can't return to her underground kingdom.

So America defrocks another young girl. Happy 4th!

Shocking. A young girl's imaginary powers have been stripped by for an arbitrary reason by the religion(s) that bestowed it.

America, the bad seed your parents don't want you to hang out with.

I bet this little girl is as happy as can be. Now she can act like a child instead of being touted as a goddess. She's probably happily playing with a toy while the monks are freaking the fuck out.

Good golly! Are people here always this off-the-cuff about calling people's religions "imaginary." WTF difference does it make if I believe in demons, angels, divine hamsters, whatever. Any impetus for human beings to live better lives is a good one.

Well, I know at 10 years old I wanted to be a goddess - to live forever and to be worshipped and lead a fairy tale life. Still do.

I would be twelve kinds of pissed if I had been told I had that, only to have it taken away.

That would make a cool set idea.

I can't speak for other people "here", but yes, I am. Sorry if that offends, but not sorry enough to keep my yap shut. Just know that it isn't my intent to offend.

I also don't mean to get too argumentative here (though, admittedly, it's a topic I love to discuss and am somewhat passionate about) but I disagree with your "any impetus" statement. I believe reality is more important than delusion. I believe it's important to the advancement of the species as a whole.

Note, I realize the "delusion" comment might be offensive. Once again, sorry.

religions are silly, and they do silly things for stupid reasons

Yeah, you really have to keep in mind that this young girl comes from a completely different culture. Like Ferretbite said, to them it makes complete sense and isn't something to be questioned. She's living in a different society, so trying to evaluate whether or not she's been 'psychologically abused' in the terms of another society's standards isn't practical. It's probably a good idea to try and look at it from an emic perspective.

it is interesting, and I find it sad that something so simple was concidered enough of a defilement to make her loose this divinity she was to have been blessed with. I find it hard to understand why a goddess would be thought to leave her "host" just for her going someplace to get people interested in something that would teach more about this happening and the faith that created her... but at the same time can see why.'
mostly though, from what i've read in this and other articles, this girl seemed like a vibrant, happy, sweet, smart young girl, who had a fierceness to her passion in life, and I think she'll probably do well. She apparantly wants to be a teacher.

I wish her all the best.

While I realize you probably weren't directing this at me (as it was someone else that called it "abuse"), I do have to say that I don't think it IS necessary to look at it from an emic perspective. To do so implies that just because the (specific, relevant) society deems something to be acceptable or good means that everyone should accept it as such. I do not believe that this is the case.

The emic perspective makes Pre-Emancipation Proclamation slavery acceptable because it was part of American society and culture. It means that pre-suffrage, it was OK that women didn't get to vote. It means that in Taliban controlled Afghanistan, it was OK that women were forced to wear burkas and not allowed outside without a male family member accompanying them.

Just because one is not part of a specific culture does not mean one cannot judge it against the best possible ideals.

Challenging the status quo is what moves us forward as individuals, as a society and as a species.