Trailokya Malla
Encyclopedia
Trailokya Malla was a Malla Dynasty
King of Bhaktapur
, Nepal
from 1560 to 1613.
The origin of Kumari
can be traced to King Trailokya Malla who is believed to have instituted the tradition of Kumari after losing his right to see Durga
in person. Taleju was recognized as a form of the beautiful Goddess Durga, who appeared in human form in front of King Trailokya Malla every night. Trailokya was said to played many games of dice (tripasa) with her, until one night, overcome by desire, the king made sexual advances toward the goddess. When this occurred, the goddess disappeared and left the king in deep regret. Later, Taleju appeared in the king’s dream and informed him that she would embody in the human form a virgin girl of the Shakya caste, a Buddhist by faith, who would bless him every year.
Malla (Nepal)
The Malla Dynasty was a ruling dynasty of Nepal from the 12th to the 18th century. Malla kings of Nepal visited Lumbini in the 11th and 12th century. It was during their reign the people living in and around the Kathmandu Valley began to be called as "Newars" . The Mallas were the ruling clan of...
King of Bhaktapur
Bhaktapur
Bhaktapur , also Bhadgaon or Khwopa is an ancient Newar town in the east corner of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. It is located in Bhaktapur District in the Bagmati Zone...
, Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
from 1560 to 1613.
The origin of Kumari
Kumari
Kumari, or Kumari Devi, is the tradition of worshipping young pre-pubescent girls as manifestations of the divine female energy or devi in Hindu religious traditions. Kumari means young unmarried girl. Kumari word is derived from Sanskrit word Kaumarya meaning "virgin". In Nepali and some Indian...
can be traced to King Trailokya Malla who is believed to have instituted the tradition of Kumari after losing his right to see Durga
Durga
For the 1985 Hindi Film of Rajesh Khanna see DurgaaIn Hinduism, Durga ; ; meaning "the inaccessible" or "the invincible"; , durga) or Maa Durga "one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress" is a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having eighteen arms, riding a lion...
in person. Taleju was recognized as a form of the beautiful Goddess Durga, who appeared in human form in front of King Trailokya Malla every night. Trailokya was said to played many games of dice (tripasa) with her, until one night, overcome by desire, the king made sexual advances toward the goddess. When this occurred, the goddess disappeared and left the king in deep regret. Later, Taleju appeared in the king’s dream and informed him that she would embody in the human form a virgin girl of the Shakya caste, a Buddhist by faith, who would bless him every year.