As you can see the superb carvings just kept getting better and better. We were also rather taken by the figures at the top window: either these were also carved or they'd been there a bit too long.
From this fine building we moved on to view some even more intricate carvings at the Kumari House, the home of the Living goddess, the Kumari. Yes, it's true, Nepal does have its very own living goddess who is worshipped as a source of supreme power as part of both Hindu and Buddhist traditions.
Normally, the Kumari will appear for tourists at the top window shown in our picture, but the current Kumari is a new one, having been selected less than 2 weeks before our visit (a girl can only be Kumari until she menstruates for the first time, at which point she becomes mortal again and returns to her family). The new Kumari is only 3 years old and wasn't yet making appearances, so we had to use our imaginations. One of our minders had seen the the last but one Kumari, on a previous visit in 1987, so was able to tell us all about it.
Our next interesting sight was a much more scary one.
Disputing individuals come before this god image to settle their differences. It is essential to tell the truth otherwise the god will visit dire consequences on the lying individual. This god was so scary that we would certainly have been scared into telling the truth - not that Yorkie and I ever have arguments.
Back soon!
Lots of love George & Yorkie xxx
1 comment:
We too have seen a previous Kumari, and were interested to learn about the current one. Were you disappointed at being unable to see her? I think I would have been, but I am glad I missed the scary God.
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