Kumari, or originally Kumarika, is the fundamental tradition of Shakta Tantra tradition where a young girl transforms into a vessel of the divine Goddess in the gross material reality.
Kumari tradition is a tradition of Pratika Upāsanā or symbolic worship of Devi, the divine feminine, the Shakti or conscious energies of the universe.
In this tradition, a young girl is selected who has the sacred qualities and qualifications, then she is trained through a defined education system to transform into a vessel or medium through which the subtle dimensional Shakti of Goddess can manifest and thus making the young girl a Kumari or the Goddess in human form.
As per “Siddha Dharma”, a prepubescent female child up to the maximum age of twelve is selected based on traditional criteria. Then the goddess Yogmaya is invoked in her such that she is transformed into the vessel of Goddess.
After the goddess is invoked, the selected girl is often looked upon by the people as living goddess. They treat her to be the supreme goddess in the human form. They seek her blessings and invite her presence as the the central figure of all their public and private functions.

Etymology

As per “Siddha Dharma”, Kumari implies prepubescent female child who has not shown any signs of puberty. She has not reached menarche or she has had her first menstruation period. When she hits menarche, she ceases to become kumari and a new female child in her prepubescent years is selected for the goddess to be invoked in her body. The highest year a Kumari attains is the age of sixteen but only if she hasn’t attained menarche. Even after the age of sixteen, if the Kumari has not hit her menarche, she automatically ceases to be Kumari for worship purpose. If she never hits menarche, she can use the title of Kumari but not for worship purpose.

History

The symbolic worship of Kumari as Goddess in human form began in Kashmir. Siddha Dharma says that the first Maha Siddha to do Kumari worship ritual was Maha Siddha Gajapati Nath. The Kumari Kalpa manuscript informs us about how the Maha Siddha Gajapati Nath, who was an expert at alchemy was taught the ways of Kumari tantra ritual from the first Kumari who manifested through his alchemical or rasayana murti of Goddess Laxmi which merged in a young girl. The detailed conversation between Maha Siddha Gajapati Nath and this young girl in Kashmir who was the first Kumari is described at length in the manuscript of Kumari Kalpa.
Through the regions of Kashmir, this Kumari Kalpa Tantra went into different regions. One stream of wisdom tradition then went towards Bhoṭadesh (present day Tibet) and another stream went towards Kāmarupa desh (present day Assam).
It was this wisdom tradition from Kāmarupa Kāmakhyā, that reached Nepal.
In present times, the tradition of Kumari which travelled from Kashmir to Tibet reached Nepal and got mixed with the tradition that reached via Assam. In its mixed form, one can see certain aspects of this Kumari Kalpa Tantra worship rituals in different parts of Nepal.
The Pancha Kanyā worship ritual, the Bālikā pujan at various auspicious occasions and various aspects of Shri Vidya rituals in southern India derives also derives from Kumari Kalpa Tantra systems of Siddhas of Himalaya.

Kumari & Kaulantak Siddha Tradition

Kaulantak Peeth has a very long history of Kumari tradition. Here, Kumari has been known as Parama Kumarikā. However, since it was free from control of kings and their rule, it never got the same limelight as in other places.
In Siddha Dharma, the guru disciple tradition reveals about the origin of Kumarikā sadhana begining in Kashmir. Maha Siddha Gaja Nath, a great siddha expert on alchemy and rasayana tantra, due to his great merit and sadhana was blessed by Yogamaya in form of young girl. This girl was the first Kumarikā in the world and it was her who established the Kumarikā tradition through Maha Siddha Gaja Nath in Himalaya which later permeated across whole Himalaya.

Kumari & Origin of Universe

Esoterically, the mystical knowledge of unfolding and origin of the universe is captured in the various aspects of Kumari.
To understand Kumari, one has to understand the origin of the universe. Or, to understand the origin of the Universe, one has to understand the Kumari Kalpa.
The story of the universe is from the Naasadhya or unknown state before the manifestation of the universe to the Maha Ekarnava or single point of manifestation to the explosive expansion of space and matter and time through awareness, to the present state of reality as we know it.
Similarly, in Kumari Kalpa, the same story is mystically revealed as the story of Guhya Kāli or Mahakali, to Bāla Kāli or Kumari, to Tripura Kāli or Tripura Sundari.

Bala Tripura Sundari and Kumari

As per “Siddha Dharma”, the supreme goddess Yogmaya in her Lalita Tripura Sundari is comprised of three forms, Bala Tripura Sundari, Shodashi and Lalita Tripura Sundari. The goddess in her prepubescent years is considered to be Bala Tripura Sundari, from the age of twelve to sixteen, She becomes Shodashi or the goddess with sixteen virtues and finally Lalita Tripura Sundari, the fully mature Rajasic goddess.
In Kathmandu and the Kumari tradition, the prepubescent female child is selected from the family of the shakyas and in her, the Bala Tripura Sundari is invoked such that the female child transforms into Bala Tripura Sundari, the Shree Vidhya. She is then worshipped for the prosperity of the state, for the citizens and for the progress of both public and private spheres of human’s life because Bala Tripura Sundari is believed to bestow all forms of material wealth to her worshippers. She bestows wealth and also states to her worshipper therefore from time immemorial, She used to be worshipped especially by kings. Therefore, the kings of Nepal maintained a royal Kumari.
In the case of Kumari, it is quite different. In Nepalese culture especially in Kathmandu, when the kings predominantly ruled the Himalayan country, the public spiritual gatherings took in the form of jatra like Kumari jatra or Kumari festival. The jatra was attended by both, the king of Nepal as well as Kumari. The whole jatra used to take place in their forefront. Such public event would be deemed incomplete without Kumari watching from the stand. She was the essence of such public gathering and not the king because although the king and Kumari might have equal standing but it was the king who would bow down to Kumari and not the other way around.
In the Kumari tradition, people would visit Kumari for prosperity in both the public and private spheres. The king would worship Her for powers and the protection of the state along with the citizens. She would also be worshipped by the citizens for better harvest, for the rain, etc. Every year there would be a spiritual function where the Kumari would offer her sword to the king also known as Khadga Siddhi. With the abolition of monarchy, the tradition of Kumari exchanging the sword with the king of Nepal has now ended.

Kumari & ShodashaPadi Sṛṣṭī

The evolution of the universe before the creation took its present form, is esoterically explained in Kumari Kalpa as a process that happens in sixteen stages. These are the sixteen stages through which a Kumari progresses, from being born, to be raised as an infant, and ultimately reaching the full bloom of youthful stage. This is also the journey of Yogamaya transforming Herself into Mahamaya.
1.Sandhya
2.Sraswati (Gyanmayi Srishti)
3.Tridhamurti
4.Kalikaa
5.Subhaga
6.Parvati
7.Malini
8.Kubjika
9.KaalaSandharva (Gati Srishti)
10.Aparajita
11.Rudrani
12.Bhairavi
13.Mahalaxmi
14.Pithanayika
15.Kshetragya
16.Ambika

Kumari & Kumar

Just like there is Kumari as young female vessel of goddess, there is Kumar as well. Kumar being the young male vessel of Shiva.
In Shakta tradition, Shiva is Nishkriya or inactive and focus is primarily on Shakti and Her dynamic plays in forming, sustaining and dissolving the universe. Therefore, there is no tantra ritual for Kumar explicitly. However, without Kumar, there is no Kumari, just like there is no Shakti without Shiva.

Satvik, Rajasic & Tamasic Kumari/Kumar

For satvik Kumari, Kumar is in Nirguna or formless state. Here, Kumar is present in the Kumari as yogic Kundalini inside her. In the Rajasic Kumari, Kumar is present as Kshetrapaal or protector. For the tamasic Kumari, Kumar is present in the form of Bhairav.

Devakalā Kumari & Manurkalā Kumari

Devakalā Kumari is the Kumari in the subtle realm. She exists in the sookshma as other Goddesses do. Here She is in the form of Yogamaya.
Manurkalā Kumari is the vessel or human form of Devakalā Kumari. It is this Manurkalā Kumari that is seen in Kumari tantra rituals. Manurkalā Kumari is a young girl who is qualified and trained to manifest the subtle energies of Devakalā Kumari into the material realm of gross reality. Manurkalā Kumari acts as the bridge or medium between the subtle and the gross reality. It is through Manurkalā Kumari, Yogamaya manifests in the physical world and acts for the welfare of all by giving knowledge, wisdom, and blessings.

Prerequisite for being Kumari

As per “Siddha Dharma”, for a female prepubescent child to be selected as Kumari, she has to have certain qualifications. These qualifications range from esoteric tantra signs that manifest in human body to the psychological maturity of the young girl.
It could be explained from the selection procedure of army, where both men and women have to satisfy physical standards and pass some tests before being selected into army.
The Kumari also have some prerequisite that has to be satisfied before a female child is chosen. Some of the qualifications are:
1.She should have an odd number of teeth at the time of selection.
2.Special signs and readings of hand and legs are observed.
3.She should be pre-menarche.
4.Selection is also done for physical presence and healthy body
5.She should be born in Deva Lakshana Nakshatra or ten godly nakshtra should be present in her birth astrological chart.
6.By asking for divine revelation from Ishta or presiding deity of the tantra tradition. In Kaulantak Siddha tradition, one asks with prasna or sacred tantrik dice.
7.She should be fearless. Gurus tests with masked bhairava to see if the potential Kumari gets scared.
8.She should be calm by nature.
9.She should be relatively more intelligent and mature than other children of her age.
Apart from these tests and qualifications, Kumari Kalpa manuscript available with Kaulantak Siddha tradition reveals many esoteric qualifications of a suitable girl who can be a vessel for the Goddess and become a Kumari.

In the present modern times, the criteria as listed in this article, to select the Kumari of Kaulantak Peeth is not followed.

The list of Kumaris of Siddha Dharma

As per “Siddha Dharma”, the current Kumari is Kumari Kamakshi Nath Ji who hails from Assam. She had been anointed Kumari in the year 2015 and is believed to be the first authentic Kumari. Only in her  absence, other girls could be anointed Kumari for any function but they cannot replace Kumari Kamakshi. They will only serve as temporary Kumari.

Parent/Guardian Consent for Kumari

As per “Siddha Dharma”, it is mandatory for the parents or guardian to give their consent for their girls to be Kumari. Their parents or guardian shall also have to consent to look after the Kumari after she has been anointed and for the time span of her Kumari years.

In modern days, we are living in democracy and rule of law where it has become difficult to take the Kumari Tradition forward, like in the olden days. Reason being, liberty and child protection is more important than any other old tradition. In present times, Kumari tradition has become just a symbolic tradition. In India, the Navratri festival is celebrated, where the Divine Goddess Durga is worshipped, the Ashtami Tithi is specially celebrated for ‘Kanya Poojan’. Kanya Poojan is the shortest way to perform ‘Kumari Pooja’. Before marrying Bhagwan Shiva, Mother Goddess Parvati was considered as Kumarika. Also Ma Durga is not a married Goddess, so She is also considered as Goddess Kumarika. Likewise in Navratri festival, Kaulantak Peeth performs ‘Kanya Poojan’ in form of Kumari Pooja where the chosen ‘Kanya’ dresses up like Goddess Durga with third eye on her forehead wearing a crown made from Rajasik cloth just for that particular festival. Kumari Darshan and Pooja (worship) is closed for the public permanently in Kaulantak Peeth because in modern days all girls go to schools for education and lives in modern environment. So this tradition is almost extinct.

Kumari Kamakshi Nath and others are just symbolic of the old Kumari tradition. For any Kumari worship ritual, it is now compulsory to get the consent of the guardians and the girl child (chosen as the Kumari) for any worship ritual in Kaulantak Peeth. Since Kaulantak Peeth is a tribal, ancient Himalayan Peeth, so its rituals are very different from other Tantric, Vedic, Yogic and Bhakti traditions. Kaulantak Peeth’s ‘Kumari Pooja’ is completely based on Deva Parampara and not based on Tantric Tradition.

Kumari Kalpa Manuscript and Book

Kumari Kalpa Manuscript that is the basis for the course on Kumari Kalpa conducted by International Kaulantak Siddha Vidya Peeth covers the following topics.
1. Kumarika Patal
2. Pratikopasana Patal
3. Viradavali Patal
4. Mahatmya Patal
5. Koumarya Patal
6. Kumar Patal
7. Nityakanya Patal
8. Bala Patal
9. Tantrika Patal
10. Sringar Patal
11. Yantra Patal
12. Mantra patal
13. Deeksha Patal
14. Videh Patal
15. Stuti Patal
16. Nitya Karma Patal
17. Sadhana Patal
18. Sankalp Patal
19. Kumarika bodh patal
20. Kartavya patal
21. Kumarika Jiwan Patal