Paper short abstract:

In Northwest India the worship of young girls as goddesses is widespread. The paper will describe and analyze the various forms of this ritual, known as kanyā pūjā, in Himachal Pradesh focussing especially on the fact that the divinization of the girls is only temporary.

Paper long abstract:

In Hinduism there is no clear dividing line between the divine and the human realms. Gods may be imagined as humans and humans may be deified and worshipped like gods. Most widespread is the divinization of ancestors, including satīs, but living persons, too, may be treated as divine beings; pertinent examples are gurus or persons believed to be possessed by a deity.

Another example which will be discussed here seems to be the worship of young girls who are said to embody a goddess. In Northwest India this ritual act is known as kanyā pūjā. A public version is to be found at goddess temples where small unmarried girls (kanyās) hold themselves ready on festival days to be worshipped as devīs by visitors, that is receive sweets, coins and other items and have their feet touched. Kanyā pūjās in private settings are usually much more elaborate; they are performed for instance at the opening of a new house or at the conclusion of the navaratras rites whereby up to nine girls, representing the nine goddesses, may be honoured.

The paper will describe and analyze the various forms of kanyā pūjā as observed by the author in the Southern part of Himachal Pradesh focussing especially on the fact that the divinization of the kanyās is not permanent. They seem to be only temporary embodiments of goddesses, devīs "on demand".