Taleju Bhawani Temple in Nepal

Taleju Bhawani used to be thekuladevi (royal deity) of the Malla kings and later the Shah dynasty of Nepal. The Taleju Bhawani temple located in Hanuman Dhoka durbar is one of the most sacred and secretive shrines in Nepal, deeply tied to the country’s royal and religious history.

The Legend of Taleju Bhawani

Taleju Bhawani is believed to be a manifestation of the Hindu goddess Durga. Some believ it is Goddess Kali. According to a legend, the goddess was originally worshipped in the Mithila region (present-day Bihar, India) before being brought to Nepal by the Malla kings. The most famous legend involves King Pratap Malla (17th century), though some versions attribute it to earlier Malla rulers. The Taleju Goddess appeared in the king’s dream in the form of a beautiful woman and agreed to be his protector deity on the condition that he worship her in secret. She also gave him strict instructions: only the king and his hereditary priest (the Rajopadhyaya Brahmin) could enter her temple, and no one else could see her in her true form.

But, one day, a curious queen followed the king into the temple, breaking the goddess’s rule. Enraged, Taleju declared she would no longer protect the Malla dynasty, leading to its eventual downfall. Before leaving, she told the king she would return only in the form of a young virgin girl. That is how, Kumari, the Nepal’s Living Goddess tradition of Kumari started. The living goddess is worshiped by the head of the state (even after the abloishment of royal regime in present-day-Nepal.)

The Taleju’s Temple in Kathmandu Durbar Square

The three-tiered Taleju Temple in Kathmandu Durbar Square was built by Mahendra Malla in the 16th century. It is opened to the public only once a year during Dashain festival. On the 9th day of Dashain – Maha Navamai, everybody (even non-Hindus) can get the glimpse the idol. The goddess is believed to be worshipped in a yantra form (mystical diagram) rather than a traditional idol.

After the fall of the Mallas, Prithvi Narayan Shah (the founder of unified Nepal) also started worshipping Taleju as his protector. The secretive Taleju Bhawani temple in Hanuman Dhoka remains accessible only to the royal priest and descendants of the Malla and Shah lineages.

Some believe Taleju still influences Nepalese royalty and politics. Animal sacrifices (especially buffaloes) were historically made to her during Dashain festival for the goddess. The goddess is said to appear in dreams to warn kings of impending dangers.

Taleju Bhawani and the Living Goddess (Kumari)

After Taleju abandoned the Malla kings, she declared she would return only in the form of a pre-pubescent girl (Kumari). The Royal Kumari of Kathmandu is considered Taleju’s living incarnation. The selection of Kumari is a strict procedure:

– The girl must be from the Shakya caste (Buddhist goldsmiths).
– She must pass 32 physical tests (including unblemished skin, horoscope compatibility, and fearlessness in dark rooms with animal sacrifices).
– Once chosen, she lives in the Kumari Ghar and is worshipped until she menstruates or loses blood, after which a new Kumari is selected.
– During Indra Jatra, the Kumari is carried in a chariot procession, and the king seeks her blessing—a symbolic transfer of divine authority.
– Kumari communicates with Taleju in her dreams.
– secret rituals where the goddess is invoked with mantras, yantras, and offerings of blood and alcohol.

Some folktales say that Taleju demanded human sacrifices in ancient times. A legend claims that Jayasthiti Malla (14th century) stopped this practice by substituting animals.

While the most famous temple is in Kathmandu Durbar Square, there are other important Taleju shrines:
– Bhaktapur Durbar Square – The Taleju Temple here has a unique five-story roof, the tallest in Nepal.
– Patan’s Taleju Bell – Installed by King Siddhi Narsingh Malla, it was rung to alert Taleju of injustices.
– Nuwakot’s Taleju Temple – Built by Prithvi Narayan Shah to secure her blessings for unifying Nepal.

Stories of temple in Kathmandu center: