Taleju Bhawani (Royal Goddess of the Malla Kings)
Taleju Bhawani is a tantric form of Durga and royal tutelary goddess of the Malla kings. Legend says King Jayaprakash Malla played dice nightly with her; when his daughter discovered them, the goddess vanished, but commanded in a dream that he worship a Shakya virgin girl as her living embodiment — founding the Kumari tradition. Her Kathmandu Durbar Square temple was built in 1564.