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The book focuses on the traditional worship of Kumari by the King of Nepal. This worship is described as a dramatic performance, which acts out an ideal of perfect relations between a Hindu ruler and the citizens of the state.The work will interest Nepalese studying their traditional culture, scholars in the field, and those who wish to discover the deeper meanings behind the display of regal splendour presented by the small girl called the 'Living Goddess'.The author, John Mellowship, was born at Nuneaton, England into the family of an Australian Anglican priest. Originally intended for the priesthood, he retains a deep interest in spiritual matters. The family returned to Australia where he later began to study social anthropology at the University of Adelaide.The University's Anthropology department organized a visit to Nepal where John chose the Royal Kumari as his special topic for doctoral study. In 1990/91 he spent a year doing fieldwork in Nepal and since then has steadily refined his understanding of the Kumari institution.