http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/ http://www.w3.org/ns/prov#
An event-centric LinkML schema for representing Nepal cultural heritage information, fully aligned with CIDOC-CRM v7.2.1 and PROV-O. Enables provenance tracking, ritual-spatial-temporal reasoning, and multi-calendar date representation. DL expressivity: ALCIQ(D).
Collection of ArchitecturalElement instances
Heritage structures affected by or present during this historical event
The agent (scholar, priest, or tradition-bearer) making or recording the syncretic claim.
Entity that is the subject of this assertion
Event that is the subject of this assertion
Condition state identified by the assessment
The deity or sacred figure being identified as equivalent to the primary deity.
The deity instance that is the subject of the syncretic claim.
Calendar system used for date representation
Person or group who commissioned production
Consecration event that activated this murti
Murti that participated in the consecration ritual
Collection of Consecration event instances
Documentation activity that produced this information object
Collection of TransferOfCustody event instances
Person or organization primarily responsible for creating the source
Entity responsible for making the source available
The level of precision for a recorded date.
Deity depicted iconographically (not cultic presence)
Event that destroyed this structure (if known)
Collection of DocumentationActivity instances
Sources that mention or document this entity
Points from a LivingGoddessRetirement event to the tenure that it terminated. Enables reconstruction of complete Living Goddess lifecycle.
Collection of Enshrinement event instances
Enshrinement event that installed deity in temple
Current physical status of the structure
Assertions generated by documentation activity
Actor(s) who participated in this event or period
Collection of ArchitecturalStyle instances
Architectural elements composing structure
Condition assessment events for this structure
Custody transfer events for this structure
All factual claims about this structure with full provenance
Religious tradition(s) within which this deity is venerated
Retirement event that ended this Living Goddess tenure
Possible locations if the structure is lost
Collection of InformationObject instances
Living Goddess tenure that was initiated by this selection event
Deity invoked or made present through ritual
Deity represented and ritually associated with the Murti
Entity that this information object describes
Event that this information object describes
Larger structure that this element is part of
Iconographic objects that depict this deity
Religious tradition(s) that primarily use this calendar system (e.g., Bikram Sambat for Hindu, Nepal Sambat for Newar Buddhist)
Guthi organization managing this structure or ritual
Points to the next ritual in the canonical sequence.
Rituals in which this structure participates
Collection of all physical heritage objects
Information object (record, document) produced by documentation
Object produced by this production event
Collection of Production event instances
Collection of ReligiousTradition instances
Structure where a person resides during a specific period. For Living Goddess, this is typically a Kumari Ghar (god-house).
Ritual occurs at specific temple or monument
Classification of ritual (puja, jatra, consecration)
Ordered list of places visited during movement ritual
Person selected through a ritual selection process to assume a sacred role or office
Heritage entity that is the subject of documentation
Event that is the subject of documentation
Previous version of this assertion (if this is an update). Creates version chain: A1 → A2 → A3. Query pattern: latest assertion = one with no incoming prov:invalidated
Institution(s) providing economic support (stipend, land endowment) or ritual support (priest salaries) for a Living Goddess during tenure. Extends Guthi role beyond structure management to person support.
Collection of SyncreticRelationship instances
The typological nature of the syncretism (e.g., Ontological Identity, Functional Overlap, Iconographic Similarity).
Actor(s) who use, handle, or are responsible for this object in ritual contexts
Ephemeral materials consumed during the ritual (e.g., oil, rice).
Source(s) from which this assertion was derived
Documentation event that recorded this entity or event
Event that created this object or structure
Where stored (e.g., National Museum Kathmandu, British Library, URL)
Property or attribute name (e.g., 'existence_status', 'hypothesized_location', 'construction_date')
The value claimed for this property (e.g., 'Lost', 'Handigaun', '598 CE')
Reliability score for assertion (0.0-1.0)
Type of custodian (government, academic, community)
Notes on data quality, completeness, or uncertainty
Persistent identifier for the source (DOI, archive ID, catalog number)
Type of identifier (DOI, ISBN, Handle, LocalArchiveID)
High-level DataCite resource type (Dataset, Text, Image, Audio, Interview)
Earliest possible date (for uncertain dates)
Latest possible date (for uncertain dates)
The start date of this calendar era in Gregorian ISO format.
Areas of expertise (e.g., Lichhavi inscriptions, Sanskrit epigraphy, Newari archaeology)
When this assertion was recorded (ISO 8601)
Institutional affiliation (e.g., Tribhuvan University, Nepal Heritage Society)
Whether this ritual is essential for the festival's completion
Latest date when this structure is documented as existing (ISO 8601)
Free-text note (description, reason, verification notes)
Status of multi-source reconciliation (confirmed, conflicting, unverified)
Frequency of recurring ritual (e.g., annual, monthly)
Text description of the procession route
List of selection criteria verified during Living Goddess selection process (e.g., '32 lakshana present', 'No scars or blemishes', 'Horoscope compatible with city', 'Passed fearlessness test')
Type of source: Manuscript, Inscription, FieldSurvey, PublishedBook, Archive, MuseumCollection, OralHistoryInterview, etc.
Method used for verification (cross-check, expert review, field visit)
Mathematical offset to convert to Common Era (e.g., +57 for BS).
Dome-based style (Mughal/Neo-classical influence)
Multi-tiered roof style indigenous to Nepal
A vocabulary of architectural styles for South Asian heritage, mapped to CIDOC E55 Type.
General actor (person or group) responsible for events
Deity borrowed from one tradition into another
Carved or constructed component of an architectural structure (e.g., Gajur, Torana, Tundal)
Physical structures built for religious, social, or civic purposes. Links to events of production, use, custody, and documentation.
Government or institutional administrative record
Any entity that can be the subject of a heritage assertion
Buddhist sacred structure (Stupa, Chaitya) with circumambulation and ritual activation patterns
Calendar reckoning system with conversion rules for multi-calendar temporal reasoning
Hereditary social group (Jati) with specific ritual roles and occupational duties
Festival involving ceremonial chariot procession (e.g., Rato Machhindranath Jatra)
Ritual circular movement around sacred site
Event of evaluating the physical state of a heritage object or structure
A physical condition state of a heritage object
Ritual event that transforms an object into a sacred vessel (e.g., Prana Pratistha for Murti)
Root container for cultural heritage data instances
Institution or person currently stewarding heritage data
Original source from which heritage information was derived
Divine conceptual entity in Hindu, Buddhist, or syncretic traditions. Distinct from physical representations (Murti) and ritual presences.
Known to have been destroyed; no physical remains
Event that destroyed or damaged a structure.
Pilgrim lodge operated by a Guthi organization
Stone spout (hiti) with carved imagery, used for ritual bathing and daily water supply
The intellectual or technical process of recording information about a heritage entity, aligning CIDOC E13 (Attribute Assignment) with PROV-O Activity.
Event of installing a deity's murti or symbol within a temple sanctum
Same deity in different traditions (e.g., Avalokiteshvara = Matsyendranath)
Large-scale community ritual event (Jatra) involving processions, music, and collective participation
The activity of measuring, photographing, or assessing a site in person.
The structured data or report resulting from a field survey.
Intrinsically syncretic deity merging multiple traditions
Endowed trust organization unique to Nepal, managing temples, rituals, and land through hereditary or voluntary membership
Controlled vocabulary of Guthi functional types (CRM E55_Type)
A single factual claim about a heritage entity, with explicit source, author, date, and confidence
Major event affecting heritage structures or ritual life (earthquake, epidemic, political transition, fire, flood).
Physical objects created by human activity
Reconstructed or theorized; never physically realized
Sacred visual art objects that depict or embody deities through iconographic conventions
A recorded piece of information about heritage
Ritual or administrative event that formally ends a Living Goddess tenure, marking the person's return to secular status. Common triggers include first menstruation, injury causing blood loss, or serious illness. This event terminates the divine embodiment and restores the girl to ordinary status.
Tantric ritual process of selecting a new Living Goddess from eligible candidates. Involves examination of 32 auspicious physical marks (lakshana), horoscope matching with the city and ruling authority, and tests of fearlessness (e.g., remaining calm among buffalo heads and masked dancers in darkness). Performed by committee of Vajracharya priests, royal priest (Raj Jyotish), and astrologer.
Time-bounded role where a person embodies a deity as Living Goddess (Kumari), residing at a specific god-house and supported by religious institutions. This class captures the unique Nepali tradition of living deity embodiment in young girls selected from Buddhist Shakya/Vajracharya families.
Existence documented but location/remains unknown
Festival featuring masked dancers embodying deities (e.g., Kartik Naach)
Physical substance used in construction or crafting
Consecrated statue of a deity, ritually activated to serve as divine presence (not merely depiction)
The interaction event between a researcher and a knowledge holder.
The recording or transcript of an oral history interview.
Traditional Newari scroll painting (thangka) with mandala and deity iconography
Individual person who performs, commissions, documents, or verifies heritage activities
Defined geographic location where events occur and structures exist
Pond or tank for water storage, ritual bathing, and ecological management
General ritual movement between locations
Event of creating an architectural structure, murti, or paubha
Procession with sacred relics between sites
Religious or philosophical tradition (e.g., Hindu, Buddhist, Syncretic)
Community structures for travelers and pilgrims, maintained by Guthi organizations
Intentional ritual activity that activates sacred space, invokes deities, and binds social groups
Multi-story rest house (3-5 floors) with ritual and social functions
Buddhist dome-shaped reliquary shrine (e.g., Boudhanath, Swayambhunath)
Formalizes the syncretic equivalence between divine entities across different theological frameworks. Following CIDOC CRM E13, it treats syncretism as a propositional claim with associated epistemic authority and provenance.
Method or craft process used in production or ritual
Sacred architectural structure legally classified as an 'Ancient Monument' under Nepal's preservation laws, characterized by deity enshrinement and ritual activation.
Event of transferring responsibility for temple maintenance, ritual performance, or artifact stewardship
Process of cross-checking heritage claims against multiple sources
Engineered water supply systems with ritual and civic significance
Group (Guthi, caste) responsible for ritual