Manasa

Manasa is a goddess of snakes and poison, primarily worshipped in Bengal and Northeast India. Her origins are rooted in both Vedic and Puranic traditions. In the Rigveda, the term 'manasa' appears in hymns related to healing and protection from poison (Rigveda 10.97), though the goddess as a distinct deity emerges later. The Puranas, particularly the Skanda Purana and the Brahma Vaivarta Purana, describe her as the daughter of the sage Kashyapa and Kadru, the mother of serpents, or alternatively as the daughter of Shiva.

According to the Devi Bhagavata Purana, she is a form of the primordial goddess Shakti, embodying the power to control and heal poison. Iconographically, Manasa is depicted with four arms, seated on a lotus or a snake, holding a snake, a lotus, a water pot, and a fruit. She is often shown with a veil and a serene yet powerful expression, symbolizing her dominion over dangerous forces and her ability to transform poison into healing. Principal myths include her struggle for recognition among the gods and humans, as narrated in the Manasa Mangal Kavya, a medieval Bengali text.

One famous episode involves her conflict with the merchant Chand Saudagar, who initially refused to worship her; after she killed his sons, he eventually submitted, and she revived them. This story highlights her fierce nature and the importance of devotion. In regional worship, Manasa is venerated during Manasa Puja and Nag Panchami, especially in West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, and Bihar. Her temples often feature snake motifs, and devotees offer milk, flowers, and prayers for protection against snakebites and for fertility.

In Hindu cosmology, Manasa represents the power of nature's dangerous aspects—poison and serpents—and the divine ability to neutralize them, serving as a reminder of the balance between destruction and preservation. Her worship underscores the belief that even deadly forces can be appeased and transformed into blessings.

Four-armed, seated on lotus or snake. Holds snakes, lotus, water pot, and fruit. Often depicted with a veil. Serene, powerful expression.