Historical Period10c CE
Pre-Vedic tribal origin; puranic adoption c. 10th c. CE; peak literature 15th–18th c.
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Deities
Manasa Devi
Manasā Devī — snake-goddess of Bengal
Manasā Devī — snake-goddess of Bengal
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Manasā is the snake-goddess of Bengal, one of the most characteristic divinities of Bengali religious life, especially among the farmer and fisher communities of rural Bengal, Bihar, and Bangladesh. Her worship reaches peak intensity during the monsoon, when cobras are active and snake-bite deaths spike.
Manasā's origin appears to be pre-Brahminical tribal. In the Purāṇas she was gradually integrated as the daughter of Śiva (or in some versions of Kaśyapa), and sister of Vāsuki, king of serpents. The Manasā-Maṅgala epic literature (15th–18th c.) is devoted entirely to establishing her worship in Bengal — the central theme being the grudging acceptance of her divinity by orthodox-Shaiva householders.
The core Manasā story — Cāṇda Saudāgar's refusal, Lakhindara's snakebite death, Behulā's six-month river journey with her husband's corpse, her appeal to the gods — is one of the most celebrated narratives in Bengali literature. It has been retold by:
Behulā's fidelity and refusal to accept her husband's death is read in modern Bengali culture as a foundational image of female agency against patriarchal erasure — she argues with the gods and wins.
Manasā Pūjā is observed on Nāga Pañcamī (Śrāvaṇa Pañcamī, July–August) across Bengal:
Manasā's worship retains its non-Brahminical character. She is often the grāma-devī (village goddess) of non-Brahmin communities. Orthodox Brahmins historically refused to officiate at her pūjā; ritual is conducted by women, farmers, and fisher-caste priests.
