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Mansa Devi

Manasa · Jagadgauri · Vishahari · Nagabhagini

  • Day: Panchami tithi, especially Nag Panchami
  • 3 Mantras
  • 1 Tirth
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Mansa Devi

About

Mansa Devi is the Mother believed to hear the wishes of the heart; 'mansa' means the wish of the mind. In the Puranas she is Manasa: the daughter born from the mind of Rishi Kashyap, sister of Vasuki, king of the nagas, and mother of the sage Astik. Her two best-known temples in North India are on Bilwa Parvat above Haridwar, one of the city's three Siddh Peeths, and at Panchkula near Chandigarh, where big fairs are held in Navratri. In Bengal and eastern India she is worshipped with great devotion as Manasa, goddess of the nagas, in the monsoon months of Shravan and Bhadra.

The story

Long ago, people on earth lived in fear of snakes and went to Rishi Kashyap for help. Guided by Brahma ji, Kashyap composed sacred mantras, and through his tapasya the goddess of those mantras was born from his mind; because she was born of the mind (man), she was named Manasa. While still a girl she went to Kailash and served Shiv ji with devotion for a thousand divine years, and Shiv ji gave her great knowledge. She also did tapasya for Shri Krishna, who was pleased, granted her a boon and worshipped her himself.

Kashyap married her to the sage Jaratkaru. Their son, Astik, grew up to be a wise sage. When King Janamejay held a great yagya to destroy all the nagas, it was Astik who had it stopped and saved them. That is why Mansa Devi is honoured as Astik's mother and the protector of the nagas.

In Haridwar a folk story is also told that Mansa came from the mind of Shiv ji. Not knowing who she really was, she did sadhana for years until Shiv ji revealed her truth to her. There, devotees tie a thread on a tree in the temple as a prayer, and later come back to untie it as thanks.

How they are shown

In the Devi Bhagavat dhyana, Mansa Devi is fair like a white champa flower; she wears jewels and pure, shining garments, and a serpent as her sacred thread. In common pictures she sits on a lotus under a canopy of cobra hoods, holding a conch, a lotus and a snake, with her fourth hand raised in blessing. The snakes show her as queen of the nagas, and the lotus stands for purity. In the Haridwar sanctum there are two murtis of her: one with eight arms, and one with three faces and five arms.

How to worship

Day

Panchami tithi, especially Nag Panchami

Offerings

Coconut, fruit, flower garlands and incense; milk as well on Nag Panchami

How

Place a picture of Mansa Devi in a clean spot and light a diya and incense. Offer flowers, fruit and a coconut. Chant 'Om Namo Manasayai' 108 times, or read her twelve names once with love. Many families do this puja on Panchami, especially on Nag Panchami in Sawan, when milk is offered too. Tell the Mother the wish in your heart as a simple prayer, and end with the aarti 'Jai Ambe Gauri'.

Their festivals

Aarti, chalisa and katha

Temples and tirth

Sources