Jamshedpur: Villagers of Mohlisol at Dhalbhumgarh sub-division under Ghatshila block near Jamshedpur under East Singhbhum district celebrated Maa Mansa Puja like every year. As part of the ritual, devotees coughtpoisonous snakes prior to puja from paddy fields and grow-up snakes in their cottages by giving milk and bath every day. As per the villagers, snake charmers celebrate this tradition of puja for over 150-years in this area in very traditional way of Santhal.
Mother Goddess Shakti manifests in many forms to protect her children. As Queen of Snakes, Manasa, She is the destroyer of poisons and protectress of men from reptiles. She is also known as Padvamati connected to the lotus leaf Goddess Lakshmi. As �Nagini� she annihilates poison. VasahariVidya, the science of poison removal is attributed to Goddess Manasa in the name of Vasahari. She the sister of Vasuki, the King of Snakes or Nagas. As snakes shed their skin to be reborn, Manasasymbolises destruction and regeneration.
Manasa is rendered as a minor deity in the Hindu pantheon. She thus shares such status with Sithala and Sasti. It is also said that the Sage Kashapa created Manasa from his mind � Mana, so she could control reptiles that were havocking the earth. Thus Brahma needed someone as presiding deity over the snakes.
Correspondingly Lord Krishna is said to have granted her divine status. Manasa is worshiped in Northeastern India, especially in Bengal where is known as Manasha.
Snake worship is a cult in many cultures. There is evidence of the origins of snake worship during the Indus valley Harappan culture. It is also a Siva seal that ties up a father-daughter relationship. As such it is not so much the fear of snakes but the symbolisms behind it that is revered. Generally snakes symbolise ego in Indian literature and gets mentioned in the Vedas, the Mahabaratha and Puranas.
Snakes leave their nesting ground and come out to the open during the monsoon season. This corresponds to July � August when getting bitten by snakes is significantly higher. Generally offerings are made to her without any image of her Deity being made. She is represented as prakriti. Nature represents her in the form of a tree branch, a pan of water � the �manasa-bari� symbolising fertility. Manasar-bari puja is undertaken by women wishing motherhood.
In the rural setting, special murtis are also sculptured and poisonous snakes are displayed on the altar. Clay pots filled with water, garlands, conch shells, iron bangles, red saris, incense and milk, boiled eggs and food offerings are common. Iron bangles represent enslavement or bond to the goddess and red saris are indicative of Shakti. Sji twig wrapped in red cloth is also offered.
Devotees pay obeisance to Goddess Manasa by chanting mantras and offering sacrifices. Goats are slaughtered in some places; communal cooking takes place as part of the prayer and to receive her prasada.
