The Worship of the Goddess Manasā: Healing and Praising through Mantras

Abstract

At the apex of the Bay of Bengal, the Hindu-Brahmanical snake goddess Manasā is praised as an ambiguous loving mother who protects from snakes’ venom and cures infertility in the soil and the womb. Manasā’s blessing or curse targets primarily Hindu women, who are often accused of provoking accidental and tragic events as consequences of immoral sexual conduct. Therefore, the primary devotees of Manasā and the traditional healers who often act in her name are primarily women. They engage in apotropaic rituals where the symbolic regulation of the goddess’ natural dissipative power is achieved through references to the nurturing force of motherhood. Practicing healing techniques, mostly reciting mantras, is believed to ward off snakebites, diseases, and infertility as expressions of the Goddess’ anger. Relying on data collected during preliminary research fieldwork, this presentation aims to shed light on the current activities of female worshippers of Manasā Devī from diverse social backgrounds, both as devotees and healers. More specifically, it aims to investigate the role of mantras within ethnomedical and ethno-gynaecological systems exercised by traditional healers, focusing on the interconnections between socioeconomic conditions, religious practices, and reproductive health among Hindu women from low-middle classes in the Birbhum district.