Manasā Devī Stotra

The Manasā Devī Stotra praises Manasā Devī as the presiding devī (adhidevatā) of all serpents and all mantras. She is the daughter of Kaśyapa Maharshi, a great yoginī and a devotee of Bhagavān Vishṇu. Nārāyaṇa Muni taught the stotra, with her pūjā, to Nārada. It is found in the Prakṛti Khaṇḍa of the Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, chapters 45 and 46. Reciting it protects from snake bites and from all poisons.

The setting

Nārāyaṇa Muni first told Nārada the upākhyāna (account) of Manasā Devī. It tells of her birth as the daughter of Kaśyapa, of her tapas for three lakh divine years for Śrī Hari, of her learning under Bhagavān Śiva, of her marriage to Jaratkāru Maharshi, and of the birth of Āstīka.

After this, Nārāyaṇa Muni taught Nārada the stotra and the pūjā of Manasā Devī. They are practised all over Bhārata for protection from serpents, from poisons and from every kind of danger. (Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Prakṛti Khaṇḍa, chapters 45–46)

The stotra

Manasā Devī is praised as:

  • Manasā: born from the mind (manas) of Kaśyapa, or from the mind of Bhagavān Śiva
  • Jaratkāru: her other name, showing that she is the beloved of her husband Jaratkāru
  • Vishahārā: destroyer of all poisons
  • Siddha-yoginī: a perfected yoginī
  • Vishṇu-bhaktā: the highest devotee of Bhagavān Vishṇu
  • Sarpa-nāyikā: ruler of all serpents
  • Ananta-svasā: sister of Ananta (Śesha), the king of serpents
  • Brahma-bhāvinī: always absorbed in brahma-bhāva, the contemplation of Brahman
  • Sarvamantrahishṭhātrī: the presiding devī over all mantras
  • Brahmatejasā-virājitā: shining with the splendour of Brahman

The verse, in plain English:

O Manasā, O Jaratkāru! You destroyed the poison of the great serpents by your look alone. Protect me. You did tapas for three lakh divine years for the sake of Śrī Hari. By the fruit of that tapas, take all poisons out of my body. O daughter of Kaśyapa, sister of Ananta, mother of Āstīka, give me your protection. I bow to you with devotion.

(Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Prakṛti Khaṇḍa, chapters 45–46)

The phalaśruti

A person who reads this stotra every day, above all on Nāga-pañcamī (the fifth day of Śrāvaṇa), is protected from all danger from serpents. If a snake has bitten someone and this stotra is recited over that person, the poison leaves the body. The stotra also gives:

  • freedom from all fears
  • protection while travelling through forests
  • the grace of Manasā Devī, who shows the highest jñāna (knowledge) to her devotees
  • protection of children from snake bites

The mūla mantra

The mūla mantra (root mantra) of Manasā Devī is:

Oṃ Hrīṃ Śrīṃ Manasādevyai Namaḥ

(Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Prakṛti Khaṇḍa, chapters 45–46)

Sources

  • Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Prakṛti Khaṇḍa, chapters 45–46