Manasa Devi Temple, Haridwar… Manasa Devi, is a goddess of snakes, worshipped mainly in north India, for getting recovered from problems caused due to snakebite and also will bless the childless couple and give them children. Her husband’s name is Jagatkaru, a great rishi, and their son’s name is Astika, a great serpent deity. The great Astika has freed his ancestors from the hell by performing rituals to them, and through his act, his ancestors were attained a permanent place in the heaven.
Mansa Devi Temple, Haridwar is a temple dedicated to Ma Mansa Devi in the holy city of Haridwar. The temple is located on the chain of the Himalayas. The temple, also known as Bilwa Tirth, that is it is one of the Panch Tirth (Five Pilgrimages) within Haridwar.
The temple is known for being the holy abode of Mansa Devi, a form of Shakti and is said to have emerged from the mind of the Lord Shiva. Mansa is regarded as the sister of the Nāga (serpent) Vasuki. She is also believed to be the daughter of Lord Shiva in his human incarnate. The term Mansa means wish and it is believed that the goddess fulfils all the wishes of a sincere devotee.
Mansa Devi Temple is a temple which would fulfil the desires of the devotees. It is one of three such Peeths located in Haridwar, the other two being Chandi Devi Temple and Maya Devi Temple. The inner shrine has two deities, one with eight arms and the other one with three heads and five arms.
To reach the shrine pilgrims must have to go on foot or ride a rope-way service. The rope-way service known as “Mansa Devi Udankhatola” is also used for transporting pilgrims to the nearly located Chandi Devi Temple. The rope-way carries the pilgrims from the lower station directly to the Mansa Devi Temple.
SONGS ON MA MANASA DEVI
“Jai, Jai, Ma Manasa Devi, Jai, Jai, you are the most favourite goddess for us, and you are the most beautiful goddess, you are considered to be the mother of snakes, and hence, please safeguard us from snake bites and from poisonous diseases”.
“You are the one, who would be present everywhere and anywhere in the earth. By chanting your glories, even the blind would be able to see the world, the dumb would be able to talk and the deaf would be able to hear”.
“Jai, Jai, Ma Manasa, you are called by various names like Sarvalankari, Ambigai, Easwari, Sri Devi, Jaganmatha, and Janani, you are the divine mother for us, since you are removing the tears from our eyes, during the times of our difficulties”.
“You are shining brightly like millions and millions of suns, your ornaments look very precious, you used to wear the beautiful fragrant flowers on your head and you used to hold the divine nectar pot on your hands, in order to remove our dreaded diseases”.
“Jai, Jai, Ma Manasa, you are the chief of the entire universe. Even the divine devas, sages and saints are obediently bowing their hands by praising your glories. You are the affectionate mother for us, since you have been taking care of us since from the time of our birth”.
“You are curing the diseases of your devotees within a fraction of seconds. And those people, who laugh at you, without knowing about your sanctity, generosity and purity, would have to suffer in their life”.
“Jai, Jai, Ma Manasa, even the sun, moon and the stars might fall from the skies, but you would never leave alone your devotees, and you would always protect them like their own mother”.
“You are the holy Ma Durga, Ma Nagathamman, Ma Simhavahini, you are the holy Ma Kali, and you are the holy Ma Bhairavi, and you are the most favourite goddess for us. We want to watch your divine beauty again and again, and we don’t want to see anything else, other than you”.
“OM MA MANASA DEVIYE NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R. HARISHANKAR