The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism (2 Vol Set)

of Hindu philosophy, manas is one of
the stages in the devolution of prakrti
(primal matter), resulting in the world
that we see around us, in which human
souls are subject to reincarnation (sam-
sara). Manas evolves from the step
known as ahamkar—the stage marked
by the first sense of Self and subjectivity.
The mind (manas) develops as the
source of intellectual activity which, col-
ored by this feeling of subjectivity, cre-
ates the notion of an individual identity.
According to the Samkhyas, concurrent
with this mental identity comes the
development of the individual’s sense
organs (jnanendriyas) and the organs of
action (karmendriyas), as well as the
subtle elements (tanmatras) that are the
source for the world’s material objects.
Although later philosophical schools
largely rejected Samkhya cosmology,
manas became generally accepted as
one of the five human sense organs. As
the eye perceives sight and the ears per-
ceive sound, the manas perceives men-
tal objects (ideas), allowing the subject
to experience them.

Manasa

Manasa is a regional goddess consid-
ered to be a form of the Goddess. She is
worshiped mainly in eastern India, and

is primarily associated with snakes and

snakebites. As with Shitala, the goddess,

whose divine presence was considered

to be revealed by infection with small-

pox, Manasa’s divine presence comes

violently with snakebites, considered

a form of divine possession. This con-

ception shows the ambivalent nature

of many regional goddesses who are

both powerful and dangerous. When

Manasa appears, it is always traumatic,

and sometimes tragic; such is the nature

of human interactions with divinity.

Manasa is worshiped both to keep

people free from snakebites—a very

real concern in an agricultural country

with highly venomous snakes—or for

the recovery of a person who has been

bitten. Her worship is marked by

annual festivals at which people sing

songs in her honor, and which are

often marked by divine possession and

snake-handling.

Manasarovar

Lake and sacred site (tirtha) close to the

base of Mount Kailasin Tibet. Pilgrims

walking around Mt. Kailas traditionally

begin their circuit with a bath in the lake

before proceeding to the mountain. The

lake is traditionally thought to be one of

the Shakti Pithas, a network of sites

Manasarovar

Pilgrims circling Mt. Kailas traditionally begin the journey with a bath at Manasarovar.