Historical Studies in The Cult of The Goddess Manasa (A Socio Cultural Study)

This is a thorough and critical study of the cult of the Goddess Manasa-a study which throws valuable light on some features of the socio-cultural history of the country. The introduction deals with the nature, importance and scope of the subject. Sources are also discussed. The first chapter outlines the history of ophiolatry in Ancient India. In Chapter II the author traces the socio-religious background of Bengal from the 8th-12th centuries – a period when Manasa evolved and found a foothold in Bengali Society. The third chapter narrates the stories of Manasa written in Bengali, Asamese and Bihari, and found in the Puranas for comparative study and their analysis.