The Goddess of Ambiguity: Representations of Power and Exploitation in Ketakadas Kshemananda's Manasamangal
The Mangalkavyas are an important cultural text in the region surrounding Bengal. Not only does the text define the cultural scenario of the region, but also highlights the literary development of the period of its composition. Ketakadas Kshemananda's Manasamangal first popularised in 1770, is...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | |
| WorldCat: | WorldCat |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2021
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| In: |
Nidān
Year: 2021, Volume: 6, Issue: 1, Pages: 18-32 |
| Further subjects: | B
Narratives
B Snake B Goddess B Gender B Exploitation |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (kostenfrei) |
| Summary: | The Mangalkavyas are an important cultural text in the region surrounding Bengal. Not only does the text define the cultural scenario of the region, but also highlights the literary development of the period of its composition. Ketakadas Kshemananda's Manasamangal first popularised in 1770, is a eulogy on the Goddess Manasa. Manasa, the goddess of snakes is an important deity in the lower Gangetic region, an area infested with snakes. Communities unable to secure safety from snakes and snakebites, worship of the deity, as a ritual means of protecting themselves from snakebite. This paper focuses on mythological conflicts between Manasa and various figures, to highlight themes of power and cult competition, embedded within the text. The representation of women, especially, in the goddess's quest for power in a world dominated by Shiva, constitutes the main interest in this paper., |
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| ISSN: | 2414-8636 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Nidān
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.58125/nidan.2021.1 |