Hindu mythology is teeming with fascinating ... symbolizing abundance and the continuity of life. Manasa, the goddess of snakes, exemplifies this fertility aspect, as she is revered for her ...

Ash-smeared naked Hindu holy men charged into India's most sacred river Ganges at dawn on the first most significant bathing ...

Local beliefs, as chronicled by researcher Dipankar Thakuriya, tell the story of Chanda Saudagar's clash with Manasa, the Hindu snake goddess. Chanda's refusal to worship Manasa incited her wrath ...