Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide by Roshen Dalal

Author:Roshen Dalal [Dalal, Roshen]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
ISBN: 9788184752779
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2014-04-18T04:30:00+00:00

Malukadasa died in 1682.

Mamalapuram A city in Tamil Nadu, also known as Mahabalipuram, famous for its rock-cut temples and reliefs, as well as for other temples. The early temples date back to the seventh and eighth centuries, when Mamalapuram was a port of the Pallava dynasty. These include eight rock-cut shrines, known as rathas, of which the five PANDAVA RATHAS are the most important. A rock relief, known as ARJUNA’S PENANCE, is carved in intricate detail. Among structural temples, the SHORE TEMPLE dates back to the eighth century. On a nearby granite hill, there are rock-cut cave temples. Other temples are located to the north and west.

According to tradition, the asura MAHABALI once ruled here and the place was named Mahabalipuram after him. As Mahabali oppressed the people, he was defeated by Vishnu as VAMANA. Later, the place was renamed Mamalapuram, after the Pallava king Narasimha Varman I, who was known as Mamalla (the great wrestler). Mamalapuram is also associated with BANA, son of Mahabali.

manas A Sanskrit term for MIND.

Manasa A goddess associated with snakes. She is usually depicted as a woman with seven snake hoods above her head, and often holds a snake as well. Manasa brings prosperity, protects worshippers from snakes, is the protector of children, and is also worshipped to obtain a child. She is a popular deity in Bengal, where MANASA MANGALAS, medieval texts in Bengali, narrate stories and legends about her, and describe methods of worship. She was probably initially a folk deity. In mythology, she is the sister of the NAGA king Shesha or ANANTA, and the wife of the rishi Jaratkaru. She is worshipped in other parts of India as well, particularly in Himachal. Though a snake deity, she is in a different category from other naginis, or snake goddesses. She has similarities with the goddesses Janguli of Buddhism, and Padmavati of Jainism.

Manasa-Mangalas A series of texts on the goddess MANASA, composed in medieval Bengal, mainly between the fifteenth and seventeenth centuries; the earliest was probably of the thirteenth or fourteenth century. The texts have similar themes, though the details vary in different versions. Broadly they can be classified in three groups: those from the Rarh area, composed by Bipradasa (Vipradasa), Ketakadasa, Kshemananda, Sitaramadasa, Rasik Mitra and others; those from east Bengal, usually known as Padma Purana, composed by Narayana Deva, Bijay Gupta, Bansidasa and others; those from north Bengal, written by Tantrabibhuti, Jagajjiban, Jivana Mitra, Bishnupala and others.

A Manasa-Mangala usually has three parts. The first and second parts vary, but the third usually has the same theme in all, the story of Chand Saudagar. The first part often deals with the birth of Manasa, her conflict with Chandi, and her marriage with Jaratkaru. In the second part, Manasa wants people to worship her. In some versions she manages to get the worship of cowherds, and some farmers and fishermen. But she wants others to worship her as well. The third part therefore deals with the merchant Chand, his refusal to worship her,

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