Behula’s Divine Voyage in Manasamangal To Save Her Husband Lakhindar's Life: The Eternal Saga of Love, Faith, and the Origin of Manasa Puja
Manasamangal, a genre of medieval Bengali epic poetry.
The Wrath of the Serpent Goddess
In the sacred land of Bengal, where faith and folklore flow like the mighty rivers, the story of Behula and Lakhindar (Lakhai) stands as a radiant symbol of love and devotion conquering divine wrath. It is said that in ancient times, the prosperous merchant Chand Sadagar, a devout follower of Lord Shiva, refused to acknowledge Manasa Devi, the goddess of serpents, as a deity worthy of worship. His denial was not mere arrogance—it was a declaration of unbending loyalty to Shiva. But to the goddess, it was an unforgivable insult.
Manasa Devi, determined to humble the merchant’s pride, unleashed her fury upon his household. One by one, six of Chand Sadagar’s sons perished from snake bites on their wedding nights. His riches turned to dust, his ships sank beneath the waves, yet he remained steadfast in his defiance. When his seventh and last son, Lakhindar, was born, the prophecy declared that his fate would be no different.
The Iron Bridal Chamber
Chand Sadagar, torn between his love for his last son and his devotion to Shiva, resolved to defy fate itself. He ordered Biswakarma, the divine architect, to build an iron bridal chamber—sealed, smooth, and flawless—to protect Lakhindar and his bride, Behula, from Manasa’s serpents. Legends tell that the chamber shimmered like molten silver in the sun, a fortress of faith against the unseen powers of destiny.
Yet, divine will cannot be walled away. Persuaded by Manasa, Biswakarma left a minute, invisible hole in one corner of the iron walls. On the wedding night, while the air still echoed with the blessings and songs of joy, Kalnagini, the serpent of death, slithered through that unseen crevice and struck Lakhindar. His body fell still, the bridal song turned to lament, and Behula’s world shattered into silence.
The Voyage of Love and Resolve
Tradition forbade cremation of those who died from snake bites, for their souls were bound by Manasa’s decree. But Behula, refusing to surrender to grief, resolved to challenge the gods themselves. Placing her husband’s lifeless body upon a raft made of banana trees, she set forth upon the river, a lone figure draped in sorrow and faith.
As her raft drifted across endless waters, the world seemed to test her spirit. She passed through burning deserts of despair and forests haunted by serpents and spirits. Temptations appeared before her in myriad forms—mirages of comfort, voices that promised her freedom if she abandoned the corpse she loved. Yet Behula’s heart was an unshakable flame. Night after night, she sang to her husband, her voice mingling with the murmurs of the river and the cries of unseen beings.
The verses of Manasamangal describe her as “the bride whose tears were pearls upon the river, whose faith outshone the sun.” She danced upon the raft in divine ecstasy, her movements invoking both grief and grace. Even the gods, it is said, paused to watch her unwavering devotion.
The Divine Audience
After long months of journeying, Behula reached the gates of the celestial realm. Her body was frail, yet her spirit blazed with divine strength. She stood before Lord Shiva and Manasa Devi, her plea echoing across the heavens. Her words were simple: she sought not glory, but the return of her husband’s life.
Moved by her love, the gods softened. Manasa herself, seeing the purity in Behula’s heart, relented. Lakhindar was restored to life, along with his six brothers, but on one condition—Chand Sadagar must finally offer worship to the serpent goddess.
The Return and Reconciliation
Behula returned to her homeland, radiant and victorious, her husband alive beside her. When Chand Sadagar saw his sons restored, his pride melted. He bowed to Manasa, though reluctantly, offering her the left-handed anjali, a symbolic act that acknowledged her divinity without forsaking Shiva. Thus began the worship of Manasa Devi, the protector from snakebite and the goddess of fertility and fortune, whose blessings are still sought in Bengal, Assam, and Bihar.
The Eternal Message
The story of Behula and Lakhindar is more than a tale of devotion; it is the eternal testimony of human faith overcoming divine challenge. Behula’s journey across the river of death symbolizes the soul’s passage through despair toward divine grace. Her triumph established not only the worship of Manasa but also the belief that love, when bound by faith, can awaken even the gods to compassion.
As the Manasamangal proclaims, “The faithful heart bends even the will of heaven.” Behula’s voyage remains, to this day, a living symbol of the strength of a woman’s devotion and the divine reward of unyielding faith.