manasa (, manasha) also known as manasa devi is the hindu goddess of snakes and poison. she is mainly worshiped by hindus for the prevention and cure of snakebites and infectious diseases like smallpox and chicken pox as well as for prosperity and fertility. she is also known as vishahara (the destroyer of poison), jagadgaurī, nityā (eternal) and padmavati. she stands for both 'destruction' and 'regeneration', almost akin to a snake shedding its skin and being reborn.