One-line: serpent goddess who protects snakes and appears in the Parikshit-Janamejaya background.
First appears: Book 9, in Book 9 retelling.
Who they are: Manasa is the serpent-linked goddess of Book 9. She matters because snakes are not a side issue in this Purana: Parikshit dies by Takshaka, Janamejaya tries to burn the snakes, and Astika stops him. Manasa belongs to that larger serpent world.
What they do that matters:
- Is described as mind-born and serpent-protecting.
- Connects to the snake lineage threatened by Janamejaya’s sacrifice.
- Shows how Book 9 turns many local goddess powers into parts of Prakriti.
Other names: None in this storybook layer.
Family / lineage (when relevant): Mind-born daughter of Kashyapa in the text’s account.