Manat

Introduction

According to Arabic mythology, the goddess of death and faith was known as Manat. Her sacred place was a dark marble stone that was placed inside the temple of al-Mushalla, which was near the city of Yathrib. The people of the Yathrib tribe, who were known as Banu al-Khazraj and Banu Awas, worshipped her. In the Arabian Peninsula, she was also worshipped by members of the Hijaz tribe.

Prior to the emergence of Islam and the prophet Muhammad in the 7th century, this pre-Islamic goddess was worshipped in the Arabian Peninsula. She was one of the three chief deities of Mecca, alongside Al-‘Uzz and Al-Lat. She is regarded as the oldest and original of the three.

Physical Traits

The goddess usually depicted as an old, frail woman holding a vessel that is full of death. During her early appearances, she was depicted in various ways, such as a wooden portrait that was covered in blood. However, the most prominent statue of the goddess was the one that was erected at al-Mushalla. During their pilgrimage, the people of pre-Islamic Arabia would often stand in front of the idol for a long time, shave their head and considered an important stop in the pilgrimage.

Family

She was regarded as the oldest of the three goddesses and was considered next to her father, Allah (common name for god). Her sisters Allat and Al-‘Uzzá also had their own importance in the pantheon. The goddesses worshipped by the various tribes in the Arabian Peninsula were also known to protect their graves and calms. According to pre-Islamic beliefs, Allah stopped being active in the universe after he was created. He became a passive spectator as he rested.

The three daughters of the ruler acted as intermediaries between Allah and humankind, but they would only do so in desperate situations. She is often regarded as the mother, consort, or the warrior God known as Hubal. The god of storms, clouds, and thunder, known as Quzah, has also been associated with the goddess.

Other names

The goddess’ name has two possible meanings. One of these is that it means “to determine,” or “to mete out.” The other is that it means “to be determined.” Both meanings are fitting as she is the goddess of destinies and fate. According to some sources, the ancient Egyptians used the word maniya to refer to the future.

Powers and Abilities

The goddess was regarded as a great honor because she was able to bring death with her. She can help people cultivate their inner wisdom and allow them to experience a life filled with magic. As the goddess of time and death, she was depicted with the waning crescent moon over her head.

During the time of death, it was believed that the goddess was holding a vessel that was full of death. She was also believed to have been watching over graves. According to a tomb inscription, she and her sister, Qaysha, would curse anyone who purchased or sold a tomb. They would also make a gift or pledge or draw up documents related to the tomb.

Modern Day Influence

In 1024, during the time of Mahmud of the Ghazni, he attacked the Somnath temple located in India. According to court poet Farrukhi, who claimed to be a part of the group that carried out the raid, the attack was inspired by the belief that a hidden idol of the goddess was being stored in the temple.

The other goddesses’ images were destroyed in the raid, but the one of the goddess known as Manat was secretly stored in Kathiawar in modern Gujarat. Since the idol of this deity was aniconic, it could have easily been confused with a lingam statue at Somnath. According to the poet, Mahmud destroyed the idol and took its parts as loot. He then placed it on the ground in order for people to walk on it.