Shesha Naga

Shesha Naga, also known as Ananta or Adishesha, is the king of the serpentine Nagas and a foremost devotee of Vishnu. In Hindu cosmology, he serves as the divine couch upon which Vishnu reclines during the cosmic sleep of pralaya, floating on the causal ocean (Kshira Sagara). The Bhagavata Purana (10.1.16) describes Shesha as bearing the entire universe on his thousand hoods, symbolizing the infinite and eternal foundation of existence. His name 'Shesha' means 'that which remains' after the dissolution of the cosmos, indicating his role as the residual principle that sustains creation.

The Mahabharata (Adi Parva 36) narrates that Shesha, weary of bearing the earth, was granted the boon of becoming the support of all worlds by Brahma. Iconographically, Shesha is depicted as a massive serpent with a thousand hoods, each adorned with a jewel, floating on the cosmic ocean. Vishnu is shown reclining on his coils, with Lakshmi at his feet, in the posture of Ananta Shayana. In some traditions, Shesha is also portrayed in human form with a serpent hood, holding a plough and a pestle, as an avatar of Balarama.

The Skanda Purana (Kashi Khanda) recounts the episode where Shesha, as the serpent king, churned the ocean with the gods and demons to obtain amrita. Regional worship is especially prominent in South India, where temples like the Adishesha Temple in Tiruvallur and the Anantha Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram honor him. On Naga Panchami, devotees offer milk and prayers to serpent idols, seeking protection from snakebites and blessings for progeny. In Hindu cosmology, Shesha represents the unmanifest substratum of the universe, the endless cycle of time, and the unwavering support of dharma.

His thousand hoods are said to hold the planets and stars, and his yawns cause earthquakes. As the eternal servant of Vishnu, Shesha embodies the principles of devotion, endurance, and cosmic order.

Giant serpent with a thousand hoods, floating on the cosmic ocean. Vishnu reclines upon him. Sometimes depicted with human form holding a serpent.