Shesha (Sanskrit: शेष, romanised: Śeṣa, lit. 'Remainder'), also known by his epithets Sheshanaga (Sanskrit: शेषनाग, romanised: Śeṣanāga, lit. 'The snake Shesha') and Adishesha (Sanskrit: आदिशेष, romanised: Ādiśeṣa, lit. 'First Shesha'), is a serpentine naga (serpent deity), and king of the serpents (Nagaraja), and a primordial being of creation in Hinduism. In the Puranas, Shesha is being described as holding the planets of the universe on his hoods while singing the praises of Vishnu from all his mouths. He is also known as Ananta (Sanskrit: अनन्त, lit. 'Without end') or Ananta Shesha (Sanskrit: अनन्त शेष, romanised: Ananta Śeṣa, lit. 'Endless Śeṣa/Remainder'). Vishnu, in his Narayana form, is traditionally depicted as resting on Shesha alongside his consort Lakshmi. Along with Garuda, Shesha is regarded as one of Vishnu's primary companions and mounts (vahana). Shesha is traditionally believed to have incarnated on Earth as Lakshmana, the younger brother of Vishnu's incarnation Rama during the Treta Yuga, and as Balarama, the elder brother of Vishnu's incarnation Krishna during the Dvapara Yuga. According to the Mahabharata (Adi Parva), his father was the sage Kashyapa and his mother was Kadru, although other traditions describe him as a primordial being created by Vishnu. His name translates to "he who remains", derived from the Sanskrit root śiṣ, referring to how Shesha endures unchanged even when the universe is dissolved at the end of each kalpa (cosmic cycle).
Form Shesha is generally depicted with a large coiled form floating through cosmic space or upon the Ocean of Milk, forming the bed upon which Vishnu rests. In iconography, he is depicted with multiple hoods—often five, seven or ten—though classical texts frequently describe him with one thousand crowned heads.
Origin and legends According to the Mahabharata, Shesha was the eldest of the one thousand serpents born to the sage Kashyapa and his wife Kadru. He was followed by Vasuki, Iravati and Takshaka. Many of his sepent siblings were described as cruel and were prone to inflicting harm on others. They were hostile toward Garuda, Kashyapa's son by Vinata; both Kadru and Vinata were daughters of Daksha. Distressed by the cruel conduct of his siblings, Shesha abandoned his kin, and undertook austere penances. He subsisted on air while meditating at sites such as Gandhamadana, Badarikashrama, Gokarna, Pushkara, and the Himalayas. Pleased by his severe penance and resolve, Brahma appeared and offered him a boon. Shesha requested that his mind remain steadfast in dharma (righteousness) and bhakti (devotion), which Brahma granted. Brahma then asked Shesha to stabilize the Earth by descending beneath it. Shesha entered the subterranean realm (Pātāla) and supported Bhūmi (Earth) upon his hood. He is traditionally believed to support her even today, thus making Patala his perennial residence.
Vishnu and Shesha Shesha is usually depicted as floating upon the cosmic ocean—the resting place of Vishnu in his primordial forms such as Narayana, Vāsudeva or Mahavishnu. In the Bhagavata Purana, Shesha is referred as Samkarshana, associated with the tamasic energy of Narayana, dwelling in the lower regions of Patala. Samkarshana is also one of the four vyuhas (theological emanations) of Vishnu alongside Vasudeva, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha. In Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Samkarshana is regarded an aspect of Vishnu who emanates as Garbhodakshayi—Vishnu at the beginning of the universe to create Brahma. The Puranas state that Samkarshana imparted the Bhagavata teachings to the Four Kumaras, through whom the knowledge was passed on to the sage Maitreya and subsequently to Vidura.
Marriage According to tradition, Shesha is married to Nagalakshmi. The Garga Samhita describes her as a personification of the Kshira Sagara (Ocean of Milk).
Avatars
In Sri Vaishnava tradition, Shesha is believed to have taken six incarnations on earth. During the Satya Yuga, he is described as appearing in his primordial form to provide a seat for Vishnu's avatar Narasimha following the defeat of demon-king Hiranyakashipu. During the Treta Yuga, Shesha was born as Lakshmana, the younger brother of Vishnu's avatar Rama in the Ramayana. His consort, Nagalakshmi, is traditionally described to be born as Urmila, Sita's sister. During Dvapara Yuga, he is described as incarnating as Balarama, the elder brother of Krishna. This is often disputed by the original line-ups of the Dasavatara, where Balarama is considered to be an incarnation of Vishnu. His consort was born as Revati, the daughter of King Kakudmi. In Sri Vaishnava tradition, Shesha manifested during the Kali Yuga as the grammarian Patanjali and Ramanuja to teach philosophy and devotion. In Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Shesha is believed to have incarnated as Nityananda, the companion of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who is regarded in that tradition as an avatar of Krishna.
Literature The Brahma Purana describes the attributes of Ananta:
Daityas and Dānavas are not capable of recounting his good qualities. He is honoured by Devas and celestial sages. He is spoken of as Ananta. He has a thousand hoods, and he is clearly bedecked in Svastika ornaments devoid of impurities. He illuminates all quarters by thousand jewels on his hoods. For the welfare of the universe, he deprives the Asuras of their prowess. His eyes whirl and rove due to intoxication. He has only one earring at all times. Wearing a crown and garlands he shines like a white mountain aflame with fire. He is clad in blue garments. He is intoxicated with pride. He is resplendent with white garlands. He is lofty like the mountain of Kailāsa where the celestial Gaṅgā falls. He has placed his hand on the plough-share; he holds an excellent iron club. He is attended upon by the embodied splendour of Varuṇa. At the end of the Kalpa, Rudra in the form of Saṅkarṣaṇa comes out of his mouth, blazing like the flame of poisonous fire and devours the three worlds.
He holds the entire sphere of the world rising above like a peak. The Brahmanda Purana also described Shesha in Patala:
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