Shesha, also known as Ananta or Adishesha, is a divine serpent deeply respected in Hindu traditions. His name means "the remainder," as he is said to exist even after the universe ends and remains steady through all cycles of creation and destruction.
Shesha is often shown as a massive serpent of lord Vishnu with many hoods, holding the planets on his coils and hoods. He symbolizes stability and balance in the universe. Shesha is also a devoted companion of Lord Vishnu and continuously praises him.
In many images, Lord Vishnu rests on Shesha in the cosmic ocean, with Goddess Lakshmi by his side. This scene represents peace, harmony, and the eternal nature of creation.
Shesha has also appeared on Earth in human forms. He was Lakshmana, the loyal brother of Lord Rama during the Treta Yuga, and Balarama, the elder brother of Lord Krishna during the Dvapara Yuga.
Born to sage Kashyapa and Kadru, Shesha was the eldest among his thousand serpent siblings. Troubled by their unkindness, he chose to leave them and lived a life of meditation and penance. Pleased with his devotion, Lord Brahma blessed him with great self-control and asked him to support the Earth. Shesha agreed and coiled himself in the netherworld to hold the Earth steady, where he is believed to remain even now.
Shesha represents strength, balance, and eternal devotion, reminding us of the unchanging truth in a constantly changing world.
Shesha’s Role in Hinduism
Shesha is best known for being the divine couch or resting place of Lord Vishnu. In many depictions, Vishnu is shown reclining on Shesha, with the serpent’s many hoods forming a majestic canopy over him. This imagery conveys the idea that Vishnu, the preserver of the universe, rests upon Shesha, signifying the balance of creation and the eternal nature of the divine.
Shesha's role goes beyond simply serving as a bed for Vishnu. In Hinduism, Shesha is often considered to be the personification of the cosmic serpentine energy that upholds the universe. It is said that when Vishnu awakens to create or destroy the world, Shesha plays a part in supporting the divine process of creation and dissolution.
Shesha's role goes beyond simply serving as a bed for Vishnu. In Hinduism, Shesha is often considered to be the personification of the cosmic serpentine energy that upholds the universe. It is said that when Vishnu awakens to create or destroy the world, Shesha plays a part in supporting the divine process of creation and dissolution.
Story of Shesha The Serpent Count of Vishnu
According to the Mahabharata, Shesha was born to the sage Kashyapa and his wife Kadru. Kadru gave birth to a thousand serpents, with Shesha being the eldest among them. Following Shesha, other serpents like Vasuki, Iravati, and Takshaka were born. However, many of Shesha’s siblings were cruel and caused harm to others. They even mistreated Garuda, their half-brother, who was born to Kashyapa and Vinata (Kadru’s sister).
Disgusted by the violent nature of his brothers, Shesha chose to leave his family and live a life of austerity. He embarked on severe penances, meditating in remote and sacred places like Gandhamadhana, Badrikashrama, Gokarna, Pushkara, and the Himalayas. His penance was so intense that his flesh, skin, and muscles dissolved into his form.
Seeing Shesha’s determination, Brahma, the creator god, was moved and granted him a boon. Shesha requested that he be able to control his mind so that he could continue his ascetic practices without distraction. Brahma granted this wish and then asked Shesha for a favor: to stabilize the Earth. Shesha accepted the task and went to the netherworld, where he used his coils to support the Earth, ensuring its stability. Since then, Shesha has been believed to reside in Patala, the underworld, continuously supporting the Earth.
Shesha’s connection with Lord Vishnu is deeply rooted in Hindu cosmology. He is often depicted as floating in the cosmic ocean, forming the bed upon which Sri Vishnu rests in his primordial form, as Narayana or Mahavishnu. In the Bhagavata Purana, Shesha is identified as Sankarshana, the tamasic aspect of Vishnu.
He resides in the depths of Patala, where he rules over a realm filled with serpents called Nagaloka, many of whom wear gems on their heads. Shesha, according to these texts, existed before the creation of the universe. As the universe approaches its end, Shesha creates the eleven Rudras from his serpentine form to destroy the old world, allowing a new one to emerge.
Sankarshana, as one of Vishnu’s four vyuhas (divine emanations), plays a key role in the divine order. The other vyuhas are Vasudeva, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha. In some traditions, Sankarshana is also seen as Garbhodakshayi-Vishnu, the form of Vishnu who, in the beginning of creation, creates Brahma. In this way, Sankarshana is considered to be an expansion of Vishnu himself.
In the Puranas, Sankarshana is said to have taught the Bhagavata to the Four Kumaras, who passed on this wisdom to others, including sage Maitreya, who eventually imparted it to Vidura.
In some legends, Shesha is married to Nagalakshmi, who personifies the divine ocean, Kshira Sagara. According to the Garga Samhita, Nagalakshmi is considered the goddess of the ocean and the consort of Shesha, further emphasizing his connection to the cosmic forces that sustain the universe. Sri Vishnu resting on Shesha is a very famous motif in Indian art and this form is known as Ananta Shayana Vishnu.
Disgusted by the violent nature of his brothers, Shesha chose to leave his family and live a life of austerity. He embarked on severe penances, meditating in remote and sacred places like Gandhamadhana, Badrikashrama, Gokarna, Pushkara, and the Himalayas. His penance was so intense that his flesh, skin, and muscles dissolved into his form.
Seeing Shesha’s determination, Brahma, the creator god, was moved and granted him a boon. Shesha requested that he be able to control his mind so that he could continue his ascetic practices without distraction. Brahma granted this wish and then asked Shesha for a favor: to stabilize the Earth. Shesha accepted the task and went to the netherworld, where he used his coils to support the Earth, ensuring its stability. Since then, Shesha has been believed to reside in Patala, the underworld, continuously supporting the Earth.
Shesha’s connection with Lord Vishnu is deeply rooted in Hindu cosmology. He is often depicted as floating in the cosmic ocean, forming the bed upon which Sri Vishnu rests in his primordial form, as Narayana or Mahavishnu. In the Bhagavata Purana, Shesha is identified as Sankarshana, the tamasic aspect of Vishnu.
He resides in the depths of Patala, where he rules over a realm filled with serpents called Nagaloka, many of whom wear gems on their heads. Shesha, according to these texts, existed before the creation of the universe. As the universe approaches its end, Shesha creates the eleven Rudras from his serpentine form to destroy the old world, allowing a new one to emerge.
Sankarshana, as one of Vishnu’s four vyuhas (divine emanations), plays a key role in the divine order. The other vyuhas are Vasudeva, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha. In some traditions, Sankarshana is also seen as Garbhodakshayi-Vishnu, the form of Vishnu who, in the beginning of creation, creates Brahma. In this way, Sankarshana is considered to be an expansion of Vishnu himself.
In the Puranas, Sankarshana is said to have taught the Bhagavata to the Four Kumaras, who passed on this wisdom to others, including sage Maitreya, who eventually imparted it to Vidura.
In some legends, Shesha is married to Nagalakshmi, who personifies the divine ocean, Kshira Sagara. According to the Garga Samhita, Nagalakshmi is considered the goddess of the ocean and the consort of Shesha, further emphasizing his connection to the cosmic forces that sustain the universe. Sri Vishnu resting on Shesha is a very famous motif in Indian art and this form is known as Ananta Shayana Vishnu.
Shesha’s Importance in the Cosmic Cycle
Shesha is said to hold the entire universe on his vast coils, and his role is directly linked to the cosmic cycles of creation, preservation, and destruction. He is often associated with the constant and unchanging nature of time. Just as time itself is infinite, Shesha's form is endless, representing the unceasing flow of existence.
In some versions of Hinduism, Shesha is believed to have been created by the sage Kashyapa, and he is regarded as the king of all serpents (Nāga). His significance is immense, as he is considered the protector of the world, preventing the earth from sinking into the ocean and maintaining the stability of the cosmos.
In some versions of Hinduism, Shesha is believed to have been created by the sage Kashyapa, and he is regarded as the king of all serpents (Nāga). His significance is immense, as he is considered the protector of the world, preventing the earth from sinking into the ocean and maintaining the stability of the cosmos.
Shesha and Lord Vishnu: An Eternal Connection
The most famous depiction of Shesha is as Lord Vishnu’s reclining couch. The image of Vishnu, lying peacefully on Shesha in the cosmic ocean, is a beautiful representation of the harmony between the divine and the eternal forces that maintain the universe. The image is symbolic of the fact that even in the face of destruction and chaos, the divine remains calm and balanced, resting on the infinite and eternal Shesha.
Shesha is also said to take different forms in different ages or Yugas. In some stories, Shesha is reincarnated as a human or a demigod to carry out specific tasks, but his core identity remains the same – that of the eternal serpent who supports the divine plan of the universe.
Shesha is also said to take different forms in different ages or Yugas. In some stories, Shesha is reincarnated as a human or a demigod to carry out specific tasks, but his core identity remains the same – that of the eternal serpent who supports the divine plan of the universe.
Shesha in the Scriptures
Shesha is mentioned in many ancient Hindu scriptures, including the Vishnu Purana and the Bhagavata Purana. In these texts, Shesha is depicted not only as a divine companion of Vishnu but also as a protector of the universe. He is often seen in the stories that describe the creation of the world or the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan), where Shesha plays a crucial role in ensuring the stability of the universe.
Symbolism of Shesha
Shesha is more than just a divine serpent; he represents several profound concepts in Hinduism:
- Cosmic Order: Shesha’s role in holding the world and supporting Lord Vishnu emphasizes his connection to the cosmic order. He embodies the balance between creation and destruction, representing stability amidst change.
- Eternal Time: His name, Ananta, speaks to the infinite nature of time. Just as Shesha’s body is boundless, so too is the passage of time, which is eternal and unbroken.
- Divine Protection: As Vishnu’s couch, Shesha protects the god and, by extension, the entire universe. His presence symbolizes the constant vigilance required to maintain the balance of the cosmos.
Conclusion
Shesha, the eternal and divine serpent of lord Vishnu, holds a profound place in the spiritual understanding of cosmic balance and stability. His unending devotion to Lord Vishnu, his role in supporting the Earth, and his representation of infinite time make him a powerful symbol of continuity and harmony in the universe.
The imagery of Shesha—whether as the majestic serpent cradling Vishnu in the cosmic ocean or as the unshakable force stabilizing the Earth—reminds us of the eternal connection between the divine and the cosmos. Shesha's existence speaks to the timeless truths of resilience, devotion, and the interconnectedness of all life. His stories inspire reverence for the cosmic order and the infinite energy that sustains it, inviting us to reflect on the eternal balance within our own
The imagery of Shesha—whether as the majestic serpent cradling Vishnu in the cosmic ocean or as the unshakable force stabilizing the Earth—reminds us of the eternal connection between the divine and the cosmos. Shesha's existence speaks to the timeless truths of resilience, devotion, and the interconnectedness of all life. His stories inspire reverence for the cosmic order and the infinite energy that sustains it, inviting us to reflect on the eternal balance within our own
