Ananta-shesha

Ananta-shesha

अनन्त-शेष, ananta-śeṣa, also आदिशेष, ādiśeṣa

ananta means eternal, infinite, innumerable, limitless in time and space;
ādi – elemental, initial, primordial;
śeṣa comes from the Sanskrit root शिष्, śiṣ and means "remnant", that which remains while everything else ceases to exist.

Ananta-shesha or Adi-shesha is the great thousand-headed serpent, naga, on which Vishnu rests, Ananta-Shayana (“he who sleeps on Ananta”). The thousand hoods of Ananta are the foundation, the support of the World. Adishesa represents That original which existed before the beginning of time, and That which remains even during periods of divine rest (when the world is again absorbed by the Creator), called the night of Brahma: "The Supreme God, who has absorbed all beings, sleeps on the lap of the serpent." ("Vishnu Purana", 1.2.64-65).

Adisesha resides in the lower world, wearing the entire universe as a diadem on his head. When he yawns, the earth and waters shake and tremble. Devas, Gandharvas, Nagas, Apsaras, Siddhas, Kinnaras, Uragasas, and Charanas are not able to sing praises of all His power, it is impossible to describe His true nature and the fullness of His qualities, that is why He is called Ananta (infinite).

केवलं ब्रह्ममात्रत्वादहमात्मा सनातनः ।अहमेवादिशेषोऽहमहं शेषोऽहमेव हि ॥ ३५॥

kevalaṃ brahmamātratvādahamātmā sanātanaḥ ।
ahamevādiśeṣo'hamahaṃ śeṣo'hameva hi ॥ 35॥

"Having the pure nature of Brahman, I am the eternal Atman. I alone am Adisesha (primordial Shesha). I alone am Shesha."

"Tejobindu Upanishad", 3.35.

Shesha belongs to the Nature of Brahman – eternity, intelligence, and bliss, He is self-manifested. Ananta-shesha has many mystical powers, including the ability to produce poison and fire, the size and strength to maintain the Earth, and also to destroy it at the end of Brahma's day. According to "Shrimad Bhagavatam" (5.25.3), when the time of pralaya comes, from the third eye of Ananta emanates Sankarshana, who has 11 Rudras as manifestations, which destroy the entire creation.

According to "Bhagavad Gita", the entire creation came from the Svabhava (nature) of the Atman (Supreme Self). Ananta is called by the name "Sankarshana" because he is the manifested symbol of "Aham" and the point of contact where the Seer and the Seen merge into one. Because Shesha appears of his own free will, He is also called "Svarat" – one who is completely independent. He is also completely transcendental and is not subject to the limitations of time and space. He is the thousand-headed lord of everything moving and immovable, he has endless forms, and this entire Universe rests on His head like a mustard bean. Residing at the bottom of the universe, Lord Ananta-deva easily supports this Earth for its protection, without outside help and independently.

Iconography

According to the Vishnu Purana, there is a form of Vishnu located under the seven Patalas, which is endless darkness, called Shesha, whose excellences neither the Daityas nor the Danavas can fully enumerate. The heavenly spirits call him Ananta. He is worshiped by sages and gods. Here numerous inhabitants of the Patala worlds and the great serpent gods bow down at the feet of Ananta, whose nature is radiant and beautiful. He has a thousand heads, adorned with a pure and visible mystical sign (svastika), and thousands of precious stones in his crests illuminate all regions of the universe. For the good of the world, he deprives the asuras of their power. He rolls his eyes furiously, as if intoxicated. He wears one earring, a diadem and a wreath on each forehead; and shines like white mountains crowned with flame. He is dressed in purple robes and adorned with a white necklace, and looks like another Kailash, with the heavenly Ganga flowing down its cliffs. In one hand He holds a plow and a pestle in the other; and He is accompanied by Varuni (the goddess of wine), who is His own incarnate radiance.

And in "Shantyadhyaya" of "Shivadharmashastra" the following description of Ananta-Naga is given (166-167):

āraktena śarīreṇa raktāntāyata-locanāḥ| mahā-bhogāḥkṛtāṭopāḥ śaṅkhā-abjāḥkṛta lanchaṇāḥ || Ananto-nāgarājendra Shiva parartane rataḥ| mahā pāpaviṣaṃ hatvā śāntim āśu karotu me||

“With a red body, elongated eyes, reddened at the edges, full of majesty in His huge hood marked with a conch shell and a lotus – may Ananta-naga, the king of kings (naga-rajendra), enjoying by praising Shiva’s feet, destroy the poison of the great evil and quickly grant me peace."

The Puranas describe the divine Ananta, endowed with innumerable virtues, powers (ananta-shakti), and innumerable forms (ananta-rupasta). It is said here that Ananta-purusha is incomparable (anantai-aprameya) and brilliant, with four faces and twelve arms. In his hands on the right side, Ananta holds ayudhas, such as gada (mace), chakra, khadga, vajra, and ankusha, and also shows varada-mudra. And in his hands on the left side Ananta holds ayudhas, such as dhana (bow), padma (lotus), khetaka (shield), shankha, danda, and pasha.

Story of Ananta’s Birth

According to "Valmiki Ramayana" (Aranyakanda, 14.7), Brahma came from Mahavishnu, and Prajapatis came from Brahma. Ananta is one of the Prajapatis.

According to the Navanaga tradition, Ananta, the king of Nagas, was the founder of the Naga dynasty; he was a holy man. He preferred to live in Gandhimadana Parvat (in the Himalayan region). From time to time he stayed deep inside the "Great Lake" (possibly Lake Manasa).

According to "Mahabharata" (Adi Parva, chapter 105, verse 41), Ananta was born from Prajapati Kashyapa and his wife Kadru. Kadru gave birth to a thousand snakes, of which Shesha was the eldest, and then Vasuki, Airavata, Takshaka, and others were born.

Ananta is not only the eldest of the clan, but also the most noble, wise, possessing a sublime worldview, ascetic character, and good disposition. But many of Shesha's brothers were cruel in nature and sought to harm others. Frustrated by the bad behavior of his mother and brothers, Shesha left home and his family to perform severe austerities and penance. He lived simply in the air and meditated in many places, including Gandhamadana, Badrikashrama, Pushkara, Gokarna, and the Himalayas.

Wanting to rise above the jealousy and envy that characterized his relatives, he plunged into prayerful meditation on Brahma. Pleased with his dedication and devotion, Lord Brahma appeared before Shesha and asked him about the boon he wanted. Shesha prayed that his heart may always rejoice in virtue and blessed repentance and that he may always keep his mind under control and continue his ascetic practices. Brahma happily granted him this boon and also gave him the boon that even when the entire world is destroyed by universal fire, Ananta will not perish. Brahma, admiring Shesha's self-denial and love for the world, orders him to go underground and balance it on his head. Shesha considered this an honor and happily accepted his new responsibility. He immediately went to Patala, raised his hood, and balanced the Earth above him.

Thus Ananta becomes a powerful Adishesha, single-handedly maintaining the world on the orders of Brahma. He also became a bed and canopy for Mahavishnu.

Adishesha reincarnates to support the avatars of Vishnu. When Vishnu descended on Earth as Rama, Shesha accompanied him as his devoted, ever-loving younger brother Lakshmana. When Vishnu manifested as Krishna, Shesha came with him as his elder brother Balarama.

Adishesha incarnates as Patanjali to honor Shiva as the first Teacher of Yoga and to see His Tandava dance.

Sage Garga, through worship of Ananta and by His grace, was able to master the sciences of astronomy, astrology, and cause-and-effect relationships (nimitta).

Adishesha – symbolism of Kundalini Shakti

Kundalini Shakti in its latent state is depicted as a coiled snake resting in the area of the muladhara-chakra. She awakens and rises through the practice of yoga.

The 1000 hoods of Shesha are an allegory of the sahasrara. Sahasrara, unlike other chakras, is located outside the human body. When Kundalini reaches this level, it no longer belongs to the realm of animal or human consciousness but becomes purely divine. This is the thousand-petalled lotus, leading to eternal, infinite, supreme existence. This is the seat of pure consciousness. When Kundalini rises from the root chakra to the sahasrara, energy and consciousness unite and samadhi is achieved.

Sheshanaga in the Nathas Tradition

Yoga is an internal worship leading to union with God. The gift Adishesha received from Lord Brahma, is the ability to control one’s mind, which is essentially the practice of yoga. The Nathas revere Anantashesha (Patanjali) as one of the Nava-nathas – Achalachambhenath, an expert in alchemy, the giver of underground treasures "nidhi".