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| SHESHNAG - THE INFINITE - THE BED ON WHICH VISHNU
RESTS |
SHESH NAG (the serpent god) comprises an important part of Hindu mythology. As
the reclining couch and the roofing canopy of the god Vishnu, it has been a god
venerated by all and worshipped by many for centuries.
It is considered to be the king of the serpent race and the ruler of the infernal
regions called PATAL. God Vishnu sleeps over the bed of its coils during intervals
of creation. Shesh Nag is also represented as one supporting the world on its
hood.
The Nags have three Kings, VAASUKI, TAKSHAK and SHESH. Shesh
is said to represent the 'remainder' when the universe is destroyed and the power
of creation (Lord Vishnu) rests on its coils. The Nags are dwelling in an underworld, called NAG
LOKA, which is an immense domain crowded with palaces, houses, towers and pleasure
gardens.
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| ANANTA - THE TIMELESS |
According to Varaha Purana, three of the lower worlds, PATAL, ATAL and SUTAL
belong to the Nags. Their favorite places of visitations are the banks of river,
IKSHUMATI, the NAIMISH forest on the shores of the GOMATI, the northern banks
of the GANGA and the NISHAD land. They also dwell under the sea.
These nags are not always the enemy of man and they even inter marry with them.
Arjun of Mahabharata married a Nag girl named Uloopi. Shesh
Nag is the serpent with a thousand heads and is also called 'ANANTA ', the timeless,
because it does not die with destruction of the universe.
All serpents are of divine extraction, because they are the children of Kadru,
who herself is the descendant of Kashyap. The main city of Nags is Bhogvati (the
city of pleasures), where Shesh appears like the White Mountain adorned with
gems. The later Purana identify Shesh even with Krishna as Vishnu. Shesh is said
to be the soul of Krishna's brother Balrama. Thus Shesh emerged from the body
of dying Balrama and entered the earth, where he received a warm welcome by all
other serpents. |
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