Sheshnaag

The story of Sheshnaag is a fascinating one in Hindu mythology. According to the Puranas, Sheshnaag is said to be an eternal serpent with a thousand heads, who lives in the underwater kingdom of Patala. He is the king of all snakes and is also known as Ananta, which means "endless" or "infinite."

The birth of Sheshnaag is associated with the sage Kashyap and his wife Kadru. Kadru, who was the mother of all snakes, had cursed her children to die by the hands of Garuda, the eagle who was the enemy of the serpents. However, Sheshnaag was immune to the curse and went on to become the protector of the world.

During the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan), the gods and demons used Mount Mandara as the churning rod and Vasuki, another serpent, as the rope. Sheshnaag was called upon to hold the mountain in place and prevent it from sinking into the ocean. He coiled himself around the mountain and held it firmly, thereby ensuring that the churning could take place.

It is said that during the great deluge (Pralaya), Sheshnaag protected Lord Vishnu by keeping his head above the water. Vishnu was lying on Sheshnaag's coiled body, and Sheshnaag was able to keep his head above the water by expanding his hoods. Vishnu, in turn, used his Sudarshan Chakra to cut through the water and create a path for the boat that he was travelling in.

In one story, Sheshnaag witnessed Lord Shiva and Parvati performing a cosmic dance. Impressed by their beauty, Sheshnaag wished to have multiple heads like Shiva's matted hair. Shiva granted his wish, and Sheshnaag was born with five heads. He is sometimes depicted with five, seven, or even a thousand heads, each representing a different aspect of the divine.

In the epic Mahabharata, Sheshnaag is said to have advised Arjuna on the use of the divine weapon, Brahmastra, during the Kurukshetra war. He is also said to have taken the form of a bow during the wedding of Lord Rama and Sita, and to have acted as a bridge for Rama to cross the ocean and reach Lanka.

In Hindu mythology, Sheshnaag is a symbol of infinite power and eternal existence. He is often depicted as the support of the universe and the protector of the gods. The story of Sheshnaag continues to inspire awe and wonder in people even today.