Mythical Stories About The Sheshnag

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The Sheshnag is a mythical creature which is very commonly seen in Hindu mythology. Sheshnag is usually depicted as a snake with 5 or 7 heads. However, the Vedic scriptures describe it as a snake with a 1000 heads. The Sheshnag occupies a very interesting position in Hindu mythology. Snakes in Hinduism are given divine status. But, the Sheshnag is no common serpent.

Sheshnag is Krishna's constant companion. The baby Krishna also danced on the serpent's enormous hood. That is why, this creature occupies a privy position in Hindu mythology. According to the legend, Shesha was born to the sage Kasyapa and his wife Kadru. He was the eldest and the noblest of the other 1000 serpents born to them. He went through hard years of penance and gained the position of Krishna's 'vahan'.

The Sheshnag is often referred to as 'Ananta' or the eternal. This is because the term, 'Shesha' basically means 'the one that remains'. The Sheshnag is supposed to be an eternal creature that will remain even after the world undergoes destruction or 'Pralay'. The Sheshnag has not been spotted since ancient times. However it is believed that the gigantic serpent lives in the Sheshnag Lake near Amarnath, in Kashmir.

The Sheshnag appears in many mythical Hindu stories. Here are some of the most prominent ones.

Vishnu's Floating Umbrella

The most popular depiction of the Sheshnag is the umbrella covering Lord Vishnu and Devi Lakshmi. When Vishnu rests in the divine slumber, it is one Sheshnag's coiled body where He rests. This head is covered by the serpent's gigantic hood as He floats in the ocean of milk.

Baby Krishna

When Vasudev was transporting his son Krishna from the prison in Mathura to Gokul, he had to cross the Yamuna. It was raining heavily and baby Krishna was being carried in an open basket. At this point of time, the Sheshnag rose from the river and formed an umbrella with his hood over baby Krishna's head.

The Samudra Manthan

Neither the Gods nor the Asuras were immortal forever. They had to churn the great ocean of milk to get the elixir or 'amrit' which would be the essence of eternal life. The Gods and Asura's could not find a long enough rope to churn such a huge ocean. The Sheshnag volunteered to be the rope with which the ocean was churned.

These are some interesting myths about the Sheshnag. Do you know any others?