Snakes are also popularly associated with Shri Vishnu and other divinities, including Indra, who rides an elephant called Nagendra, the lord of the snakes, which is probably a reference to Indra's control over the snake world.
In the Bhagavadgita, Lord Krishna says, "Among the serpents I am Ananta." Ananta or the Adisesha is the infinite divine snake with its endless coils floating in the waters of creation, upon which Shri Vishnu Narayana Rests. Ananta represents the infinite eternal materiality or primal energy (mula-prakriti). Upon activation, a small part (amsa) of it differentiates into subtle (suksma) and gross (suksham) realities (tattvas) which combine to manifest as the whole diversity we experience through our senses. The serpent below Vishnu is the primal Prakriti. The Lakshmi above, sitting at the feet of Vishnu, is the activated Prakriti. The waters or the ocean upon which all this floats represents avyakta Brahman or Unmanifested Brahman.
The Puranas mention several large serpentine deities like Kadru, Manasa, Vinata and Asitka. Vasuki the king of snakes, played a vital role in the churning of the oceans. Several myths, beliefs, legends and scriptures are associated with snakes. Snakes were used in warfare and snake poison was often used in palace intrigues. ๐ฆ
Jai Shri HariHara ~ Jai Shri ShankarNarayana! ๐๐ป๐๐ป๐๐ป
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