Shesha, also known by his epithets Sheshanaga and Adishesha, is a serpentine demigod (naga) and Nagaraja, as well as a primordial being of creation in Hinduism. In the Puranas, Shesha is said to hold all the planets of the universe on his hoods and to constantly sing the glories of Vishnu from all his mouths. He is sometimes referred to as Ananta Shesha, "Endless-Shesha", or Adishesha, the "First Shesha". It is said that when Shesha uncoils, time moves forward and creation takes place; when he coils back, the universe ceases to exist.
Idol of Shesha, Kathmandu
Narayana resting on Adhishesha, with his consort Lakshmi massaging his feet
As Lakshmana, Shesha accompanied his lord in his Rama avatar.
As Balarama, Shesha accompanied Vishnu in his Krishna Avatar.
In various Asian religious traditions, the Nagas are a divine, or semi-divine, race of half-human, half-serpent beings that reside in the netherworld (Patala), and can occasionally take human or part-human form, or are so depicted in art. A female naga is called a Nagi, or a Nagini. Their descendents are known as Nagavanshi. According to legend, they are the children of the sage Kashyapa and Kadru. Rituals devoted to these supernatural beings have been taking place throughout South Asia for at least 2,000 years. They are principally depicted in three forms: as entirely human with snakes on the heads and necks, as common serpents, or as half-human, half-snake beings in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.
A Naga couple, featured as a Hoysala relief
Patanjali as Śeṣa.
Mucalinda sheltering Gautama Buddha (Buddha in Naga Prok attitude) at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Nāga at the steps of a building in the Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok.