Editing Shesha (section)

===Vishnu and Shesha===

Shesha is usually depicted as floating in the ocean of the changing world, forming the bed of a primordial form of Vishnu, i.e. [[Narayana]], [[Vāsudeva]] or in later Puranic Vaishnavism, [[Mahavishnu]].

In the [[Bhagavata Purana]], Shesha is named Sankarshana, the [[tamasic]] energy of Narayana himself, and is said to live deep within the inner layers of [[Patala]], where there are many serpents with gems on their heads and where he reigns as its ruler. He is said to have existed before the creation of the universe. When the universe is towards its end, he creates the 11 [[Rudras]] from the serpents to destroy the universe for a new one to be created.

Sankarshana is also one of the four [[vyuha]]s, or primitive forms of Vishnu, the other three being [[Vasudeva]], [[Pradyumna]], and [[Aniruddha]].

In [[Gaudiya Vaishnavism|Gaudiya]] accounts, Sankarshana expands himself as Garbhodakshayi-Vishnu in the beginning of the universe to create [[Brahma]]. In other words, Sankarshana is believed to be Narayana himself.

In the first few chapters of the [[Purana|Puranas]], it is also said that Sankarshana preached the [[Bhagavata]] to the [[Four Kumaras]], who in turn passed on this message. At some point, the message was passed to sage [[Maitreya (Mahābhārata)|Maitreya]], who in turn preached it to [[Vidura]].