The Sheshasayi icon of Vishnu traces its textual origins to the epic Mahabharata where Vishnu is called Narayana, "the Lord of the Waters", who sleeps in the primeval waters. The Shanti Parva mentions Vishnu resting on the serpent-coils. The Jayakhya Samhita refers to Vishnu creating Brahma by his own will before the creation of the universe. The serpent Shesha on whose coils Vishnu slumbers is also regarded as an aspect of Vishnu. Shesha, also called Ananta ("infinite") , signifies "eternity".[1]
According to Dr. Kalpana Desai, the icon is the result of syncretism of Vishnu worship with that of the Nagas (snakes). Though Vishnu may be depicted standing under the serpent canopy or seated on the coils of the serpent while his hood shelters the hood, the important common depiction of Vishnu and Shesha is the Sheshasayi icon. While the standing icon is not described in texts, the seated icon is called Adimurti and is detailed in South Indian iconographical treatises.[2]
The Devatamurtiprakarana describes the Jalasaya Vishnu icon. Vishnu should be carved reclining on Shesha who floats on the waters. One of his upper hands near his head, the other in santana-manjari; the other hands rest on his thigh and is near his navel. A lotus - on which Brahma sits- rises from his navel; while demons cling to the lotus stalk.[3]
South Indian texts - rao
Sheshasayi; Jalasayana-murti; Jalasaya Vishnu.[3]
Sesasayi visnu, Anantasayi, Anantasayin, Sesasayin, Anantashayani, anatashayana
Sheshasayi Vishnu
Sayana murti
Sesa Narayana
Ananta Narayana
- http://www.archive.org/stream/cu31924071128825#page/n321/mode/2up
- http://rramakrishnan.com/H/000/Articles-Tamil/Temples/Typology%20Of%20the%20anantasaayi%20Icon.pdf
- http://books.google.co.in/books?id=4M90AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA28&dq=Visnuiconography&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Tu1oU4aWBsLGrAe9k4GQDw&ved=0CDgQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=sesa%20Narayana&f=false
Dr. Kalpana Desai (31 December 2013). Iconography of Visnu. Abhinav Publications. pp. 28–. GGKEY:GSELHU3JH6D.
Other:
- http://books.google.co.in/books?id=j3bqAAAAMAAJ&q=yogasayana&dq=yogasayana&hl=en&sa=X&ei=h-ZoU4bsLoSIrQeY6ICABw&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAA
- http://books.google.co.in/books?id=HOc9RG6MSzgC&pg=PA74&dq=yogasayana&hl=en&sa=X&ei=h-ZoU4bsLoSIrQeY6ICABw&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=yogasayana&f=false
- http://books.google.co.in/books?id=MVCWgKlUOwMC&pg=PA16&dq=sesa+narayana&hl=en&sa=X&ei=pu5oU8XWIIKPrgeCnoDwAg&ved=0CEkQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=sesa%20narayana&f=false
- http://books.google.co.in/books?id=KVoKd9vDSxsC&pg=PA157&dq=shesha+lakshmi&hl=en&sa=X&ei=DYtrU4nJOcWsrAf_voHIBw&ved=0CEYQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=shesha%20lakshmi&f=false
- http://books.google.co.in/books?id=b8urRsuUJ9oC&pg=PA25&dq=visnu&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FI1rU9mKDMz_rAfbz4CQCg&ved=0CCwQ6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q=sesa&f=false
- http://books.google.co.in/books?id=5OGFrDcLbogC&pg=PA128&dq=anantasayana&hl=en&sa=X&ei=uI9rU92XBYKKrQee2YGgDg&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=anantasayana&f=false ranganatha
- http://books.google.co.in/books?id=SKBxa-MNqA8C&pg=PA167&dq=anantasayana&hl=en&sa=X&ei=R5BrU722OceIrQfhh4HYCg&ved=0CDIQ6AEwATgU#v=onepage&q=anantasayana&f=false
- http://books.google.co.in/books?id=g6FsB3psOTIC&printsec=frontcover&dq=editions:CiTy0PSZlhgC&hl=en&sa=X&ei=RZJrU9DuH4TWrQf1qIHwBA&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=narayana&f=false Narayana
- http://books.google.co.in/books?id=WjDcd0cTFxQC&printsec=frontcover&dq=encyclopedia+Hinduism&hl=en&sa=X&ei=3pFrU7_CLYmQrQe0lYBw&ved=0CE8Q6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=ananta&f=false anata-sayana
- http://books.google.co.in/books?id=f9cSlaLMlgEC&pg=PA13&dq=padmanabha+vishnu&hl=en&sa=X&ei=LJRrU6TPKoGMrgeY8YCADQ&ved=0CDwQ6AEwAzgK#v=onepage&q=padmanabha%20vishnu&f=false