[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975) › c8.2088 # Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.2088 Purāṇic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Purāṇic Literature c8.2088 - **Language:** English ### [c8.2088](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c8.2088) Under the Pātāla is Ādiśeṣa, a tāmasic form of Mahāviṣṇu, known to the Siddhas as Ananta. He has a thousand heads and Svastika as his badge. Holding in one hand a plough and in the other a wooden pestle he sits worshipped by Śrīdevī and Varuṇidevī. At the time of the end of the world the Saṅkarṣaṇamūrti, Rudra, is born from the face of Ādiśeṣa shining brightly like poisonous fire and it consumes all the three worlds. Ādiśeṣa worshipped by all gods bears this earth on his head like a crown and sits in Pātāla. When Ananta yawns this world begins to quake along with its oceans, rivers and forests. Nobody has seen an end of his qualities and that is why he is known as Ananta (no end). It was by worshipping this Ananta that the ancient sage Garga learned the truth about the results of Nimittaśāstra (predictions by omens) a division of Jyotiṣaśāstra. - [Previous: c8.2087](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c8.2087) - [Next: c8.2089](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c8.2089) - [Up: c8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c8) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c8.2088](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c8.2088) · Pramāṇa