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At the beginning of creation, Lord Vishnu was depicted as sleeping (Yoganidra) of serpent Adisesha on Ksheer Saagar. But Mahabharatha says Sesha was born to Kadru and sage Kashyapa.

  • If Shesha is with Vishnu from starting, why was he born to Kadru?
  • As i asked in this question, Why lakshmana and Balarama (their souls) went to Patalaloka if Sesha is with Vishnu in Vaikunta?
  • How did he become bed for Vishnu?
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Mainly answering the Qn in title, from the analytic perspective.

According go Swami Sachhidananda from Gujarat (no English or web source for this), the serpent related to the deities or gods have to be interpreted as possibly awakened Kundalini.

Different spiritual traditions teach methods of "awakening" kundalini for the purpose of reaching spiritual enlightenment and a range of supernormal powers. Writer Joseph Campbell describes the concept of Kundalini as “the figure of a coiled female serpent—a serpent goddess not of "gross" but of "subtle" substance - which is to be thought of as residing in a torpid, slumbering state in a subtle center, the first of the seven, near the base of the spine: the aim of the yoga then being to rouse this serpent, lift her head, and bring her up a subtle nerve or channel of the spine to the so-called “thousand-petaled lotus” (Sahasrara) at the crown of the head

According to Kundalini Yoga:

The Sanskrit adjective kuṇḍalin means "circular, annular". It does occur as a noun for "a snake" (in the sense "coiled", as in "forming ringlets")

Kundalini is believed to be an energy resting inside the bottom of the body in a snake like coiled form. When it is awakened, it starts moving upwards. This is the prime reason, behind drawing the Gods in certain ways with snake & sometimes lotus:

  • Lord Vishnu represented as supreme Brahman in form of entirety. Who rests on [awakened or not] Kundalini energy in form of Adi Shesha; This is the ultimate Kundalini of the whole universe. As per Gita, all the creation comes out from the nature (SwabhAva) of the supreme self (Atma/"Me"). Hence, Vishnu at times is shown relaxing on the resting Adi Shesha; as of the whole universe is being dreamt by Vishnu
    enter image description here

  • Goddess Earth is resting on the serpent; This represent's Earth's own Kundalini as a deity
    [no image]

  • Lord Shankara's (Rudra from Himalaya) Kundalini is always awakened due to his continuous penance
    enter image description here

  • Lord Krishna who defeated Kaliya, was a symbolic story created, to express that, at the tender age of six-seven years, Krishna got his Kundalini energy awaken towards the self realisation
    enter image description here

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    Your answer gives metaphorical meaning of serpents. But my question is more of mythological.
    – The Destroyer ♦
    Jul 21, 2017 at 11:56
  • @TheDestroyer, until you have tagged it as mythology :-). Anyways, I thought this will be useful, as most of the time "mythology" is created when some concept is represented in artistic way. For example, the "Graha dasha" (planet position) is represented as of "planets are fighting or mingling among themselves". Same thing for churning out ocean. May be later, I can put this answer somewhere, if someone asks like "what is the meaning of serpents around the gods?".
    – iammilind
    Jul 21, 2017 at 12:11

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