Vishnu, the preserver of the world, sits on a thrown made of the coiled body of the world snake, Ananata (with either five, seven or twelve heads).  Ananata floats on the endless cosmic ocean, its being providing life energy to the world.  The snake sleeps during the intervals between Brahma's successive creations.   Vishnu holds a shell, mace, disc and lotus.

The snake is important in Hinduism, shrines devoted to it, and representing wisdom, sexuality and immortality.