According to yogic teachings, Ananta is also the name of the serpent of infinity who listened in on the teachings of the secrets of yoga, which Lord Shiva was giving to Parvati. According to one myth, when Shiva discovered Ananta’s eavesdropping, he commanded him to share that teaching with all humankind. To do this, Ananta took on human form and was called Patanjali (author of the Yoga Sutras). He fell from heaven to Earth and landed in the hand of Gonika, a virtuous woman.
अनन्त मंत्रं
ॐ जीवमणिभ्राजत्फणसहस्रविधृतविश्वम्भरः।.
मण्डलायनान्ताय नागरजाय नमः।.
आपाहुपुरुषाकारं शङ्खचक्रासि धारिणं ।
सहस्रशिरसं श्वेतं प्रणमामि पतञ्जलिम्।।
ॐ जीवमणिभ्राजत्फणसहस्रविधृतविश्वम्भरः।.
मण्डलायनान्ताय नागरजाय नमः।.
आपाहुपुरुषाकारं शङ्खचक्रासि धारिणं ।
सहस्रशिरसं श्वेतं प्रणमामि पतञ्जलिम्।।