This stage of serpent is universal in the development of Consciousness. Majority of us would like to swallow something and coil into a corner yielding to indolence. From this stage, the wise man moves on, hoping for something better than food and sleep, the basic needs and drives. No wonder, the saints have called this, an age of Kabandas.

In KUNDALINI YOGA Mooladhara is the seat where the serpent is coiled. It has to move from this plane to higher levels.

Kabanda means whatever we find, put it in the mouth. As a matter of fact that is a trait of every child. For a new born baby, whatever you give will be kept in the mouth by it. Possessiveness is an inherent characteristic of a jeeva. That is the problem here, we need to come out of it. That is why it is very difficult to get out of it. Once possessiveness is developed - it might be money,people, house or anything, we do not leave it. Give a chocolate to children and see what happens when you ask for it back. Even if you say, "I only gave it, give it back" they will not give it. That is what we mean by possessiveness here.

Actually the temperament of serpent is, after it acquires a thing even if it is of no use to it, it does not leave it. On the other hand it invites on itself enormous amount of danger. There will be someone waiting to kill it and take the treasure. It is just like this - there is acquisitiveness - the person think that he has some money - there will be a thief who will rob it from him. The animal signifies this concept. Usually they earn by working hard thinking that it will be useful in their last stages. Their children threaten them with dire consequences if they don't part with the earnings. They say that they will not give and ask them to take it after they pass away. The children say pass away now. Acquisition seems to be a quality of jiva initially, but it really leads to marmamu (మరమ్ము). If we say that there is a snake in pit and that it has a treasure in it, people will demolish it completely and kill the snake. There is no meaning in collecting acquisition. All spiritual people start like that. They get attached to it.

Wealth is that one, which we get attached to it, is likely to hurt you or bites you. Acquisition bites you and once it starts biting; it covers until your entire body gets totally poisoned. In any spiritual approach, we always bring in serpent for the only reason that, this is the main thing that puts you into samsara. Acquisition of not only property, acquisition of wife, acquisition of children. Father is not acquired, but children are acquired. It's a running story. We acquire a partner in life. At the time of receiving the partner it appears very great. As and when you grow in life, then you understand what you have bargained for. We say "Is it all worth it that I should have bargained for?" This will come to every sadhakas. It must come. If it didn't come, it means he is not a sadhaka. It is not just wealth. That is why it is called Daana. Kanya Daana is something where one receives. Conceptually this is what we start with generally.

Indolence comes after acquisition. Only after my stomach is full, then indolence. Before that where is indolence? No jivi is capable of sleeping when it is hungry. Sleep is something that comes, only after the stomach is full. Indolence actually further affects your sadhana. Once you become accustomed to laziness, we feel it is enough and we will talk all sorts of philosophy. That is the psychology of a lion. When it has got enough food, it will not go for hunting. Whereas the tiger will go and get another one. Lion will not go hunting, till the food it hunted is over. That is why Lions are supposed to be lazy.

Secondly, when we start sadhana we tie it with Kundalini. Kundalini is not sloth, Kundalini is serpent power. That is why we link up the first cell with serpent.

As per the tradition of Ramanuja all are seshas. He is the adisesha and we are all seshas. God is seshi. We are all only reminders, He is main. Whether we are there or not, it is fine. Sesha-Seshi bhava is a big subject in Vedanta. Sesha-Seshi bhava is a second knot condition.

When we get a big amount and divide it, we end up with a remainder (sesha). Nobody bothers about the sesha. Ex:- When you take measurements, of say 20 bags of rice using a measure, some of it remains and they leave it to the servants. In Dr. K.C.Varadachari's books there will be lot more, like this.

For kabandha story refer Valmiki ramayanamu. For more on Kabandha, refer Dr. KCV's article.