Kaliya Mardan

KALIYAMARDAN: Kaliya is a thousand hooded snake. When Garuda threatened to devour all the snakes, a truce was reached when the serpents promised to send one serpent each day as food. When Kaliya’s turn came, he escaped into the depths of the Yamuna and thereafter infested the Yamuna with poison.

When Krishna arrived much later, a few cowherds died drinking the water of Yamuna. Krishna jumped into the water and battled Kaliya. Kaliya implored for mercy and Krishna spared Kaliya’s life assuring him that Garuda would not harm him.

This print from the Ravi Varma Press derived from a painting by Raja Ravi Varma depicts Krishna as a youth dancing on the head of the serpent Kailya in the waters of the Yamuna.