Krishna's Dance on the Hoods of the Serpent Kaliya

Krishna, revealed even in his childhood, his divine nature by vanquishing countless demons effortlessly and in a playful manner. In the chapters 10, 15-17 of the Bhagvata-Purana, there is an account of how Krishna as Kaliya-damana ("he who subdues the cobra") forced the serpent demon Kaliya into submission.

Kaliya had found refuge from the mythical bird Garuda in a pond in the Yamuna river, and had polluted the water with his poison. The cattle after drinking the water fell sick, the trees around the pond dried up, and the birds were asphyxiated just by the fumes rising out of the water. The fury and rage of the serpent demon made the pond boil and foam, but with childish lack of concern Krishna jumped in it fearlessly, brought Kaliya to a state of exhaustion in a violent battle, and finally started to dance on his head. Kaliya submitted to Krishna's power, paid homage to him as the highest deity, and agreed to return to the ocean.

In this sculpture, the artist has been brilliantly successful in capturing the balancing act of the dance. With his stretched out left arm, Krishna seems to be not just lifting up the tail of the serpent; he is in fact at the same time holding it tight. With his right hand in the 'bestowing protection' gesture (abhaya mudra), Krishna conveys his blessings to the subdued Kaliya who has surrendered himself to the Lord.

The great charm of this sculpture, filled with inner tension, is the manner in which the artist has captured the stilling of the play of forces under the spell of Krishna's graceful movements of dance.

This bronze sculpture was cast in Swamimalai in Tamil Nadu, using the ancient and laborious wax-molding technique.

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