Krishna Kaliya Mardan(Daman)

 I randomly made the above painting today. And, I was about to share it on my Instagram handle. Then I thought that its quite possible that many of my followers or people might don't know about this, so it would be much better and informative if I also share the story behind this painting. So, here I start narrating the Story. 

The story of Krishna and Kaaliya is told in sixteenth chapter of the Tenth Canto of the Bhagavata Purana.

Once, Radha took a walk across river Yamuna and became terrified upon seeing the giant snake like creature. She went to Vrindavan and informed the people about the giant snake. Lord Krishna was very angry upon hearing this and wanted to teach a lesson to Kaliya as he had troubled his Radha. He went to the river Yamuna searching for Kaliya, who upon seeing Krishna, coiled around Krishna's legs and constricted him.

After a while, the Gokul people came to see that Krishna was in the river. Yashoda(Krishna's mother) was afraid of the snake and ordered Krishna to return at once. Meanwhile, Kaliya attempted to escape, but Krishna walked on his tail with very heavy steps, and warned him to not trouble anyone again before returning to the people. 

The next day, Krishna was playing a ball game across the Yamuna with Radha and friends, and suddenly the ball went into the river. After the ball fell into the Yamuna, Radha tried to get it back, but Krishna stopped her and offered to do so. When he went into the Yamuna, Kaliya constricted him and pulled him into the Yamuna. 

The Gokul people came running towards the bank of the Yamuna as they heard that Krishna had jumped into the river where the dangerous Kaliya was staying. At the bottom of the river, Kaliya had trapped Krishna in his coils. Krishna expanded himself, forcing Kaliya to release him. Krishna immediately regained his original form and began to jump on all of Kaliya's heads so as to release the poison in the snake so that he could no longer pollute the Yamuna. 

Krishna suddenly moved onto Kaliya's head. Kaliya felt the weight of the whole universe while Krishna was beating him with his feet. Kaliya started vomiting blood and slowly began to die. But then Kaliya's wives came and prayed to Krishna with joined palms, worshiping him and praying for mercy for their husband. Kaliya recognised the greatness of Krishna and surrendered, promising he would not harass anybody again. 

Krishna released him after performing a final dance upon his heads. After the performance, Krishna asked Kaliya to leave the river and go to Ramaṇaka island(the place where he originally used to live), where he promised that Kaliya would not be troubled by Garuḍ(the great saint or rishi). 

The people who had gathered on the banks of Yamuna were terrified, as the saw the water that had changed to a poison color. Krishna slowly rose up from the bottom of the river while dancing on Kaliya's head. When the people saw Krishna, everyone were happy and they danced upon Kaliya. At last, Kaliya was pushed into Patala where he is said to reside to this day.

This event is often referred as the Kaliya Naga Mardan(Daman). 

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