Cleveland Museum of Art
Krishna quells the serpent Kaliya (verso), from a Kalighat album
- Date
- c. 1890
- Medium
- Gum tempera, graphite, and ink on paper
- Culture
- Eastern India, Bengal, Kolkata, Kalighat
- Department
- Indian and Southeast Asian Art
- Institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
The serpent Kaliya was poisoning the water of the Yamuna River near the residence of the cowherding community, where Krishna spent his youth. The animals were dying of the toxins. Krishna wrestled the mighty serpent then emerged from the water to dance on his head. Pleading with Krishna to set him free, Kaliya’s wives are shown like mermaids. Kaliya is one of the few foes whom Krishna did not kill, but permitted him to relocate to an island in the ocean.
The authoritative record is held by Cleveland Museum of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.
Related across collections
Semantically similar works from Cleveland Museum of Art and other institutions.
Leaf from a Kalighat album: Krishna as Kali worshipped by Radha (recto); Krishna quells the serpent Kaliya (verso)
Cleveland Museum of Art
Krishna Quells the Serpent Kaliya, from a Bhagavata Purana
Cleveland Museum of Art
Krishna Steals the Clothes of the Cowgirls (Gopis) (recto), from a Kalighat album
Cleveland Museum of Art
Leaf from a Kalighat album: Krishna Steals the Clothes of the Cowgirls (Gopis) (recto); Das Avataras, Ten Incarnations of Vishnu (verso)
Cleveland Museum of Art
Krishna Steals the Clothes of the Milkmaids and Expounds on the Virtue of Trees, from a Braj Bhagavata Purana
Cleveland Museum of Art
Krishna Ferrying Radha Across the Yamuna River
Cleveland Museum of Art
Krishna Ferrying Radha Across the Yamuna River (recto); Parivati Placing a Wedding Garland on Shiva (verso)
Cleveland Museum of Art
Krishna Stroking Radha's Feet (verso), from a Kalighat album
Cleveland Museum of Art
Krishna as Kali worshipped by Radha (recto), from a Kalighat album
Cleveland Museum of Art
Krishna Playing with the Gopis in the Yamuna
Cleveland Museum of Art
Krishna Ferrying Radha Across the Yamuna River (recto)
Cleveland Museum of Art
Krishna Kills the Crane Demon, Illustration from a Bhagavata Purana Series
Minneapolis Institute of Art