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
- Object ID
- 162450
From the Cleveland Museum of Art record
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.
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Provenance & credit
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- Credit line
- Gift of William E. Ward in memory of his wife, Evelyn Svec Ward
- Provenance
- ?-2003: William E. Ward [1922-2004], Solon, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art | 2003-: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
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