Kaliya facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kaliya |
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Krishna dancing over the subdued Kāliya and his wives asking Krishna for his mercy. From a Bhagavata Purana manuscript, c. 1640.
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| Affiliation | Nāgas |
| Texts | Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Harivaṃśa Purāṇa, Mahābhārata |
| Gender | Male |
| Festivals | Nāga Nathaiyā |
| Personal information | |
| Spouse | Suraśa |
| Parents | Kashyapa (father) Kadrū (mother) |
| Siblings | Śeṣa, Vāsuki, etc. |
Kaliya (also spelled Kāliya) is a giant, poisonous Nāga (a type of serpent or dragon) from Hinduism. He lived in the Yamunā river near Vṛndāvana. His poison was so strong that the river water boiled for miles around him. No birds or animals could go near the river, and only one special Kadamba tree grew on its bank. A festival called Nāga Nathaiyā celebrates the story of Krishna dancing on Kaliya's heads and making him leave the river.
Contents
The Story of Krishna and Kaliya
The exciting story of Krishna and Kaliya is told in an ancient Hindu book called the Bhagavata Purana.
Kaliya's New Home
Kaliya's original home was an island called Ramaṇaka. But he had to leave because he was afraid of Garuḍa. Garuda is a powerful bird, known as the enemy of all serpents. Luckily for Kaliya, Garuda had been cursed by a wise man named Saubhari. This curse meant Garuda could not enter Vrindavan without dying. So, Kaliya chose Vrindavan as his new home, knowing he would be safe from Garuda there.
Kaliya Troubles the River
One day, a wise man named Durvasā visited Vrindavan. He was served by Rādhā, a close friend of Krishna. After this, Radha went for a walk by the Yamunā river. She was very scared when she saw the huge serpent Kaliya. She quickly ran back to Vrindavan and told everyone about the giant snake in the river.
Krishna became very upset when he heard that Kaliya was bothering Radha. He decided to teach Kaliya a lesson. Krishna went to the Yamunā river to find the serpent. When Kaliya saw Krishna, he wrapped himself around Krishna's legs very tightly.
Krishna's First Encounter
The people of Gokul (Krishna's village) saw that Krishna was in the river. Yaśodā, Krishna's mother, was very worried about the snake. She told Krishna to come back right away. Kaliya tried to get away, but Krishna stomped on his tail. Krishna warned Kaliya not to bother anyone again, and then he returned to the people.
The Ball Game and the Big Fight
The very next day, Krishna was playing a ball game with Radha and his friends near the Yamunā. The ball accidentally fell into the river. Radha tried to get it, but Krishna stopped her. He offered to get the ball himself.
When Krishna went into the Yamunā, Kaliya quickly wrapped himself around Krishna and pulled him deeper into the water. The people of Gokul heard the noise and rushed to the river bank. They were very worried to hear that Krishna had jumped into the dangerous river where Kaliya lived.
At the bottom of the river, Kaliya had trapped Krishna in his coils. But Krishna suddenly made himself much bigger! This forced Kaliya to let him go. Krishna then returned to his normal size. He began to jump on all of Kaliya's many heads. He did this to make the snake release all its poison, so it could no longer pollute the Yamunā river.
Krishna suddenly jumped onto Kaliya's head. He made himself incredibly heavy, as if he carried the weight of the whole universe. He began to beat Kaliya with his feet. Kaliya started to vomit blood and slowly began to die.
Kaliya's Wives Ask for Mercy
Just then, Kaliya's wives came forward. They put their hands together and prayed to Krishna. They worshipped him and begged for mercy for their husband. Kaliya then understood how great Krishna was and gave up. He promised he would never bother anyone again.
Krishna forgave Kaliya after performing one last dance on his head. After this amazing dance, Krishna told Kaliya to leave the Yamunā river. He told Kaliya to go back to Ramaṇaka island. Krishna also promised that Kaliya would not be troubled by Garuda there.
The End of the Story
The people gathered on the banks of the Yamunā were very scared. They saw that the water had turned a poisonous color. Slowly, Krishna rose from the bottom of the river, still dancing on Kaliya's head. When the people saw Krishna, everyone was filled with joy. They danced happily. Finally, Kaliya was sent to a place called Pātāla, where he is said to live even today.
This famous event is often called the Kāliya Nāga Mardan, which means "the crushing of the Kaliya serpent."
Fiji Connection
Some people believe there is a connection between the story of Kaliya and the island of Fiji. According to the legend, Krishna sent Kaliya to Ramanik Deep. Many Fiji Indians believe this place is actually Fiji. Also, native Fijians have their own beliefs about a serpent-god named Dengei.
