A Finely Carved Chola Bronze Idol of Krishna as Kaliya Nartana

<p>This beautiful idol was made using the traditional Madhuchishtavidhana technique. It shows the moment when Lord Krishna, pleased with Kaliya’s prayers, grants him mercy. The story of Krishna subduing the multi-headed snake, Kaliya, is told in the Bhagavata Purana.</p><p><br></p><p>Kaliya was a huge, poisonous snake who lived in the Yamuna River. He terrorized the people of Vraja and poisoned the waters, making life difficult for everyone. The people were helpless and afraid of the snake.</p><p><br></p><p>One day, while Krishna was playing with his friends near the river, he tossed his ball into the Yamuna. When he went to retrieve it, he jumped into the river, which disturbed Kaliya. The snake attacked Krishna, and a fierce fight broke out underwater. Eventually, they both rose to the surface still fighting.</p><p><br></p><p>Krishna, with his divine power, was more than a match for Kaliya. As the snake became weaker, Krishna jumped onto one of his heads. Whenever Kaliya tried to strike with another head, Krishna would jump to that head, dancing on it with his feet, causing the snake great pain. Eventually, Kaliya grew weak, and his many heads began to bleed.</p><p><br></p><p>At this point, Kaliya’s wives, who had been kind to Krishna and warned him earlier, asked Krishna to spare Kaliya's life. They recognized Krishna as the supreme Narayana and begged for his mercy. Krishna, seeing their sincerity, forgave Kaliya, telling him to leave the Yamuna and return to the sea, his original home.</p><p><br></p><p>This story is depicted in many bronze sculptures in Tamil Nadu, and this Chola-style idol shows Krishna just after he accepted Kaliya's prayers. Krishna is standing on one of Kaliya’s chest with his left foot, while his right foot is raised. He holds the snake's tail in his left hand, and his right hand is raised in the abhaya mudra, offering protection and fearlessness.</p><p><br></p><p>In this beautiful idol, Kaliya appears with five heads and is shown with folded hands, humbly asking for forgiveness. Krishna is dressed in fine jewels, and his hair is tied up in a crown called a jatamakutam. The idol is intricately carved in the classic Chola style, making it a stunning representation of this popular theme from Hindu literature.</p>