Kāliya

Kāliya Kāliya, the black serpent king who lived in the Yamunā River, was the incarnation of the demon Kālanemi who had been killed by the Hindu (see Hindu Mythology) god Viṣṇu (see Viṣṇu). It was appropriate that as Kālanemi's incarnation Kāliya should be killed by Viṣṇu's incarnation, or avatar (see Avatars of Viṣṇu), Kṛṣṇa (see Kṛṣṇa). It is also significant that before Kṛṣṇa's confrontation with Kāliya, the serpent has insulted Viṣṇu by taking an offering away from Garuḍa, the bird especially associated with the god. The Bhāgavata Purāṇa (see Purāṇas) tells the story of how Kṛṣṇa freed the waters polluted by Kāliya's poison, as Indra (see Indra) had once freed the waters by slaying the demon Vṛtra (see Vṛtra, Indra and Vṛtra) In this myth, the young Kṛṣṇa proves his worthiness, like so many heroes before him and after him, by vanquishing the “dragon.” To purify the waters, Kṛṣṇa jumps from a tree into the Yamunā causing a tremendous splash that attracts the demon. After a great wrestling match the Kāliya is so exhausted that Kṛṣṇa dances on his head, symbolizing Viṣṇu's sleep on Ananta (see Ananta), the serpent of eternity. When the serpent's wives beg Kṛṣṇa to spare their master and Kāliya himself bows down before the Lord, Kṛṣṇa agrees to spare Kāliya's life but banishes him and his family to the depths of the ocean, where all evil things are ultimately sent. The river is thus purified for the people and the cows so loved by Kṛṣṇa.