Kaliyamardanam
Kaliyamardanam
Kaliyamardhanam
And then one day, Krishna waking up in the morning, after performing his ablutions and offering his ritual prayers, accompanied by other cowherds went out to graze the calves and milch cows in the forest surrounding the river Kalindi (a tributary of Yamuna). After grazing awhile under the noon sun, the cowherds overcome by heat and fatique, went off to drink water in the Kalindi river. Partaking the poisonous waters of the Kalindi they fell unconcious in its banks. Krishna came to the river bank and seeing the Gopas and the cows fallen, with great benevolence, cast his sight (that shower nectars of immortality), on the fallen and restored them to life. Then Krishna went to the edge of the water and gazed at the spectacle of the river Kalindi flowing. And his eyes beheld, the lair of the serpent Kaliya. A horrible sight that would frighten anyone.
As Krishna - The toxicity of his venom is not trivial. Because of the fumes of venom emanating from his mouth even huge trees on the river banks have been reduced to ashes. As the waves that rise on the waters strike the banks, the droplets that spatter in the air let out noxious fumes that burn the wings of birds flying the sky and they fall down dead. There is no serpent as poisonous as Kaliyan. What could be the reason for Kaliyan to have given up his residence and come here? After some ponderance - Long ago the Sage Soubhara performed a penance for 12 years submerged in the waters of Yamuna.
At that time, as Garuda - I feel little hungry. What is available for me to eat? Let me search for some food. Reaching the banks of river Yamuna and seeing a huge fish swimming in its waters, Garuda caught the prey and flew to the Yamunam mountains. He sat there, devoured the catch and drank its blood. As Sage Soubhara - The sage was disturbed from his deep meditation and opened his eyes to see Garuda. Out of compassion for the fishes in Yamuna he cursed Garuda thus - O Garuda! If you eat the fishes from these waters again, may your life breath leave you. As Garuda - Accepting the curse of the furious Sage with reverance, Garuda flew back to his residence.
At that time, Garuda on account of his animosity towards the serpents started hunting them. The serpent kings appealed to Garuda to stop eating them and vowed that they would offer him a victim everyday. However, Kaliya, arrogant with the strength of his venom, disregarded the agreement and started to feed on the offerings meant for Garuda. As Garuda - What is it that I hear ? Kaliyan is eating the snakes that are to be my victims without fear ? Behold my wrath! Greatly angered Garuda flew down and fought Kaliya. Kaliya fleeing with terror reached the Kalindi river and lay there submerged.
As Krishna - This is the reason for Kaliya to have taken shelter in this river. The animals and birds are greatly distressed on account of Kaliya poisoning these waters of Yamuna. I shall therefore kill him. Krishna got ready for a fight and contemplated the river currents and whirlpools. Then looking at the trees that have withered because of the toxic air, Krishna became greatly angered and decided to act. Seeing a Kadamba tree with withered leaves, Krishna climbed up the dead tree and it appeared as if with each touch of his holy feet on its trunks new shoots of greenery were sprouting forth. Krishna then spotting an area with deep waters, dived in. The Yamuna swelled with the weight of the Lord in her waters and the waves pounded the banks creating thuderous noise that spread everywhere.
As Kaliya - What is this loud noise ? Who dares to come here and act this way ? I shall destroy him. Moving in a serpent's gait Kaliya approached Krishna. Binding Krishna's body with his tail, Kaliya brought his enormous heads near his face. At that time, the Gopa cowherds standing on the river banks became worried by Krishna's absence. Nandagopar sitting in his house was also greatly troubled by foreboding thoughts. As Nandagopar - Little Krishna has gone away for grazing without his elder brother. Will he encounter any dangers ? Lord, may he not meet any difficulties. Nandagopar accompied by Balabhadra also reached the banks of Yamuna. And Lo! they saw in the middle of the waters of Yamuna, the sight of Krishna bound in Kaliya's tail. And did Krishna make any effort to free himself ? No. Krishna stayed there immobile in bondage. Nangagopar was greatly distressed.
At that time, Garuda on account of his animosity towards the serpents started hunting them. The serpent kings appealed to Garuda to stop eating them and vowed that they would offer him a victim everyday. However, Kaliya, arrogant with the strength of his venom, disregarded the agreement and started to feed on the offerings meant for Garuda. As Garuda - What is it that I hear ? Kaliyan is eating the snakes that are to be my victims without fear ? Behold my wrath! Greatly angered Garuda flew down and fought Kaliya. Kaliya fleeing with terror reached the Kalindi river and lay there submerged.
As Krishna - This is the reason for Kaliya to have taken shelter in this river. The animals and birds are greatly distressed on account of Kaliya poisoning these waters of Yamuna. I shall therefore kill him. Krishna got ready for a fight and contemplated the river currents and whirlpools. Then looking at the trees that have withered because of the toxic air, Krishna became greatly angered and decided to act. Seeing a Kadamba tree with withered leaves, Krishna climbed up the dead tree and it appeared as if with each touch of his holy feet on its trunks new shoots of greenery were sprouting forth. Krishna then spotting an area with deep waters, dived in. The Yamuna swelled with the weight of the Lord in her waters and the waves pounded the banks creating thuderous noise that spread everywhere.
As Kaliya - What is this loud noise ? Who dares to come here and act this way ? I shall destroy him. Moving in a serpent's gait Kaliya approached Krishna. Binding Krishna's body with his tail, Kaliya brought his enormous heads near his face. At that time, the Gopa cowherds standing on the river banks became worried by Krishna's absence. Nandagopar sitting in his house was also greatly troubled by foreboding thoughts. As Nandagopar - Little Krishna has gone away for grazing without his elder brother. Will he encounter any dangers ? Lord, may he not meet any difficulties. Nandagopar accompanied by Balabhadra also reached the banks of Yamuna. And Lo! they saw in the middle of the waters of Yamuna, the sight of Krishna bound in Kaliya's tail. And did Krishna make any effort to free himself ? No. Krishna stayed there immobile in bondage. Nangagopar was greatly distressed.
As Gopas - Krishna! you who have always given us joy and happiness - It is not proper for you let us grieve like this. We feel frightened by the sight of this horrible serpent, please discard him afar. Have mercy on us. Upon hearing the plea of the Gopas, the compassionate Lord took pity in their plight, smiled gently and assuming great anger shook his body, freed himself from Kaliya and cast the serpent afar. Kaliya landed some distance with his knots untied. Furious and with his thousand heads, burning with flares of venom he started towards Krishna. It appeared as if the whole of the Anjanam mountains with its numerous peaks, ablaze with forest fires was moving. As Kaliya approached, Krishna decided to play with him for a bit and jumped on one of his heads and started dancing. As the head bent low under the Lord's thumping feet, Krishna jumped over to another head. Beholding the spectacle of Krishna dancing on the thousand headed Kaliyan, the Devas(Demigods) in heaven, showered divine flowers. The sages started singing sacred hymns.
As Kaliya - Unable to bear the brunt of Krishna's thunderous steps on his head, Kaliya started coughing up blood and became enfeebled. He surrendered to the Lord and spoke thus - Krishna! I salute thy feet. Pardon my misdeeds, committed knowingly or in ignorace and protect me. I have no refuge but thy holy feet. Please grant me life.
Hearing Kaliya's prayer, Krishna spoke thus - As Krishna - "Kaliya, have no fear. I shall not take your life. You should not stay in these waters of the Yamuna from this day. Accompanied by your kith and kin, depart to the island named 'Ramanakam' in the middle of the ocean and reside therein. You need not be scared that Garuda will harm you in your new dwelling. Seeing my foot marks on your head, Garuda will treat you with deference. Leave immediately."
Krishna dispatched Kaliyan to the middle of the ocean and along with Nandagopar and other cowherds returned to Gokulam.