With his right leg lifted in air, and left, laid on the serpent’s head Lord Krishna – not the child Krishna of the Bhagavata Purana but as Vishnu, grown to his timeless youthfulness and crowned and bejeweled like him, is dancing on the serpent’s head. Holding its tail in his right hand he has lifted it into space as if to let the viper realise that the world is wider than its vanity and beyond its venom. With his right hand held in ‘Abhaya’ he redeems the world from fear, whatever its source, the venomous viper, or any.

Krishna’s dance is reminiscent of Vishnukrant, the dance that Vishnu had performed in his transform as Vamana for subduing Mahabali, the vain demon king who once ruled the earth. The dance of Vishnu, as Vamana or Krishna, is the instrument of annihilation, not dissolution which Anandatandava, Shiva’s dance, affects. Vishnu’s dance aimed at eliminating an evil, not the entire creation. Hence, while in Anandatandava the left leg is lifted horizontally, a gesture symbolising dissolution, in Vishnu’s dance it is instead the right leg shot into the sky with upwards rise throwing the demon king beyond the known space suggesting destruction of a target seeking in the earth’s protection it context and relevance.

As the myth occurs in the Bhagavata Purana and other scriptures, a venomous viper of Kadraveya origin and Pannaga type, named Kaliya, once migrated to river Yamuna from Ramanaka, an island in the ocean, where it earlier resided. Ramanaka was the dominion of the great bird Garuda, and for living there the viper paid the bird annual tribute. However, after a while, it stopped paying it. As a result the bird began attacking it every now and then compelling the viper to evict the island and shift to a new place. Kaliya chose river Yamuna which under a curse Garuda could not invade. Within hardly any time Kaliya so much polluted Yamuna's water by its venom that even a touch of it inflicted death on any living being, birds that passed across the region in the sky fell dead and trees and grass around burnt and dried. The ill-famed spot became known as Kaliyadah.

One day Krishna, Balarama and their friends were playing on the Yamuna’s bank near Kaliyadah. In the course of the game Krishna climbed a nearby Kadamba tree and feigning to slip from it jumped into Kaliyadah. This sudden uproar irritated Kaliya engaged in merriment with its wives. The angry serpent got up and caught Krishna in its coils. It tightened its grip and seemed to crush Krishna. It horrified all but Balarama who, and him alone, was confident that Krishna would come out of it the moment he collected himself. He hence began boosting Krishna's morale. Others, Nand, Yashoda and all, prayed for Krishna's safety.

Invoking his inherent energy Krishna began expanding his form so much so that Kaliya could not contain him within its coils. The moment its grip loosened Krishna jumped upon its head and began dancing with wind-like speed which began crushing the viper under it. Finally, it and its wives rushing to the spot piteously implored for mercy. Considering their prayer Krishna forgave Kaliya. He commanded the serpent to return back to ocean along his family for a river's geography was too small for a viper like it. Kaliya vowed to do so and not to harm anyone in future. With the mark of his foot on its hood Krishna blessed the viper with immunity against Garuda's attacks.

This description by Prof. P.C. Jain and Dr. Daljeet. Prof. Jain specializes on the aesthetics of literature and is the author of numerous books on Indian art and culture. Dr. Daljeet is the curator of the Miniature Painting Gallery, National Museum, New Delhi. They have both collaborated together on a number of books.

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Embracing the Divine Feminine: Understanding Kali and Her Significance

Goddess Kali is one of the most powerful and revered deities in Hinduism and is worshiped by many people across the globe especially in the eastern part of India. She is considered to be a ferocious form of Goddess Durga and is regarded as the ultimate manifestation of Shakti. Goddess Kali also manifests as the material nature and is regarded as the mother of all living entities in the material world. Just like a caring mother, she protects the living entities who follow the principles of Dharma from demonic persons who always go against the laws of the Supreme Lord.

Having a dark complexion, open hair, and bearing multiple arms holding different weapons, Goddess Kali is often depicted standing on the chest of Lord Shiva, her consort, as she displays her rage toward the demon Raktabij. This pastime is mentioned in various Puranas of Vedic literature in which Goddess Kali severed the head of the demon who was creating havoc on earth. This shows the protective nature of the Goddess. The Vedic scriptures also mention that Goddess Kali is an obedient devotee of the Supreme Lord Krishna or Vishnu who tests living entities on their determination and devotion toward the Lord.

What does Kali symbolize?

Goddess Kali is the manifestation of material nature. She is like a benevolent mother who protects her children from any kind of mishaps and misfortune. Mother Kali considers all living entities her own children and takes care of them. She reforms the forgetful souls who have turned their faces against the Supreme Lord Krishna. Thus, she symbolizes mercy, compassion, and kindness. Although she has a ferocious form, she is actually carrying out the order of the Supreme Lord by utilizing her power against those who blaspheme the Lord and do not abide by His laws.

What is Kali worshiped for?

We can find thousands and lakhs of devotees of Goddess Kali all over the world. She is especially venerated in the festival of Kali Puja in the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, and Odisha. Being a merciful Goddess, she fulfills the desires of her devotees. Some people worship Goddess Kali for some material gains and profits and receive her blessings. However, those who serve her selflessly and approach her to know about the Absolute Truth and the real aim of human life, receive the highest benediction of Goddess Kali. Being a devotee of the Supreme Lord Krishna, she bestows her blessings upon them and guides them to the path of devotion toward the Lord.

Where to place Kali statue at home?

Keeping the deity of Goddess Kali at home is very auspicious. If you worship her regularly with faith and devotion, she will become pleased and will shower her blessings upon you. Knowing that she is worthy of our respectful obeisance is important and therefore, you should not keep or handle her deity with a casual attitude. You must keep the deity on your home altar.

The Divine Beauty: Exploring the Meaning and Symbolism Behind Krishna Statues

Lord Krishna is known by various other names such as Govinda, Gopala, Giridhari, Madanmohan, Radharaman, Maakhanchor, etc. The Vedic scriptures mention Him as the Supreme Lord, the cause of all causes, and the controller of living entities. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna Himself says that there is no Truth superior to Him and that in all the Vedas, He is to be known. Different people see Him differently. Some people see Him as their son, some as their friend, some as their master, and some as their beloved. He is the source of all pleasure and bliss. There are so many pastimes described in the Vedic literature where it is seen that whoever approached and served Lord Krishna with full faith and devotion, was never bewildered even in the greatest calamities, and was always protected by Him. Lord Krishna is therefore the ocean of mercy.

Lord Krishna expands Himself into different forms to fulfill a particular purpose in the material world. For example, to save His five-year-old devotee Prahlad from the ghastly attacks of his demoniac father Hiranyakashipu, the Lord assumed a special form of half-lion and half-man, Narasimha, and appeared from a stone pillar and killed the demon with His sharp nails. This shows an interesting quality of Lord Krishna. He is very possessive about His devotees. He never tolerates blasphemy against them. Those who try to harm them in any way, the Lord punishes them the hardest way.

Is Krishna statue good at home?

If you want to please Lord Krishna with your service and devotion, keeping the deity of the Lord will be good for you. Wherever there is Krishna, there is opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality. Worshiping the deity is one of the easiest ways to build a strong relationship with the Lord. There is no difference between the deity of Krishna and Krishna Himself. The Lord said in the Bhagavad Gita that we can worship Him by offering Him a leaf, a flower, water, or a fruit. If the Lord is pleased, you will feel great satisfaction within your heart and you will experience transcendental bliss. Therefore, keeping the deity of Lord Krishna at home and following the necessary rules and regulations in the deity worship process is highly auspicious.

Which Krishna statue can be kept at home?

There is nothing more sublime than serving the lotus feet of Lord Krishna for it is the very aim of human life. Therefore, you can worship any form of Lord Krishna as your heart desires. You can either keep the deity of the original two-handed form of Krishna playing His flute or the childhood form of Krishna eating butter. You may also keep the deity of Krishna along with Srimati Radharani, His internal potency. If you want to attract the causeless mercy of the Lord and engage in His offenseless service, worshiping the deity of Lord Jagannath, the most merciful form of Lord Krishna would be the best for you. Lord Jagannath does not take offenses of the devotees and only looks at their good qualities and intentions.