Krishna as Tamer of Kaliya (Kaliyadamana)
Culture
Indian
Date1700s–1800s
(not assigned)Asia
Mediumbronze and copper
Dimensions16.5 cm (6 1/2 in.)
ClassificationsSculpture
Credit LineBequest of Alfred Yankauer
Object number2004.221
Label TextKrishna, the eighth avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu, is venerated as a divinity in his own right. Because he lived and died among humans, his earthly biography makes him a more approachable, engaging form of the divine than most other deities. As a result, the blue-skinned god is beloved and worshipped throughout India. His stories are recounted in several Hindu texts, especially the Bhagavata Purana (History of God). The Bhagvata Purana is one of the eighteen Mahapuranas (Great Histories) and is a revered text in Vaishnavism, a Hindu tradition that worships Vishnu. Produced sometime between the sixth and tenth century, the text promotes bhakti (devotion) to Krishna through narratives that reveal his many forms: a child, cowherd, flutist, dancer, romantic lover, warrior, and killer of demons. His vibrant representation in the Bhagvata Purana has been a source of inspiration for artists across South Asia for centuries.
One of the most highly-depicted narratives from the Bhagvata Purana. When Krishna was a youth, he went into the Yamuna River to rescue his ball. He encountered, Kaliya, a poisonous snake (naga) with 110 hoods. The serpent wrapped his body around Krishna, but the deity expanded his body, causing Kaliya to release him. Then, Krishna assumed the weight of the universe and danced on the naga’s hoods, beating time with his feet. Kaliya’s wives begged Krishna to show mercy for their dying husband. Although Krishna could have vanquished Kaliya, he showed the creature mercy and pardoned him.
Here, Krishna,clad in onlyornaments that include the traditional kinkini girdle of bells and a necklace, dances on top of Kaliya's hoods.ProvenanceDr. Alfred Yankauer, Amherst, MAOn View
Not on view
