Kaliya in Hindu Tradition was a poisonous
Naga living in the Yamuna River, in Vrindavan. The water of the Yamuna for four leagues all around him boiled and bubbled with poison. No bird or beast could go near, and only one solitary Kadamba tree grew on the river bank. It is association with the mythology of Krishna dancing and subduing the snake which is celebrated as Nag Nathaiya or
Nag Nrithya.
The proper home of Kaliya was Ramanaka Dwipa, but he had been driven away from there by fear of Garuda, the foe of all serpents. Garuda had been cursed by a yogi dwelling at Vrindavan so that he could not come to Vrindavan without meeting his death. Therefore Kaliya chose Vrindavan as his residence, knowing it was the only place where Garuda could not come.
Once Krishna and herd boys were playing ball, the ball fell into the Yamuna River and Krishna jumped after it. Kaliya rose up with his hundred and ten hoods vomiting poison. All the Gopis and people of Nandagokula got tensed and came running towards the Yamuna bank as soon as they heard the news that Krishna jumped into the river where the dangerous Kaliya was staying. Meanwhile in the bottom of the river, Kaliya wrapped himself around Krishna's body. Krishna became so huge that Kaliya had to release him. He immediately regained his original form, and when he saw the Brij folk were so much afraid he suddenly sprang into Kaliya’s head and assumed the weight of the whole universe, and danced on the
naga's heads, beating time with his feet. Kaliya started vomiting blood and slowly began to die. But then the
naga's wives came and prayed to Krishna with joined palms, worshipping Krishna and praying for mercy for their husband. Kaliya, recognizing the greatness of Krishna, surrendered, promising he would not harass anybody. So Krishna pardoned him and then let him go free. Krishna asked Kaliya to leave the river and go to Ramanaka Dwipa. Ramanaka Dwipa is identified as Fiji.
The people who had gathered on the banks of Yamuna were terrified looking at the colour of water which was changing to poison colour. Slowly, Krishna rose up from the bottom of the lake dancing on the head of Kaliya. When they saw Krishna, everyone was happy and they were thrown into an ecstatic dance performance on the heads of Kaliya. This episode is remembered
as the 'Kalinga Nartana' in India.
