Krishna Subdues the Serpent Kaliya in the Yamuna River: Illustration from a Bhagavata Purana Series

Krishna Subdues the Serpent Kaliya in the Yamuna River: Illustration from a Bhagavata Purana Series

Nainsukh

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This continuous narrative illustrates Krishna's battle with the naga Kaliya, whose fiery poison was causing the Yamuna River to boil. At the lower left, Krishna swims playfully ahead of the writhing and envious Kaliya. At the right, it is possible to make out the climatic moment when Krishna, adored by the female cowherds (gopis) on the shore, defeats Kalia by dancing on his multiple heads.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Krishna Subdues the Serpent Kaliya in the Yamuna River: Illustration from a Bhagavata Purana SeriesKrishna Subdues the Serpent Kaliya in the Yamuna River: Illustration from a Bhagavata Purana SeriesKrishna Subdues the Serpent Kaliya in the Yamuna River: Illustration from a Bhagavata Purana SeriesKrishna Subdues the Serpent Kaliya in the Yamuna River: Illustration from a Bhagavata Purana SeriesKrishna Subdues the Serpent Kaliya in the Yamuna River: Illustration from a Bhagavata Purana Series

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.