# Krishna quells the serpent Kaliya (verso), from a Kalighat album

- Date: c. 1890
- Medium: Gum tempera, graphite, and ink on paper
- Classification: Painting
- Dimensions: Secondary Support: 48.1 x 29.7 cm (18 15/16 x 11 11/16 in.); Painting only: 25 x 20 cm (9 13/16 x 7 7/8 in.)
- Culture: Eastern India, Bengal, Kolkata, Kalighat
- Credit line: Gift of William E. Ward in memory of his wife, Evelyn Svec Ward
- Museum: [Cleveland Museum of Art](https://clevelandart.org/art/2003.113.b)
- Rights: [Public domain (CC0)](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- Picture: https://invisiblenetwork.ai/thumbs/cma/2003.113.b/2003.113.b_web.jpg
- Who can see it: Tweens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

The serpent Kaliya was poisoning the water of the Yamuna River near the residence of the cowherding community, where Krishna spent his youth. The animals were dying of the toxins. Krishna wrestled the mighty serpent then emerged from the water to dance on his head. Pleading with Krishna to set him free, Kaliya’s wives are shown like mermaids.