KALINGA MARDANAM

 

KALINGA MARDANAM

KALINGA MARDANAM

KALINGA NARDANAM

On the banks of the river kAlindi (yamunA), the kadamba trees which used to look fresh with tender leaves, flowers, and fruits,  became barren and black having absorbed the poison emitted by the venomous, 1000 headed black serpent kAliya. Living in a secluded deep pool inside the yamunA river, the giant serpent kAliya used to spit venom and kill all living beings around him. On hearing the distress of the cowherds, Lord krishNa climbed on to the extended branches of the kadamba tree and jumped right into kAliya’s pool and landed on the multi-hooded kAliya with a big bang. The kadamba tree immediately regained its freshness due to krishNa’s pAda sparsham. KrishNa made kAliya’s head, the 'aranga sthAnam – dance stage’ and performed a beautiful dance. Alternating between each of its poisonous heads, krishNa hopped, trampled, and danced majestically, crushing kAliya’s ego and his poisonous mind. kAliya was lurching towards death. kAliya’s wives realized the supremeness of KrishNa. Praising Him, they surrendered to KrishNa and pleaded Him to forgive kAliya. Out of his forbearance, krishNa freed kALiya and gave Him a new life. (Srimad bhAgavatam, chapter 10.16)