Asia Society Home Asia Society Home
< previous  5 of 15  next >
enlarge image map of region
related objects additional views
SOUTH ASIAN OBJECTS FROM THE COLLECTION
INDIA
Sculpture from the Kushan Period
Sculpture from North India, 5th-7th Centuries
Jain sculpture
Sculpture of the Pala Period
Stone Sculpture from Hindu Temples
Sculptures from South India, 8th-9th Centuries
Bronze Sculpture of the Chola Period
Art for the Mughal and Rajput Courts
Hindu Temple Hangings
Buddhist Painting from India, Nepal, and Tibet
NEPAL
Buddhist Painting from India, Nepal, and Tibet
Sculpture from Nepal
PAKISTAN
Sculpture from the Kushan Period
SRI LANKA
Two Bodhisattvas from Sri Lanka
Krishna Dancing on Kaliya (Kaliyahimarddaka Krishna)
India, Tamil Nadu; Chola period (880-1279), late 10th - early 11th century
Copper alloy
H. 34 1/2 in. (87.6 cm)
Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection of Asian Art
1979.022
This lyrical image depicts Krishna overcoming Kaliya, a snake king who had been poisoning the waters of the sacred Yamuna River and terrifying the local population. While he subdues Kaliya by dancing on the snake king's hood of protective snakes, Krishna performs the gesture of reassurance to comfort his devotees. Once defeated, Kaliya himself became a devotee of Krishna, a transformation expressed by the snake king's gesture of worship and expression of adoration towards his vanquisher. Krishna is one of the Hindu god Vishnu's most popular incarnations and his life and romantic exploits are a favorite theme in Indian art and literature.
Home |  South Asia |  Himalaya |  Southeast Asia |  China & Mongolia |  Korea |  Japan
Treasures |  Guided Tour |  Timeline |  Search
About the Asia Society | The Rockefellers and the Asia Society | Site Map
Credits | ©Copyright 2007 Asia Society