Kaliya (IAST: KÃÂliya, Devanagari: à ¤Âà ¤¾à ¤²à ¤¿à ¤¯), in Hindu traditions, was a venomous NÃÂga living in the Yamunàriver, in Vá¹ÂndÃÂvana. The water of the Yamunàfor 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. The celebration of NÃÂga Nathaiyàor NÃÂga Ná¹Âitya is associated with the tale of Krishna dancing upon and subduing KÃÂliya.
The story of Krishna and KÃÂliya is told in the sixteenth chapter of the Tenth Canto of the Bhagavata Purana.
The proper home of KÃÂliya was the island of Ramaá¹Âaka, but he had been driven away from there in fear of Garuá¸Âa, the foe of all serpents. Garuá¸Âa had been cursed by the yogi Saubhari dwelling at Vrindavan so that he could not come to Vrindavan without meeting his death. Therefore, KÃÂliya chose Vrindavan as his residence, knowing it was the only place where Garuá¸Âa could not come.
Once, the sage DurvasÃÂ came as a guest and was served by RÃÂdhÃÂ. After this episode, RÃÂdhÃÂ took a walk across the river YamunÃÂ and became terrified upon seeing the giant serpent. She fled to Vrindavan where she informed the people that she had seen a giant serpent in a river. Krishna was very angry upon hearing this and wanted to teach a lesson to KÃÂliya as he had troubled his RÃÂdhÃÂ. He went to the river YamunÃÂ searching for KÃÂliya, who upon seeing Krishna, coiled around Krishna's legs and constricted him.
The people of Gokulam came to see that Krishna was in the river. Yaà Âodàwas afraid of the snake and ordered Krishna to return at once. Meanwhile, KÃÂliya attempted to escape, but Krishna stomped on his tail and warned him to not trouble anyone again before returning to the people. The next day, Krishna was playing a ball game across the Yamuna with RÃÂdha and friends. After the ball fell into the YamunÃÂ, RÃÂdhàtried to retrieve it, but Krishna stopped her and offered to do so. When he went into the YamunÃÂ, KÃÂliya constricted him and pulled him into the YamunÃÂ.
The people of Gokulam heard the commotion and all the people of Nandagokula were concerned and came running towards the bank of the YamunÃÂ. They heard that Krishna had jumped into the river where the dangerous KÃÂliya was staying. At the bottom of the river, KÃÂliya had ensnared Krishna in his coils. Krishna expanded himself, forcing KÃÂliya to release him. Krishna immediately regained his original form and began to jump on all of KÃÂliya's heads so as to release the poison in the snake so that he could no longer pollute the YamunÃÂ.
Krishna suddenly sprang onto KÃÂliya's head and assumed the weight of the whole universe, beating him with his feet. KÃÂliya started vomiting blood and slowly began to die. But then KÃÂliya<nowiki/>'s wives came and prayed to Krishna with joined palms, worshiping him and praying for mercy for their husband. KÃÂliya recognized the greatness of Krishna and surrendered, promising he would not harass anybody again. Krishna pardoned him after performing a final dance upon his head. After the performance, Krishna asked KÃÂliya to leave the river and return to Ramaá¹Âaka island, where he promised that KÃÂliya would not be troubled by Garuá¸Âa.
The people who had gathered on the banks of YamunÃÂ were terrified, beholding the water that had changed to a poison colour. Krishna slowly rose up from the bottom of the river while dancing on KÃÂliya's head. When the people saw Krishna, everyone was happy and they danced ecstatically upon KÃÂliya. At last, KÃÂliya was pushed into PÃÂtÃÂla where he is said to reside to this day.
This event is often referred to as the KÃÂliya NÃÂga Mardan.
According to one regional legend, Krishna banished Kaliya to the Ramanik Deep, which the Fiji Indians believe to be in Fiji. Moreover, native Fijians also believed in a serpent-god called Degei.