Kalinga Narthna
Kalinga Nardhana -
Nardhana means dance. This is my first attempt of multiple composition of humam
figures in Pattachithra.I thank My guru Smruthi ji Pattachithra artist Of
Orissa who taught me this beautiful painting.
Acrylic on canvas-30*18*
colour- Camilin
In this beautiful
pattachitra painting of Kalinga Nardhana depicts the story when a young Krishna
subdued the dangerous Kalinga\ Kaliya who had poisoned the River Yamuna.
Krishna stands with one foot on the snake’s hoods and the other on the back of
the subdued Kalinga. In Krishna’s left hand he holds the tail of Kalinga, and in
his right a conch. Krishna has a peacock feather in his topknot and is adorned
with numerous gold jewellery pieces including bracelets, anklets and necklaces.
Yamuna is depicted in the lower half of the frame with a beautiful cloudy sky
above
The flowing motion of
Krishna was trying to convey a sense of careless elegance by keeping his toe in
the head of the snake. The heads of the snake: I tried to give each head a
distinct personality. The head being trampled by Krishna is the most arrogant
one, a few nearby are staring menacingly at Krishna, undoubtedly the targets of
his future steps; whereas there are some heads that seem reconciled with
subordination .The dance symbolizes the cosmic order and the triumph of divine
righteousness, underscoring Krishna's role as the cosmic dancer and protector.
Through vivid hues and detailed strokes, the Kalinga Narthana Krishna in Pattachitra Painting becomes a visual
hymn, celebrating the eternal dance of cosmic balance and divine grace. He has
always been one of the most popular deities in India and so he is frequently
depicted in paintings of the classical traditions.
Story Of Kalinga Narthana:
The water of the
Yamuna for four leagues all around him boiled and bubbledwith poison. No bird or beast
could go near, and only one solitary Kadamba tree grew on the river bank.The
proper home of Kāliya was Ramanaka Dwipa, but he had been driven away from
there by fear of Garuda, the foe of all serpents. Garuda had been cursed by a
yogi dwelling at Vrindavan so that he could not come to Vrindavan without
meeting his death. Therefore Kāliya chose Vrindavan as his residence, knowing
it was the only place where Garuda could not come. Kalinga knew about this.
Therefore he sought shelter in that pool of water with his family and it had
been occupying the river Yamuna and its banks.It had poisoned the waters of the
Yamuna and also dried the forests by the poison airs breathed by it.
Krishna and His friends were
grazing their cows when one of the cows went to the riverside to drinkwater
from the river Yamuna.Soon it dropped dead from water poisoning. Sri Krishna
noticed that the most venomous snake had rendered the water of the Yamuna
poisonous. He wanted to expel the serpent from the river in order to purify the
water. Sri Krishna tightened His girdle, climbed a lofty Kadamba tree, and
jumped into the pool of water. The serpent fiercely attacked Krishna and stung
Him in His vital parts. It completely enclosed Him in its coils. The cows wept
and the Gopa boys became senseless. Nanda and other Gopas came out in search of
Krishna. They saw Him in the grasp of the powerful serpent and wept bitterly. ,
played different types of flutes and sang various prayers and songs.
In this way, all the
denizens of heaven, such as theGandharvas,Siddhas anddemigods, became very much
pleased. Kaliya had about a hundred hoods, but Krishna took control of them.
Gradually, Kaliya was reduced to struggling for his very life. He vomited all
kinds of refuse and exhaled fire. While throwing up poisonous material from
within, Kaliya became reduced in his sinful situation. Kaliya then began to
vomit blood instead of poison; he was completely fatigued. His whole body
appeared to be broken by the kicks of the Lord. Within his mind, however, he
finally began to understand that Krishna is theSupreme Personality of Godhead,
and he surrendered unto Him.
Sri Krishna trampled
down with His feet each one of the hoods. The body of the serpent was
shattered. The serpent sought the protection of the Lord. The wives of the
serpent, known as the Nagapatnis, saw that their husband had been subdued by
the Lord’s kicking and that he was almost at the point of death due to bearing
the heavy burden of the Lord, within whose abdomen the whole universe remains.
Kaliya’s wives also surrendered unto the Supreme Lord and began to pray. The
Nagapatnis knew that Krishna is the shelter of all surrendered souls, and they
desired to release their husband from the impending danger by pleasing the Lord
with their prayer.The Nagapatnis were astonished that, although Kaliya had the
body of a serpent as the result of grievous sinful activities, at the same time
he was in contact with the Lord to the extent that the Lord’s lotus feet were
touching his hoods. The wives of the serpent praised Krishna and prayed for
their husband's life.The Lord stopped His dance. Kaliya slowly recovered
consciousness.
The dance of Lord
Krishna, vanquishing Kaliya Naag, unfolds within a striking contrast, the white
expanse symbolizing water and the maroon sky, creating a dynamic visual impact.
This depiction holds profound significance, portraying Krishna's triumph over
the serpent Kaliya.
The Lord was pleased
with Kaliya and his wives. Immediately after hearing His order, the wives began
to worship Him with great offerings of nice garments, flowers, garlands,
jewels, ornaments, sandal pulp, lotus flowers, and nice eatable fruits. In this
way they pleased the master of Garuda, of whom they were very much afraid. Then,
obeying the orders of Lord Krsna, all of them left the lake within the Yamuna.
Krishna said, "O
Kaliya !Do not stay here any more. Go to the sea immediately with all your kith
and kin and, wives. Let the water of the Yamuna be used by the cows and men. I
know that you left Ramanaka island for fear of Garuda and came to live in this
pool. But now, as your hoods bear the marks of My feet, Garuda will not touch
you." Thereupon Kaliya proceeded to the Ramanaka island in the sea with
his wives, friends and children. The waters of the Yamuna then turned as sweet
as nectar itself.
This incident of
Krishna subduing Kaliya has come down as one of the popular tales around
Krishna’s childhood. It has found a place in everyone’s heart and in almost all
homes in India through millennia in legends and some form of art or the other,
including song and dance.
