Kaliya Ghaat —Krishna Expels a Polluting Serpent from the Yamuna

The Yamuna was being polluted by the black serpent Kāliya. Krishna battled with Kaliya and made him leave Yamuna and go elsewhere

The venomous serpent Kaliya had taken up residence in the Yamuna River, poisoning the water and killing many of its creatures. Krishna decided to take action. He jumped into the river from a nearby Kadamba tree and splashed water like an elephant to get Kaliya’s attention. In response, Kaliya emerged from the water and fiercely attacked Krishna with his numerous hoods and poisonous fangs. He coiled around Krishna in rage, but Krishna gracefully expanded His body, forcing the serpent to release Him. Krishna had rhythmically danced and kicked on his hoods. Terrified, the snake’s wives had come, with words choking with emotion, requesting Krishna to forgive their husband. The serpent had eventually surrendered and had gotten released from further torment on condition that he and his family would leave the Yamuna River and never harm its inhabitants again.

Pride, deceit, harming others, cruelty, represented by Kaliya, must be given up by the devotees as they hold no place in Vrindavan’s devotional realm.