The story of Krishna and Kaliyan

Krishna's childhood was full of fun and frolic. He was dark and handsome. Krishna had many friends and he went playing with them in the village. He was the leader of the group. He loved to play tricks on people but never with a bad intention. But everybody still loved him.Krishna became a cowherd. He liked cows and the green fields in which they grazed.

All the cowherds were his friends and every morning they use to take out the cattle to the jungle for grazing. Krishna and all his friends use to play in the jungle. Krishna would play his flute sitting on a branch of tree or on a big rock. The cows and even the wild animals got addicted to the sweet music of Krishna's flute. One fine day suddenly a snake by the name of Kaliyan came to live in the river Yamuna, the only source of safe drinking water for the cows and the cowherds.

Kaliyan was a poisonous snake and soon the whole river became poisonous. All the fish in the river died and other water animals including the crocodiles left the river. There was hue and cry everywhere. Krishna decided to teach the wicked Kaliyan a lesson. Krishna went to the river looking for Kaliyan and found that Kaliyan lived in the deepest part of the river. Krishna jumped into the river. Kaliyan got angry at the very sight of Krishna and immediately pounced to kill Krishna.

In a flash Krishna got hold of Kaliyan's head and stood on it. Kaliyan tried to shake off Krishna but Krishna stayed on his head. Kaliyan then dived deep into the river, trying to drown Krishna but Krishna could remain without breath as long as he wanted. Kaliyan was forced to come up for a breath of air. Krishna began kicking Kaliyan left and right on his head.

A big crowd gathered on the banks of Yamuna. Soon Kaliyan was badly injured and also began losing strength. Kaliyan started vomiting poison and Krishna kept stamping his head until all the poison came out. Kaliyan gave up the struggle and begged Krishna to spare his life. Krishna ordered Kaliyan to immediately leave the river and not to come back again. Kaliyan bowed his head and quietly left the Yamuna