Kaliya Mardan Temple
Vrndavan, Braj Mandal, Uttar Pradesh (UP) India

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Near Kaliya Ghata is the Kaliya Mardan Temple. It is said that the original Deity that was in this temple, Kaliya Mardan, was installed by Vajranabha 5,000 years ago. This temple is open from 8 am to 12 noon and 4 to 7 pm.

How To Get Here This temple is about 100m (325 ft) from Kaliya Ghata, on a small hill (3m high). It is between the parikrama path and a road that leads to the right next to Kaliya Ghata. If you are on the Vrindavana parikrama path this temple is on your right about 100m after passing Kaliya Ghata. There is a stone incline that leads up to the temple. This temple is a little hard to find and may look deserted. This temple has a small temple tower.

Kaliya Snake Story
“Due to poisonous vapors the trees and grass near the bank of the Yamuna had all dried up. Lord Krishna saw the effect of the great serpent’s poison; the whole river that ran before Vrindavana was now deadly.

“Krishna, who advented Himself just to kill all undesirable elements in the world immediately climbed up in a big kadamba tree on the bank of the Yamuna. The kadamba is a round, yellow flower, generally seen only in the Vrindavana area. After climbing to the top of the tree, He tightened His cloth, and, flapping His arms just like a wrestler, jumped into the poisonous lake. The kadamba tree from which Krishna had jumped was the only tree there which was not dead.” (Krishna Book, Chap. 16)

The Kaliya serpent grabbed Krishna with His mighty coils and held Him in his coils for two hours. Krishna then freed himself and then started to dance on the hoods of Kaliya.

“While Krishna was dancing on his hoods, Kaliya tried to push Him down with some of his other hoods. Kaliya had about a hundred hoods, but Krishna took control of them. He began to dash Kaliya with His lotus feet and this was more than the serpent could bear. 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. Out of great anger, he began to struggle for existence and tried to raise one of his hoods to kill the Lord. The Lord immediately captured that hood and subdued it by kicking it and dancing on it. It actually appeared as if the Supreme Personality of Godhead Vishnu was being worshiped; the poisons emanating from the mouth of the serpent appeared to be like flower offerings.

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 was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and he began to surrender unto Him. He realized that Krishna was the Supreme Lord, the master of everything.” (Krishna Book, Chap. 16)

Lord Krishna told Kaliya, “My dear King of the snakes, although I have given you so much pain, please do not be dissatisfied with Me. It is My duty to protect these cows, which are worshiped even by the demigods. Only in order to save them from the danger of your presence have I obliged to banish you from this place.” (Nectar of Devotion)

Copyright ©2001 John Howley and Spiritual Guides