Eastern Outer Gopura, Muang Tam Baphuon style, 11th century

Lintel: Krishna Subduing Kaliya

Kaliya was a local naga who contaminated the pond where baby Krishna was living. The child-god subdued Kaliya by dancing on his head, which persuaded the snake (now, no doubt, suffering from a Krishna-sized headache) to give up his wicked ways and adore the infant god¹. The incident is often represented in the Chola art of India, as in an example from the Delhi National Museum.

This is a Baphuon style lintel. See the Krishna lintel from Ban Phluang for a comparison with a similar lintel of the same style and period.

¹Krishna often prefers to convert his enemies rather than kill them. He is an all-powerful, but kindly and salvific god, which no doubt accounts for his popularity today.