18.5″ Kalinga Krishna (Krishna on Snake) | Handcrafted Brass | Antique Brown Finish

This handcrafted brass sculpture of Kaliya Krishna — the young Krishna subduing the serpent Kaliya — stands 18.5 inches (47 cm) tall, 7 inches (18 cm) wide, and 5.5 inches (14 cm) deep, weighing approximately 5.6 kg, and is finished in an antique brown treatment that settles a deep, oxidized tone across the entire surface with warmer brass tones emerging at the raised relief areas of the face, ornaments, and base.

The figure is cast in brass and worked by hand, following the iconographic conventions of this well-established form. Krishna is depicted mid-dance atop the flared hood of the Kaliya serpent, his weight balanced on one foot while the other leg is raised at the knee in a dynamic stepping posture. His right arm extends outward and upward, gripping the serpent's tail as it curves in a long arc to his side — a compositional device that gives the sculpture considerable lateral presence. His left hand holds a small object, consistent with traditional depictions of this form. The expression on the face is calm and assured, not combative, which is iconographically accurate — the Kaliya episode in the Bhagavata Purana concludes with grace rather than destruction. The headdress is a tall, tiered crown with a feather element and tassel ornaments framing the face. The torso is adorned with layered necklaces and a broad chest ornament, all rendered with fine bead-level surface detail. The waistband and lower garment carry incised relief work throughout. Beneath Krishna's feet, the multi-hooded cobra is depicted with its central hood spread wide, a small suppliant figure — likely Kaliya's wife — cast in relief at the hood's center. The entire composition rises from a stepped, tiered rectangular plinth with carved foliate border work along each register.

The Kaliya Krishna narrative, drawn from the tenth canto of the Bhagavata Purana, describes the young Krishna's descent into the Yamuna river to overcome the poisonous serpent Kaliya, whose venom had rendered the river deadly. By dancing upon the serpent's hood until Kaliya submitted, Krishna is understood to have restored order and protection to the community of Vrindavan. In Indian devotional tradition, this form is read not merely as a story of physical conquest but as an assertion of dharmic authority over destructive forces. The image has been rendered in temple sculpture and votive bronze across India for well over a millennium.

Brass, an alloy of copper and zinc, has been used in Indian devotional and decorative objects for centuries. It accepts fine casting detail reliably, carries meaningful weight relative to its size, and provides a warm, durable ground for oxidized and antique surface treatments.

The antique brown finish applies a deep, even oxidation across the entire surface, drawing the eye into the carved recesses of the serpent scales, ornament borders, plinth reliefs, and garment folds. The effect produces a surface that reads as aged and considered, with a quiet warmth rather than high contrast. Each handcrafted piece carries natural variation in the depth and distribution of this finish.

This sculpture is well suited for a puja room, a home altar within Vaishnava devotional practice, or as a substantial piece for collectors of classical Indian devotional brass work.

Note: At Cosmic Studio, every sculpture is individually handcrafted, ensuring no two pieces are exactly alike. Minor variations in color, texture, and detailing are a natural result of the artisanal process and are considered marks of authenticity. These unique characteristics, along with potential differences in lighting and screen displays, may cause the product to appear slightly different from the images shown.