In this short yet deeply inspiring 58-second clip, Pujya Swami Chinmayananda explains the profound spiritual meaning behind the story of Kaliya Mardan, one of the most well-known episodes from Lord Krishna’s life. The scene from the Bhagavata Purana is famous: the poisonous serpent Kaliya had polluted the Yamuna River, spreading death and destruction to all living beings around. When Krishna jumped into the river to confront Kaliya, the snake tried to coil around Him and crush Him. But Krishna pressed him down with increasing weight until Kaliya grew tired, vomited all his poison, and finally surrendered, begging for mercy. The Spiritual Message Swami Chinmayananda beautifully connects this ancient story to our daily lives. Kaliya’s poison is symbolic of the toxins in our own minds — anger, hatred, greed, jealousy, abusive language, and uncontrolled desires. Just as the poison of Kaliya polluted the waters, our negative thoughts and passions pollute the mind and harm ourselves and others. Krishna’s dance on Kaliya’s head represents the discipline of constant remembrance of the Lord, or living in contemplation and devotion. By keeping our focus on the Divine, we “press down” the restless, poisonous tendencies of the mind. Over time, these impurities grow weaker, lose their power over us, and finally surrender. Practical Takeaways from Swamiji’s Teaching: Identify your inner ‘Kaliya’: Recognise the poisonous thoughts and habits that harm your peace. Increase the ‘weight’ of devotion: Through japa (repetition of God’s name), prayer, and selfless living, keep your mind anchored in God. Never give up the pressure of sadhana (spiritual practice): Even when the mind resists, persistence will lead to purification. Surrender is the final step: Once the poison of ego is gone, the mind itself seeks refuge in the Divine. Why This Message is Relevant on Janmashtami Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, the eternal guide who shows us how to live with love, courage, and wisdom. The Kaliya Mardan story reminds us that Krishna’s work is not just in the outer world — He also works within us, helping to remove our inner poisons. Before we celebrate Krishna’s birth, let us also prepare our hearts for His presence by cleaning the “river” of our mind. This is the true significance of Janmashtami — making our mind a pure and joyful place where Krishna can dance. About Swami Chinmayananda Swami Chinmayananda (1916–1993) was a visionary spiritual teacher and founder of the Chinmaya Mission. Through his dynamic discourses, he brought the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, and other Hindu scriptures into the modern world. His teachings continue to inspire seekers across the globe. Full Meaning of Kaliya Mardan in One Sentence The poisonous snake is not “out there” — it is inside us. And Krishna’s victory over Kaliya is the victory of devotion and discipline over negativity and desire. Timestamps for this Video: 0:00 – Kaliya’s Poison and Its Effect on All Beings 0:15 – Krishna Presses the Snake Until It Surrenders 0:30 – The Inner Meaning: Poison of the Human Mind 0:45 – Devotion as the Way to Purify the Mind #chinmayachannel 🔔 Click To Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/Chinmayachannel 🌸CM Social Media Links - Chinmaya Mission🌸 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChinmayaMission Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/global_chinmayamission/?utm_source=ig_embed Twitter: https://twitter.com/chinmayamission 🌸Speaker's Social Media Links🌸 Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/SwamiChinmayananda Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/swami_chinmayananda Twitter : https://twitter.com/Chinmayananda Jio Chat: https://jiochat.com/channel/600000000816/1 To view #Gita Chapters by Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda search for GeetaCapsules on Youtube. Significance of Kaliya Mardan! Purify the Mind Through Devotion #Krishna #Spirituality #Krishna #Spirituality #ChinmayaMission #KaliyaMardan #BhagavataPurana #Janmashtami #KrishnaBhakti #Bhakti #Vedanta #Hinduism #Faith #Devotion #BhaktiYoga #SwamiChinmayananda #IndianSpirituality