The encounter between the Hindu god Krishna and the serpent Kaliya, from a manuscript of the Bhagavata Purana (Ancient Tales of the Lord Vishnu)

This painting depicts an episode from the life of the Hindu god Krishna, in which the serpent king Kaliya poisons the Yamuna River with his venom. Krishna, indicated by his blue skin, steps in to subdue the serpent. Kaliya's wives appeal to Krishna to spare their husband. This episode connects to the current predicament of sacred rivers in the Indian subcontinent. The Ganges, the holiest river in India, and its tributary the Yamuna, have in recent years have become heavily polluted. Echoing Krishna's restoration of the river, and acknowledging its religious significance, scientists, environmentalists, and religious leaders have taken action to begin restoration of these sacred rivers.