KRISNA SUBDUING THE NAGA KALIYA

The battle between krisna and the Naga serpent-king KALA. The later had released  a  poison  in  the  river  YAMUNA  (  the  river  that  connects  DELHI  , MATHURA and AGRA in northern INDIA) that would kill all humans and thus
allow him  alone to drink the water. The central image of this lintel depicting  the ­
moment when KRISNA finally conquers KALIYA in the river and dances in triumph on the serpent's multiple heads  , holding two of them by the snout and kicking another . KRISNA flanked by two Garudas. There are two types of Naga. portrayed in khmer art ; those with uneven- number of heads and those with an even number . KALIYA is depicted in this lintel with an even number of six heads which carries a symbolism of DEATH. The other benevolent Nagas such as Ananta and Muchilinda always have an uneven number of heads, the contrast between
even and uneven number   is important in all area of Khmer thought , the famous
dance of the APSARA , for instant, is always performed by five dances .extra one number  that  transforms  the  seven  into  the  uneven  is  thought  to  represent  a triumphant, eternal quality of nature .
THE LINTEL IN THE NATIONAL MUSEUM
The lintel in Phaphoun style frequently include narrative scenes and are marked by an astonishing perfection of sculptural technique. The carving on this lintel, which in places reaches a depth of almost 5 centimeters, is clearly the work of a master sculptor, and a virtue toso performance in the manipulation of light and space.
The  figure  of   KRISHNA  incorporates  many  features  of  the  Phaphoun  style, including his clothing , dimpled chin ,bright eyes and broad shoulders.