One of the snakes born to Kashyapa and Kadru. His famous brothers were Shesha, Vasuki, Airavata, Thakshaka, Karkodaka, Maninaga, Purananaga. All the snakes in the world have originated from Kaliya and his brothers as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 35. The Bhagavata Dashamaskanda states that Kaliya had a thousand heads.

Vinata was another wife of Kashyapa. To her was born Garuda. Once Vinata lost a bet to Kadru and became her slave. Garuda bought the amrit from devaloka and freed her, but his enmity with the snakes went on. Garuda started killing them whenever he got a chance. The snakes agreed to give the offerings they made in the yajnas on special days to Garuda. Garuda was pleased, but Kaliya was against this. He mocked Garuda and they began fighting. Kaliya and his family were rattled by the flapping of Garuda’s wings and escaped to the Kalindi river.

Once a sage named Saubhari meditated on the banks of the Kalindi. Once Garuda went there, caught fish and ended up splashing water on the sage. The sage cursed that if he ever set foot there again, his head would burst.

Kaliya’s venom caused the vegetation around to wither and die, and the water of the river to become undrinkable. Once krishna came there with his friends. His friends and the cows were struck dead by Kaliya’s venom. Krishna climbed a tree and from there jumped into the lake. Kaliya tried to strike him but he jumped on to the snake’s head and started dancing. The snake began vomiting blood and bowed to Krishna. His family also began praying to Krishna. he sent them all to Ramanakadweepa and assured Kaliya that when Garuda saw Krishna’s footprint on the snake’s head, he would not hurt them, as per Bhagavata Dashamaskanda.