Putana: Early Miracles and Demons

The witch of poison defeated

The demoness Putana, sent by Kamsa, disguises herself as a beautiful woman and offers her poisoned breast to baby Krishna. The Lord sucks out her life along with her poison. Her body, purified by contact with Krishna, brings auspiciousness to Gokul. More demons follow - all defeated.

The Assassin Arrives

Kamsa was desperate. The goddess's warning echoed in his mind: "Your death walks the earth in Gokul." He summoned his most trusted agents - demons who could assume any form, travel unseen, and kill without detection.

Chief among them was Putana, a Rakshasi whose specialty was infanticide. She could disguise herself as the most beautiful woman imaginable, gain entry to homes, and murder babies by feeding them poisoned milk. Across the kingdoms, countless infants had died at her breast. None had ever survived.

"Find every male child born recently," Kamsa commanded. "Kill them all. One of them is my death."

Putana flew through the night sky toward Gokul. As she neared the cowherd village, she transformed herself. The grotesque demoness became breathtakingly beautiful - her skin glowed, her eyes sparkled, her smile was irresistible. She adorned herself with flowers and fine clothes. To any observer, she appeared as a goddess descended to earth.

A Mother's Instinct Overruled

Putana entered Gokul during the afternoon, when Yashoda was busy with household duties. The stranger's beauty disarmed the village women. When Putana expressed a desire to see the babies of the village, no one objected. Such a divine-looking woman could only bring blessings.

She found her way to Nanda's house. There lay baby Krishna, just a few days old, His eyes closed in rest.

Yashoda felt a sudden unease. Something was wrong - a mother's instinct screaming beneath the surface. But she could not identify the threat. The woman before her seemed so auspicious. Against her better judgment, she allowed the stranger to pick up her son.

Putana lifted the child and began nursing Him. Her breast was coated with deadly poison - a poison that had killed hundreds of infants. She smiled, anticipating another easy kill.

The Tables Turn

But this infant was different.

Krishna closed His eyes and began to suck. He did not just take milk - He drew out her life force, her prana, along with all her poison. What was meant to kill Him instead killed her.