We were discussing how God arrived on earth in human form. He took birth as the eighth son of Devaki and Vasudeva in a prison cell, where they were imprisoned by the wicked Kamsa. As it turned out, Vasudeva shifted the newborn to Gokul, where his friend Nandagopa’s wife had just given birth to a female child. He exchanged that kid with his own and returned back to the prison.
Kamsa tried to kill the female child thinking that it was Devaki’s, but did not succeed. As advised by his ministers, Kamsa sent his close confidants to all over the kingdom to kill all newborns. He was fearing that any one of them could be the God incarnate, who had come to kill him.
Let us shift our focus to Gokul. What was happening there?
There was joy and jubilation all over Gokul. Nandagopa did not have any issues till then. He as well as all his subjects were highly thrilled at the news of Yashoda, Nandagopa’s wife, giving birth to a baby boy. There was celebration all over. People were rushing to Nandagopa’s house to have a glimpse of the newly born child.
Nandagopa summoned his family priest Garga. The priest cast the horoscope of the newborn, and named him Krishna. The word Krishna could either mean a dark-complexioned boy or someone who attracts everyone. And this child was both.
Nandagopa generously showered the priest with all expensive gifts.
After having performed all the necessary ceremonies and purificatory rituals, Nandagopa went to Mathura to pay the Taxes to King Kamsa. He also met Vasudeva who was his long-time friend. Vasudeva advised Nandagopa to rush back to Gokul since he apprehended some bad thing to be happening in Gokul.
What was the bad thing that was about to happen in Gokul?
As I said earlier, Kamsa had sent his close confidants to all over the Kingdom with a mission to kill all newborns. One of Kamsa’s trusted associates was Putana.
The story of Putana is a very popular story which is often the subject of Indian folk dramas. Especially, in the southern Indian state of Kerala, a highly rich dance drama called Kathakali, often has the story of Putana. The drama normally runs almost throughout the night with enchanting music and fantastic mime*.
Putana was an ogress who was well versed in all kinds of evil powers. She could take on any form and could even appear and disappear from any place any time as she likes. This Putana was specialized in killing newborns. She was an infant killer. Her trick was to smear her breasts with poison and suckle the newborns. Within a matter of seconds, the newborns would die and nobody would even have any inkling of what had happened.
Such a horrible woman stealthily reached Gokul. She probably got the news that a child had just born to Nandagopa. Little did she know that this child was no ordinary child but the God himself in human form!
But Putana could not go as she was. Afterall, being a fierce ogress, anybody would have recognized her. So, she took on the form of a beautiful woman and entered Nandagopa’s house.
Nobody suspected any harm from such a charming lady. So, she went straight to the place where the baby was.
But Nothing is hidden from God in the form of that baby. He could have very well killed her instantly. But he pretended to be an innocent child. He closed his eyes as if he was fast asleep.
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| Pootana as depicted in Kathakali drama |
Putana gently lifted the sleeping kid and brought him outside the house pretending to suckle the baby. That was her usual trick. None stopped her. But that was her greatest mistake. She was trying to trick the lord of the universe, not any ordinary child. God probably smiled in his mind. He pretended as if he was trying to suck milk out of Putana’s breast.
But it was poisoned! So what? Can any poison kill the lord of the death itself? In the guise of sucking her breasts, the child started sucking the blood from Putana’s body.
Putana felt it strange but pretended as if nothing happened. She sported an outwardly smile. But as Krishna went on sucking her blood, Putana underwent excruciating pain. Her body started paling out. She began to convulse. With unbearable pain she cried aloud
“Let me go, let me go, enough of it, leave me!”
The cowherd boys in the vicinity were quite amused by a grown-up lady shouting like that. What harm such a small kid could have done to her, they kept wondering. They just ignored her.
But Putana’s trouble went on increasing. She begged the baby to leave her and stop sucking her life out. Her cries became so loud that not only the earth but also the heavens and the netherworlds started trembling, as if struck by a thunderbolt. People really got scared and started running helter-skelter. Some even lied down flat on the ground to prevent the lightning from striking them!
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| Pootana falls dead |
But the child would not let go of her. It went on sucking, till Putana was almost dead. Putana could bear it no more. She fell dead in her real form as a fierce ogress. Her body collapsed like a mountain smashing the cow-pens and trees in the vicinity. Krishna was still sitting on her body with an innocent looking face, as if nothing had happened.
Gradually, the cowherds came to their senses. They understood what actually happened. Someone managed to ‘rescue’ the baby who was still sitting atop the dead body of Putana. They thanked God for protecting the baby from any harm.
Now, what should one do with a dead body so huge? It had to be disposed off somehow. So, the cowherds broke the body into pieces and burnt each of them one by one.
But a strange thing happened!
When the body pieces were being burnt, instead of foul smell of a burning corpse, fragrance of sandal wood started emanating from the smokes. How could that happen?!
Bhagavata says that it was an indication of Putana ascending to heaven. No doubt Putana was a wicked person. She killed so many babies. She also did try to kill Krishna. But she was killed by God himself. To be killed directly by God is a great blessing. One rarely gets such an opportunity. That purifies one from all his sins. It was as if God sucked not the blood of Putana but indeed all her sins. So, she became pure, devoid of all sins, and attained a divine state.
Even when God kills, he showers his blessings on the person so killed! That is the magnanimity of God, who hates none.
“Samoham sarva bhooteshu na mE dwEshyOsthi na priyaha
I am impartial to all. There is none who is my enemy nor there is anyone who is unduly dear to me.”
-- Krishna in Bhagavad Gita 9.29
Nandagopa, who had just returned from Mathura at that time, heaved a sigh of relief seeing Krishna safe. He mentally thanked Vasudeva for cautioning him of such a possibility.
Let me pause now and continue our story in the next episode.
Very informative write up - putana vadha episode is written beautifully
ReplyDeleteNice sound effects of kathakali in between.However felt that divulging into details of the artform can take away the focus for the uninitiated.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteI am not sure I understand your comment clearly. Focus on the Krishna story ? Uninitiated in Kathakali or Krishna story ? Anyway, let me answer making some assumptions.
I had to go into the details of the art form for two reasons.
1. My intention was to introduce my listeners to not only the story of Krishna but also about how this story has influenced various art forms in India and also give a glimpse of those art forms which by themselves are quite interesting.
2. I have to acknowledge the source to give due credits. This is both an ethical requirement as well as a legal mandate.
I hope my answer makes sense to you.