THE DESTRUCTION OF PUTANA
One day the demoness Putana descended from outer space into Gokula, the home of Nanda Maharaja. Having been sent by the cruel King Kamsa to kill all the babies in the Vrndavana area, Putana displayed her mystic power and assumed the disguise of a very beautiful woman. She boldly entered Krsna’s bedroom without permission, but everyone was so overwhelmed by her beauty that they did not protest. The baby Krsna, who resembled a fire covered by ashes, looked upon Putana and thought that He would have to kill her. Putana could understand the great potency of Krsna, but, enchanted by the influence of Krsna’s internal energy, she took Krsna upon her lap anyway and offered Him her poison- smeared breast to suck. Suddenly baby Krsna became very angry at Putana, and taking hold of her breast, He squeezed it very hard with both hands and began to suck out both the poison and her life. In unbearable agony, Putana perspired heavily, flailed her arms and legs wildly, and cried out, “Please leave me, leave me! Suck my breast no longer!’ But Krsna persisted, and as the demoness lost her life, she assumed her original, huge form. Then, before the amazed gopis Krsna began fearlessly playing on the breast of Putana’s twelve-mile-long corpse.
PAINTING BY DHRTI – DEVI DASI (1983)