Puthana Moksham
Puthana Moksham
Putana Moksham
At that time, Kamsa commanded Puthana, the demoness to kill all newborns. Puthana on hearing Kamsa's command started on her mission. (The actor then performs a few actions that are characteristic of a demoness).
As Puthana - She thought to herself - "If I go about in my true physical form, people will get scared and run away. What should I do ? Let me assume the form of a beautiful maiden". She chanted a spell and transformed her physical appearance. She rubbed poison on her breasts and reached Ambady (Gokulam).
She entered a house and saw a baby-boy lying by himself. She sat next to the baby and fed him her poisoned milk. She laid the baby back, sneaked out and stayed there snooping on the proceedings. She heard the wails of the dead child's parents & relatives and feeling pleased moved on to another house. Repeating her diabolic deeds in few more houses, she reached the house of Yashoda.
She saw Lord Krishna, the baby, having been given a bath and fed, was put to sleep. She quickly sat next to the baby and proceeded to breastfeed.
As Krishna - Seeming pleased, Krishna started drinking from Puthana's breasts. Feeding on the poisonous milk, Krishna caught hold of her breasts and thrashing them, started to suck the life forces out of her body
As Puthana - Unable to bear the mortal pain of her nerves being torn asunder and her life leaving the body, she changed back to her original form with frizzled bronzed hair, monstrous eyes and a gigantic body. She howled and fell back to the ground dead.
Thus Krishna though a mere baby suckled Puthana's poisonous breasts and drank her life along with her milk. A portent of the many demonic lives he would consume. Lying there on Puthana’s dark bosom, it appeared as if the mother had spread out a black silky crib for the baby to rest in. It appeared as if, on a delay in being fed by his mother, the baby was about to break out into a cry with his lips quivering slightly, resembling a lotus in bloom with its petals shaking gently.
As the Gopa women - Scared stiff at the sight of Puthana’s body, they climbed on it and retrieved the baby and gave him a bath. They felt that Krishna had been saved by the holy names of Lord Narayana himself.
As Nandagopa & other Gopa men - As they returned from Mathura and heard the circumstances of Puthana’s death, they were filled with apprehension and astonishment. They cut Puthana’s corpse into small pieces and burnt it. The smoke from the pyre was fragrant, as if heralding good fortune to the Gopas.
And then Yashodha, having given the baby a bath, fed him, instructed small boys to stand guard and went away to prepare for a feast for the Brahmins.
Thus Krishna though a mere baby suckled Puthana's poisonous breasts and drank her life forces along with her milk. A portent of the many demonic lives he would consume. Lying there on Puthana’s dark bosom, it appeared as if the mother had spread out a black silky crib for the baby to rest in. It appeared as if, after a delay in being fed by his mother, the baby was about to break out into a cry with his lips quivering slightly, resembling a lotus in bloom with it petals shaking gently.
As the Gopa women - Scared stiff at the sight of Puthana’s body, they climbed on it and retrieved the baby and gave him a bath. They felt that the baby Krishna had been saved by the holy names of Lord Narayana.
As Nandagopa & other Gopa men - As they returned from Mathura and heard the circumstances of Puthana’s death, they were filled with apprehension and astonishment. They cut Puthana’s corpse into small pieces and burnt it. The smoke from the pyre was fragrant, as if heralding good fortune to the Gopas.
And then Yashodha, having given the baby a bath, fed him, instructed small boys to stand guard and went away to prepare for a Brahmin feast.