Krishna and Putana: Unveiling Divine Grace and Protection

The divine events described in ancient Hindu scriptures have long served as timeless spiritual treasures. Among these, the Srimad Bhagavatam occupies a place of extraordinary reverence. It is a poetic spiritual masterpiece that illuminates the path of devotion (bhakti) while explaining the workings of the divine in human life. Spanning twelve cantos, the Srimad Bhagavatam captures the essence of God's incarnations, especially the miraculous and heartwarming episodes from the life of Shree Krishna.

Shree Krishna’s early life in Braj is filled with stories of inspiration, guidance, and protection. One such powerful episode is his divine encounter with the demoness Putana. This event showcases not only Shree Krishna’s divine power and omniscience—even as an infant—but also the compassionate grace that uplifts all beings, even the most sinful. This blog revisits that event and draws out the timeless lessons offered.

The Arrival of Putana

The winds of fear blew strong in Mathura. Kansa, the tyrannical king, was haunted by the divine prophecy that the child of Devaki would be the cause of his death. Despite imprisoning his sister and murdering her children, the eighth son, Shree Krishna, had escaped. Kansa’s spies brought troubling news: a remarkable baby had been born in Braj. The fear-ridden king, unable to identify the child, devised a cruel plan. He ordered the demoness Putana to kill all infants born in the last month across the region.

Putana was a terrifying demoness, feared even by other demons. She possessed a power that allowed her to change her form at will. Using this power, she transformed into an extraordinarily beautiful woman, dressed in celestial garments and exuding the fragrance of sandalwood and divine grace. None could perceive her evil intent masked beneath her radiant appearance.

However, Shree Krishna, sitting in the house of Nanda Baba and Yashoda, understood that someone was coming with evil intent because he was also present in the heart of Putana. He inspired her in such a way that she began her mission of killing starting from the house of Nanda Baba and Yashoda itself. Putana reached directly to Shree Krishna’s home to carry out her sinister plan.

Nanda Baba had gone to Mathura to pay his annual taxes and meet Vasudev. The household was under the care of the gopis and Yashoda. When Putana entered, the gopis were momentarily enchanted by her divine appearance and wondered if she was a celestial being, perhaps Indrani or even Lakshmi Devi. No one dared stop her as she approached the infant Krishna, lying peacefully in his cradle.

Lessons:

God’s awareness goes beyond form and age: Baby Shree Krishna knew Putana’s intent before she arrived and shielded the entire village without anyone realizing.
God’s presence exists even in the hearts of the evil: Shree Krishna was aware of Putana’s thoughts and allowed the divine play to unfold according to His higher plan.

Putana used her power to transform into a beautiful woman

The Divine Encounter

Putana’s plan was sinister. She had applied a lethal poison to her breasts, intending to nurse the child and kill him in the process. She picked up Shree Krishna without seeking anyone’s permission and placed her poisoned breast into his mouth. But Shree Krishna, the all-knowing protector, understood everything. He closed his eyes, not in fear, but as part of his divine play.

Why did Shree Krishna close his eyes? The Srimad Bhagavatam offers no direct answer, but scholars and saints have speculated. Some suggested he did so to mourn the necessity of beginning his demon-slaying leelas with a woman. Others believed he closed his eyes because Putana symbolized Avidya (ignorance), and to allow ignorance to exist for a moment, he had to shut his divine gaze. Some saints proposed he was contemplating Putana’s past lives, wondering if she had performed any good deeds worthy of redemption.

An interpretation shared by Jagadguru Shri Kripaluji Maharaj explains that Shree Krishna, aware of the poison, mentally invoked Lord Shiva, who had once consumed poison during the churning of the cosmic ocean to protect the universe. Shree Krishna focused solely on receiving the nourishment of milk, while the responsibility of dealing with the poison was left to Lord Shiva.

Then, Shree Krishna began to suck, not just the poisoned milk, but also her very life force. He gripped her breast so tightly that Putana screamed in agony, begging him to stop. Her divine disguise vanished, revealing her hideous demonic form. Enormous in size and monstrous in appearance, she tried to flee while Shree Krishna remained firmly latched to her.

Lessons:

Ignorance often wears a mask of beauty: One must learn to see beyond external appearances.
Attempts to harm the divine lead to self-destruction: Putana’s effort to poison Shree Krishna ended in her downfall, reminding us that attacking truth and purity ultimately harms the aggressor.

Putana picked up Shree Krishna without permission

Victory, Liberation, and Divine Grace

Flying into the sky, her cries terrified the villagers. The gopis panicked as Putana soared over trees and rooftops. Yet Shree Krishna remained unaffected, continuing to draw out her life essence. Ultimately, her energy exhausted and her soul forcibly extracted by the infant divine, Putana crashed into a grove of trees, her massive body causing several trees to fall.

The gopis and Yashoda rushed to retrieve Shree Krishna. Finding him unharmed, they rejoiced but also feared the lingering effects of the demonic presence. They performed protective rituals such as sprinkling cow urine, waving cow tails over him, and chanting sacred mantras to guard against evil eyes and malevolent energies. Meanwhile, they were faced with the problem of disposing of Putana’s colossal body.

Using the fallen trees as firewood, the villagers constructed funeral pyres. With axes and effort, they chopped the massive corpse and burned it. As her body turned to ashes, a sweet, aromatic fragrance filled the entire region of Braj. This occurred because Putana had been touched by God.

At that very moment, Nanda Baba was returning from Mathura. As he approached Braj, he noticed the pleasant scent in the air and wondered if some grand yagya or incense ritual was being conducted. Unbeknownst to him, it was the sanctification of a demoness, whose soul had been uplifted by the grace of Shree Krishna.

Lessons:

Divine grace transcends judgment – Shree Krishna saw her intent but also honored her actions as a mother.
Spiritual transformation defies logic – A demoness becomes fragrant; a sinner becomes sanctified.

Conclusion

The essence of the Shree Krishna's encounter with Putana invites us to shift our perspective from fear and confusion to faith and clarity. It challenges us to look beyond the surface of life’s events and recognize the subtle workings of divine presence. Whether faced with deception, adversity, or inner turmoil, the divine remains unshaken and ever ready to transform even poison into purity.

This story is not just and event from ancient scripture but a mirror for our own journey. It encourages us to examine what we nourish our minds and hearts with, to question appearances, and to trust that even in chaos, there is divine orchestration at play. The real victory lies not just in overcoming evil but in learning to see with spiritual vision.

Let this narrative inspire a deeper awareness of the divine hand in your life. It is constant, compassionate, and quietly transformative.

Maintain an awareness of the Divine in your life

Call to Action

To deepen your devotion and spiritual understanding, immerse yourself in the Srimad Bhagavatam—a treasure trove of wisdom, love, and divine truths. Listen to Swami Mukundananda's Srimad Bhagawatam series on YouTube and purify your heart, strengthen your faith and get closer to God.
Participate in the JKYog Spiritual Festival in Maryland (28th to 29th June 2025) and immerse yourself in powerful yoga practices, soul-stirring discourses, and deep devotional chanting with Swami Mukundananda. Register for the event here!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who was Putana and why did she come to kill Shree Krishna?
Putana was a demoness sent by King Kansa to kill baby Shree Krishna. She came disguised as a beautiful woman and tried to poison him by breastfeeding him with poisoned milk.

2. How did Krishna survive the poison?
Shree Krishna is the Supreme Divine. He not only survived but also drew out Putana's life force while drinking the poisoned milk, showing that no evil can harm true divinity.

3. What happened to Putana after she died?
Although she came to harm Shree Krishna, she was still blessed by his touch. Her soul was purified, and a sweet fragrance spread as her body burned, showing that even demons can receive grace.

4. What can we learn from this story today?
The story teaches us that God protects his devotees, even in unseen ways. It also reminds us not to judge by appearances and to trust in the higher plan, even when we do not understand it.