Putana is a rakshasi or demoness. As per Indian mythology, she became foster mother of infant Krishna and tried feeding him with poisoned milk from her breast in an attempt to kill him. However God sucked her to death. Her motives were evil while she performed the supreme maternal devotion act.
Putana is interpreted as a symbolic bad mother, symbolizes danger to desire or infant respectively, or an infantile bird or disease. Putana is included in the group of Grahinis (Seizers), Yoginis and Matrikas. The demoness is worshipped to protect children from diseases, as per medical texts in ancient India.
Putana is a name derived from the word Puta which meaning purifying. Hence the word Putana means, ‘the one who purifies’. As per other theories, her name is closely associated to motherhood. As per Hindu mythology, Putana is derived from the word. ‘Put’ – a hell. Her name is also related to sores, chicken pox and small pox.
Kamsa, the evil uncle of Krishna had sent Putana to kill Krishna. She is also called as Poothani – ‘killer of infants’. She appeared as a beautiful young woman at Gokul. Stunned with her beauty, Yashoda allowed her to become Krishna’s wet nurse. She spread an intoxicant called Mandana on her breast and tried breastfeeding Krishna. Krishna squeezed her breasts hard, took away not only her milk, but also her life away. By breastfeeding Krishna, she was cleansed off all her sins and just like Yashoda, Putana also attained heaven. In other words, Putana gets purified as Krishna liberates her from her mortal body.
