Pūtanā Mokṣa - Liberation of the Ogress Pūtanā

Pūtanā Mokṣa - Liberation of the Ogress Pūtanā

We have a special guest today, Dr. Sahitya Chaturvedi, CA based in the UAE, Sanskrit Language and Braj Traditions Expert.  Join us as we explore the Pūtanā Mokṣa episode from the Bhagavāta Purāṇa. Dr. Sahitya ji shares the inner meaning of this līlā from the context of the writings of Vallabhācārya ji, Vaiṣṇava Ācārya of the 15th century who propounded the Śuddhādvaita philosophy. Pūtanā is the first demon to threaten Krishna's life.  She is a huge ogress and her role is that of child-killer sent by the evil Kaṃsa. Pūtanā assumes the form of a sweet and charming lady, she dabs her breasts with poison and while Nanda is still at Mathura, she comes to his house.   In the Bhagavāta Purāṇa Canto 10, Chapter 6, Verses 5 & 6 it states:  Pūtanā's earrings were brilliant, and as she smiled very attractively, glancing upon everyone, her beauty drew the attention of all the inhabitants of Braja.  When the Gopīs saw Pūtanā, they thought that the beautiful goddess of fortune, Shri Lakṣmī holding a lotus flower in her hand, had come to see her husband, Kṛṣṇa.

Two fold Theme

The Purāṇa at this point concentrates on two main themes: one - on Kṛṣṇa's infancy in Gokula, celebrating his baby pranks, his capacity for mischief, the love he arouses in the hearts of his foster-mother, Yaśodhā, and of all the Gopis and, the second theme, about his supernatural powers and his skill in destroying troublesome demons.

Topics in the Bhāgavata Purāṇa 10th Canto

In this episode we have a look at the structure of the Tenth Canto or Daśama Skaṃdha of the Bhāgavata Purāṇa. Bhāgavata Purāṇa has a total of 12 Cantos/Books or Skaṃdha.  In the Tenth Canto of Bhāgavata Purāṇa there are Ninety chapters - these describe all the līlās  or divine past times of Krishna. Krishna has threefold pastimes — the Braja-līlā, that took place in Braj, Māthura-līlā and Dvārakā-līlā.

Mother Earth's plea

Kaṁsa throws his father into prison, assumes his powers and bans the worship of the lord. As his crimes increase, he extends his conquests. At last Earth can bear the burden no longer and appeals to the gods to approach the Lord, to rid her of the load.  In the Bhāgavata Purāṇa Canto 10, Chapter 1, Verse 18 it states: "Mother earth assumed the form of a cow. Very much distressed, with tears in her eyes, she appeared before Lord Brahmā and told him about her misfortune."

Nanda visits Mathura

Nanda visits Mathura to pay his yearly taxes to King Kaṁsa.  Vasudeva hears that Nanda has come to Mathura and goes to visit him.