Tasmin stanaṁ durjara-vīryam ulbaṇaṁ ghorāṅkam ādāya śiśor dadāv atha

Gāḍhaṁ karābhyāṁ bhagavān prapīḍya tat- prāṇaiḥ samaṁ roṣa-samanvito ’pibat

Putana took the little infant into her lap. She thrust her breast, which was smeared with indigestible terribly dangerous poison, into the mouth of the new-born. Krishna, who was incensed with her, held her breast forcefully using both his hands. He then sucked out the poison while also sucking out her life.

As the Lord sucked out her life, Putana experienced unbearable agony in every vital organ and unable to withstand the excruciating pain, she shrieked loudly, ‘Please leave me. Spare me. Please stop sucking my breast. Enough. Please stop’. Her attempts to free herself from his grip were rendered futile. Such was his grip! Flailing her arms and legs in great desperation she wailed loudly, nevertheless, the infant did not release his grip. Her clothes were drenched completely due to her perspiration.

The earth together with its mountains, the planets together with outer space as well as all the lower planetary systems including Patala, shook violently due to the intensity of her shrieks. Tremors could be felt everywhere”.

If her screams could cause all planets to tremble, can you imagine the condition of the cowherds who resided in that settlement?

“In trepidation, cows and calves ran helter-skelter. In great urgency, cowherds ran out of their homes to save themselves from the unknown calamity that had befallen their village. While some assumed that they had been hit by an earthquake, others believed that lightning accompanied by thunder was falling upon them. In that anxiety and tension, many fell to the ground. Many others rushed and held on to trees tightly for support.

The demoness breathed her last. Just as demon Vrittasura who collapsed like a mountain when hit by Indra’s thunderbolt, the dead Putana, with her wide-open mouth, scattered hair and gigantic arms and legs, was thrown violently into the fields of Gokula.

Upon death she was restored to her original form. Due to the impact of her gigantic body, trees that were within the distance of twelve miles were reduced to dust. Even a mountain in the vicinity was dislodged.

In utter shock, the inhabitants of the village stared at her ugly corpse. Was this an illusion? How could such a horrid gigantic demon live in their midst in the form of a gorgeous female? How alarming! ‘Never will we seek a wife like this’- thought the cowherds. The Gopikas gaped in absolute disbelief at her frightful corpse.

Each tooth in her mouth resembled a gigantic axe. Her nostrils appeared like deep mountain caves. Her breasts appeared like huge rocks that had fallen upon her from the mountain tops. Her copper-coloured hair was totally scattered. Her eyes were like deep, dark wells. Her thighs, which were like huge sandy banks of the river, were frightening. Her arms, legs and feet were like the huge bridges built by people. Her abdomen resembled a deep dried-up lake.

The cowherds and Gopikas felt as if their heads, hearts and ears had burst due to her deafening shrieks. They believed that they had narrowly escaped death-like trauma. Now seeing her gigantic, frightening body they were even more anxious and petrified.

At this point they noticed the little infant, who was joyously and fearlessly playing on the upper portion of Putana’s chest. The Gopikas, who were filled with motherly affection, immediately picked him and took him to safety. Thereafter in order to ensure the safety of the child, Rohini, Yashoda and other Gopikas waved the cow’s tail around him and conducted other necessary rituals to protect him from evil gaze.

The infant’s hands were made to touch the cow’s ears. They sprinkled upon him cow urine and the dust raised from the cow’s movements. They then applied cow dung upon the twelve parts of the body while chanting the twelve names of the Supreme Lord beginning with Keshava, Narayana, Madhava. Through these and other auspicious rituals they sought the well-being of the infant.

Thereafter the Gopikas performed acamana (purificatory ceremony) and conducted nyasa. Chanting the specified beejaksharas (seed syllables) they conducted nyasa on both his hands and chanted the following mantra to ensure protection to the child, ‘May Supreme Lord Srihari protect your feet’!”

Swamiji explains: The Gopikas were ignorant of the fact that the infant was none other than the Supreme Lord himself! In their opinion he was a boy with some extra-ordinary capacities, but they failed to understand his real essence. This prompted them to pray to the Lord to protect him from evil eye. They chanted the raksha kavacha for his welfare, performed homas, chanted special mantras, conducted japa, sprinkled holy water upon him seeking his well-being.

“The Gopikas prayed, ‘May Lord Srihari who wears the Kaustubha gem on his chest protect your ankles. May Lord Srihari, who is the Lord of all Yagnas, protect your thighs. May the formless Lord Srihari protect your waist. May the Supreme Lord, who incarnated as Hayagriva, protect your chest. May Lord Srihari, who is the primordial source for all energies, protect your heart. May Lord Srihari, who manifests as the Sun-god, protect your neck. May the all-pervading Lord Srihari protect your hands.

May Lord Srihari, who measured the entire cosmos in three steps, protect your mouth. May Lord Srihari, who regulates the entire universe, protect your head. May Lord Srihari, who holds the discus, protect you from the front. May Lord Srihari who holds the club protect you from behind. May Lord Srihari, who holds the bow and who destroyed demon Madhu, protect you from the side. May the birthless Lord Srihari, who wields the sword, protect you from the other side.

May Lord Srihari, who holds the discus, protect you from all corners. May Lord Srihari who incarnated as Vamana protect you from above. May Lord Srihari who, accompanied by Sankarshana mounts eagle Garuda, protect you on the ground. May the all-pervading Lord Srihari, who is an embodiment of completeness, protect you from all directions.

Inriyāṇi hṛṣīkeśaḥ prāṇān nārāyaṇo ’vatu

Śvetadvīpa-patiś cittaṁ mano yogeśvaro ’vatu

May Lord Srihari, the Lord of the senses, protect your senses. May Lord Narayana protect your Prana, apāna and other life-forces. May Lord Srihari who is the Lord of the Svetadvipa protect your chitta (the portion of mind where subtle impressions are stored). May Lord Srihari who is the Lord of all Yogis protect your manas (the processing mind).

May Lord Srihari, who incarnated as the son of Pṛśni, protect your intellect (buddhi, power of reasoning). May the Supreme Lord Srihari protect your individual self. May Lord Srihari, who is the protector of Vedas, protect you when you play. May Lord Srihari, who is the husband of Goddess Lakshmi, protect you when you are sleeping. May Lord Srihari, who is the resident of Vaikunṭha, protect you when you are walking. May Lord Srihari, the husband of Lakshmi, protect you when you are sitting. May Lord Srihari, who accepts the offerings made in the Yagna and who instills fear in all the ghosts, protect you when you are eating”.

Narayana Narayana