|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 163 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 14

Poothana Loka Balaghni Rakshasi Rudhirashana | Jighamsayapi Haraye  Sthanam  Dhaththvapa Sadhgathim || Yathu  Dhanyapi Sa  Swargamavapa Jananim Gathim | Krishna Bhuktha Sthanaksheera: Kimu Gavo Nu Mathara: ||

Vasudeva embraced Nandababa and congratulated him at the birth of the child, he revealed extreme happiness but he did not share the truth with Nandababa that the child in his home was Vasudeva’s child.  He inquired about the child born to Devi Rohini and advised Nandababa to return to Gokulam at the earliest.   Vasudeva informed Nandababa about Kamsa’s plan to take away the life of newborns in the cities and nearby villages, moreover, he was also felt bad omen recently about the safety of the child, he urged Nandagopa to return to Gokulam.  Nandababa said “I have heard the tragic death of children of Devi Devaki, also heard the girl child born was reached the supreme abode.  The person who is aware of the greatest philosophies of the soul would not grieve over the incidents happened.”  Vasudeva said “ Oh! Nandababa, If you have paid off the taxes, kindly return to Gokulam, I am witnessing many bad omens on the safety of the child.”  Nandababa hurried back to his village.

Poothana has already started her mission to kill newborn and children of the city of Mathura and nearby villages, she has decided to go to Gokulam where there are two children newly born in the palace of Nandababa.  Poothana assumed a form of attractive young woman, attired in marvelous garments, and had a lovely appearance.  Poothana arrived at the palace of Nandababa, there she found a large number of young women of cowherds, were staring at her in awe, at the loveliness of Poothana.  She entered inside the palace and found two newborn children in the cradle, one was fair complexioned and another one was dark-complexioned.  The moment Poothana entered the palace, the supreme Lord who resides as the supreme soul in living beings closed his eyes at the arrival of Balakaghni/ murder of children.  Poothana took the little Krishna without the knowledge that she was holding a venomous serpent, she moved to the corner of the palace, and put him on her lap; she looked around for people to check if anyone is watching her and found she is safe with the child.  The cowherds mistook Poothana as one of the members of the family of Nandababa after witnessing her beautiful appearance, so they did not pay attention to her.  Little Krishna fixed his gaze at the huge bosom and realized the presence of venom in it; he enthusiastically took a mouthful of milk from her bosom, along with her Prana.  Poothana started feeling suffocated and uneasy, she shrieked out loudly in extreme pain ‘Leave me, Leave me’ she was trying to pull out the child from her bosom, she cried out for leaving her bosom, but the little child did not leave her bosom, she realized all her strength has gone, found herself frail at the hands of the child who was holding her bosom tightly with hands and mouth.  Ultimately, she had lost her beautiful appearance, her mouth turned out a huge cave, and her body grew into massive form, and her body fell on the floor like a huge uprooted tree.  The cowherds assembled were shocked and worried about the safety of the child.  Thus, Poothana who was entered in the Palace with attractive form turned out a dreadful demon, the cowherds assembled were terrified.  Her body resembled a huge mountain, and her bosom stood up like two peaks, and the little child was playing over the summit.  The cowherds screamed out of fear, Devi Yasodha has fallen unconscious, but soon she regained her original form, found the child is safe on the top of Poothana.  They found the little Krishna playing happily on top of her; they hurried to the child and carried him.  They noticed the bluish stain of venom on the lips of the little child, realized that it is poison.   One of the cowherds advised Devi Yasodha to take the child to Goshala and pour urine of the cow to remove the stain of poison.  The baby was given a bath with the urine of cow and recited the glorious hymns of Balaraksha Kavacha/sacred armor to protect the child.  They praised the various incarnations of Lord Vishnu to protect each and every limb of a little child, further the cow dung and the sand from the hooves was used to pray to remove all the ill-effects on the little child who was taking extreme pleasure in the affection of cowherds.

Nandababa arrived in the palace and saw a large number of people assembled. He was informed about the tragic incident happened to the little child of Devi Yasodha.  They immediately chopped the body of Poothana into pieces and brought out of the palace and set to fire, there was the rich fragrance of Agaru spread all over the place from the funeral pyre of Poothana.  Even though Poothana approached the divine child with an intention to destroy him, was attained liberation.   Devi Yasodha took her child and fed him with her bosom.   

Ya Yethath  Poothanamoksham Krishnasyarbhakam Athbhutham | Shrunuyath Shradhdhaya Marththyo Govindhe Labathe Rathim ||

Whoever listens or reads the legend of ‘Poothana Moksham’ would attain intense devotion at the lotus feet of Lord Govinda. Whoever surrenders to the supreme Lord would achieve Paramam Gathi. 

The human body is impure therefore it is called Poothana = Pootha+Na = impure, mind and intellect can be either Poothana or Poothathma/supreme soul.   The people who are reluctant to practice devotion are called ‘Poothana’.  Finally, Poothana attained Moksham in the hands of the Supreme Lord, even though she was fed him with the poison/Ahamkara/ego; she has attained the status of his Mother.  She surrendered to supreme Lord and gave away her Prana as well as Ahamkara, eventually attained Moksha.   The intellect and mind attached to worldly matters and bondage get impure, on the other hand, if it is united with the supreme soul/Poothathma, it remains pure and unblemished.