c. 1725

Krishna Destroys the Demoness Putana

The first asura sent by evil King Kansa to kill Krishna was the demoness Putana, the Devourer of Infants. She pretended to be a wet-nurse, but her breast was full of poison instead of milk. Krishna recognized her, but suckled anyway. Instead of dying from the poison, however, the divine baby sucked so forcefully that he killed the demoness. In this illustration, Krishna kneels triumphantly on Putana's enormous chest as she dies, her breast and tongue lolling, while the village women look on in wonder.