Krishna’s Foster-Mother Yashoda with the Infant Krishna, Chola period, early 12th century, Tamil Nadu, India.
Credit: Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Krishna is the most beloved Hindu deity. His birth was soon followed by a threat on the baby Krishna’s life. Krishna’s parents planned a secret escape, which allowed for Krishna to be raised by foster parents. Yashoda was the foster mother depicted in the above bronze statue, breastfeeding a young Krishna.
Bala Krishna and the demonness Putana.
c.1880, India
Yoshonda hired on Putana, a wet-nurse for the infant-god. Putana was sent by Krishna’s evil uncle Kamsa to kill Krishna. The act of breastfeeding was considered the most supreme act of maternal devotion, but it was just a clever guise to gain trust from others.
Putana’s breasts were filled with poison milk, and when she offered her breast to Krishna he sucked aggressively until the life was out of her. She transformed into her true form of a demonness and died.
