Poothana moksham - Kerala Mural Archive

Detail Photos

Deity: Krishna Location: Peruvanam Mahadeva Temple Theme: Bhagavata Purana Visual Feature: Facial expression detail Visual Feature: Hand gesture (mudra)Visual Feature: Ornamentation

Poothana the demon is depicted as green-skinned, huge, with large eyes and open mouth. She wears a green lower garment and a peacock feather-lined headdress. She also has some necklaces around her neck. She is bare-breasted and is in agony because the infant Krishna is clinging on to her breast, drink both milk and her blood. Only one of her palms are visible, which is curled up in a fist, ready to attack Krishna. Krishna is miniscule compare to Poothana. The green-skinned Krishna’s back profile is visible and he wears nothing except a thin hipchain.

Iconography

Primary Deity/Figure: Krishna
Secondary Figures: Poothana
Iconographic Form: Poothanamoksham
Iconographic Attributes: Green-skinned huge Pootha’ has peacock feathers in her headgear; is having large eyes and mouth — both wide open; wears a green lower garment; necklaces on her neck; forehead crinkled in agony; Krishna is green-skinned; has a hipchain around his waist; has prominent buttocks; sucking on Poothana’s breast; one hand upon the breast.
Rasa: Adbhuta

Spatial & Architectural

Zone within Temple: Sanctum
Position in Pradakshina Sequence: 12
Adjacent Panels: Ganesha, Yashoda breastfeeding Krishna

Narrative

Textual Source: Bhagavata Purana
Mythological Tale: Kamsa the king of Mathura, learns that he will die at the hand of his nephew. In a bid to save the baby, Krishna’s father exchanges his newborn with that of Nandagopan and Yashoda’s child. However, Kamsa later comes to know of this and sends out different asuras to kill the infant. Poothana is one such asura woman who takes the form of a beautiful woman and anoints her breasts with poison. Krishna being the incarnation of Vishnu realizes this but still drinks from her breast anyway. As time progressed, nothing happened to Krishna. Moreover, he began to drink her blood along with her milk, causing her distress. Slowly she loses her powers, returns to her form as Poothana, the asura, and dies.
Episode: Poothanamoksham

Condition & Documentation

Condition: Fair
Deterioration Type: Pigment loss
Restoration Status: Unrestored
Documentation Type: DSLR full panel
Permission Basis: Combined permission
Date of Documentation: 03/08/2024
Artist: Unknown
Identifier: PVM_P013
Rights / Notes: These images may not be reproduced, redistributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior permission.