Conch Sound of snow-white,
Chirping birds before dawn
Tamil Paashuram 6
Pullum Silambina Kaann Pull Araiyan Koyilil
Vellai Vili Sangin Peraravam Kettilaiyo
Pillaay! Ezhundhiray Peymulai Nanjundu
Kallla-ch-chagadam Kalakkazhiya-K-kaalochi
Velllaththu Aravil Thuyil Amarnda Vitthinai
Ulllathu Kkondu Munivargalum Yogikalum
Mellla Ezhundu Hari Enra Per-aravam
Ulllam Pugundu Kulirndhu-el or Empaavaai.
Courtesy: Artist: Keshav, from Krishna forToday.
English Poem 6
Wake-up calls of Chirping birds before dawn
Hear that sound of snow-white Conch from temple.
Young Girl, get up, Krishna, sucked poison and the life of Pootana
Whose casual leg move destroyed demon Sakata
Meditating on creation while on the serpent in the ocean,
In the mind and words of Yogi and Muni, Hari Hari
Hari Hari Gently rising and chanting Hari Hari
That resonates with peace in the minds of girls.
Krishna’s boon to Puthana, who gave poisonous milk
Several Bhagavata stories and incidents from the Ramayana are referenced, along with additional stories, in Tiruppavai. Goda, in a very crisp symbolic way, in a few words mentions an interesting episode in Srimad Bhagavatam. In Sixth Pashuram, Goda writes about Putana, the demon, who was commissioned by Kamsa to find and kill the boy who was born a few days ago everywhere in his kingdom. He aimed to remove his proclaimed enemy, the eighth son of Devaki and Vasudeva. He knew He was born in jail, but he did not know when he left jail or where he grew up.
The book “prabhupadabooks.com” explained: Putana was neither a devotee nor a non-devotee; she was actually a demoniac witch instructed by Kamsa to kill Sri Krishna. Nonetheless, in the beginning, she assumed the form of a very beautiful woman and approached Sri Krishna exactly like an affectionate mother, so that mother Yasoda and Rohini did not doubt her sincerity. The Lord considered all this, and thus she was automatically promoted to a position like that of Mother Yasoda. Putana was immediately promoted to Vaikuṇṭhaloka, which is also sometimes described as Svarga. The Svarga mentioned in this verse is not the material heavenly planet, but the transcendental world. In Vaikuṇṭhaloka, Putana attained the position of a nurse as described by Uddhava. Putana was elevated to the position of a nurse and maidservant in Goloka Vrindanam to assist mother Yasoda. Writer M.A. Venkatakrishnan said the wicked Putana got moksha when her life was taken by Krishna, but instead of milk mixed with poison, it seemed as if Putana fed Krishna milk mixed with her life, for Krishna sucked out her life when she fed Him! He put in no effort to do so. He even enjoyed the milk that she offered to Him. True, it was poisoned, but to Krishna it tasted sweet, because Putana had come with the exclusive intent of offering it to Him, and to no one else. She was giving Him whatever she could, and she was doing so without offering it to anyone else. https://www.thehindu.com/society/faith/moksha-for-putana/article37971829.ece
When Lord Vamana punished King Mahabali (Called Bali) by sending him to Patala, Ratnamala got furious with him. Thus, her emotions for Vamana changed, and she felt like killing him by making him consume poison. Hence, in her next birth, when Ratnamala was born as Putana, she could fulfill both her wishes. She could breastfeed the baby and also make him consume venom. Nonetheless, after attaining Moksha, Putana secured a place for herself in Vishnu’s abode because he addressed her as his mother.
Courtesy: Artist: Keshav, from KrishnaforToday.
Obeying Kamsa’s order to kill any infant of a few days’ age all over his kingdom, Puthana, among others, came to Vrepalle. She came to know that in Yashoda-Nanda’s house, a child had recently been born. She daubed poison on her milky breasts and reached their house. Pretending to be a mother, she requested Yashoda to allow her to breastfeed little Krishna. Krishna, in her lap, sucked her milk and poison also out of her. As he went on sucking, she could not tolerate the pain and fell dead. Lord Krishna relieved the demon from the vicious circle and liberated her soul. He was very kind towards her because, at least for a few minutes, she thought of herself to be His mother. There are no bounds to His generosity and compassion towards the Jeeves, irrespective of their character.
The sky represents the spreading nature of Naaraayana Tatwam. In the sky, birds fly with the help of two wings. Their chirping sounds indicate it is about to dawn. The winged bird symbolizes Aacharya, who shows the path to disciples. One wing is Jnana – the knowledge, and the other is its practice. Without two wings, none can fly.
– Madabhushi Sridhar
Law professor and eminent columnist
Madabhushi Sridhar Acharyulu, author of 63 books (in Telugu and English), Formerly Central Information Commissioner, Professor of NALSAR University, Bennett University (near Delhi), presently Professor and Advisor, Mahindra University, Hyderabad. Studied in Masoom Ali High School, AVV Junior College, CKM College, and Kakatiya University in Warangal. Madabhushi did LL.M., MCJ., and the highest law degree, LL.D. He won 4 Gold Medals at Kakatiya University and Osmania University.
