When Lord Krishna was playing the part of a tiny baby of mother Yashoda and Nanda maharaj the demoness Putana one day appeared in the house of Nanda Maharaj, dressed as a beautiful woman. She appeared so very charming, that mother Yashoda had no hesitation in placing Baby Krishna in her lap, to be breastfed. Putana had spread a very powerful poison on her breasts and she was hoping that as soon as He would suck her breast He would die. But Krishna was so merciful that even though He knew Putana was there to kill Him, He took her as his nurse or mother, and along with her milk; sucked out her life air. As she died screaming, she assumed her real fierce form.
Our great Acaryas explain that Putana represents the false or misleading guru. They sometimes possess great material opulence, or a high level of scholarship or some mystic powers.
Such persons sometimes present themselves as our well wisher and as representatives of God. However unless they are properly surrendered to the authorized system that God has given, they are like witches.
Thus Krishna enacted this pastimes to warn us against such witches who bewitch us through their powers, who gain our trust and then steal Krishna from our hearts.
