Krishna (the blue baby) killing Putana.

In Hindu mythology, Putana (Sanskrit: Pūtanā, lit. "putrefaction") is a Rakshasi (demoness), who is killed by the infant-god Krishna. Putana is also considered as a foster-mother of Krishna as she breast-fed him, though it was with the motive of killing Krishna by poisoned milk. By offering her milk, Putana had performed "the supreme act of maternal devotion",^[1] in the shadow of her evil motives. The myth is told and retold in Hindu scriptures and some Indian books, which portray her variously as an evil hag or a demoness who surrendered herself to Krishna, though she initially came with evil motives.

Putana is interpreted as an infantile disease or bird, symbolizing danger to an infant or desire respectively, and even as a symbolic bad mother. She is included in a group of malevolent Hindu mother goddesses called the Matrikas and also in the group of Yoginis and Grahinis (Seizers). Ancient Indian medical texts prescribe her worship to protect children from diseases. A group of multiple Putanas is mentioned in ancient Indian texts.

Etymology[link]

The word "Pūtanā", broken as "Pūt" (virtue) and "nā" (no) means "devoid of virtue". Another explanation derives "Pūtanā" from "Pūta" (purifying), thus meaning "she who purifies". Herbert theorizes "Pūtanā" is derived from "Put", a hell in Hindu mythology, associated with parents and children.^[2] Thus, Herbert proposes, on basis of the etymology and her association with the Matrikas, Putana is closely linked to motherhood.^[3] White translated Putana as "stinky", and relates it to pustulant sores, the eruption of which is a symptom of chicken pox. Putana is also the name of the weapon of or a form of the goddess of small pox, Sitala.^[4]

Legend[link]

Top panel: Krishna killing Putana. Bottom panel: The people of Vraj cutting Putana's body and burning her body.

The legend of Putana and Krishna is narrated in many Hindu texts: Bhagavata Purana, Harivamsa (part of Mahabharata), Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Vishnu Purana, Garga Samhita and Prem Sagar.^[5]

Putana (also called as poothani), the "killer of infants", was sent by Krishna's evil uncle Kamsa to kill Krishna. Putana assumed the disguise of a young, beautiful woman and came to Gokul (Vraj) - Krishna's home-town. Her beauty resulted in her being mistaken by gopas (cowherds) as a manifestation of goddess Lakshmi. Stunned by her beauty, Krishna's foster-mother Yashoda allowed Putana to take the infant Krishna in her lap and suckle him. Putana had smeared her breast with an mandana, an intoxicant, to kill Krishna. However, Krishna squeezed her breasts and sucked her life (prana), as well as her milk. In pain, Putana screamed, pleading for her release, but in vain. She ran out of the town with Krishna still clinging to her and finally fell dead. She then assumed her real demonic form, turning trees to the distance of three gavyuti (a unit of distance equivalent totally to 12 miles) to dust.^[6][7] The people of Vraj cut Putana's body, burying her bones and feet and burning the flesh and skin. The fragrant smoke rose out of the flames, as Putana was cleansed of all sin by breast-feeding Krishna and she attained the same heaven that Yashoda acquired.^[6] Thus, Putana, like Yashodha, is also considered as a foster-mother of Krishna as she breast-fed him.^[8]

In later versions of the myth, the intoxicant smearing on Putana's breast is replaced with poison or the milk itself is said to be poisoned.^[3] Another version of the tale portrays Putana as stealing Krishna at night, when everyone else is asleep.^[9]

K. M. Munshi had a totally different take on the myth in his Krishnavatara series. Though Putana came with evil intentions, she is portrayed as being happy to see Krishna and her maternal instinct rises, telling her "Take this lovely boy to your breast. You are wicked and miserable woman. You have never seen joy before, joy which thrills your whole body and mind with mad delight." Overjoyed and forgetful of her poisoned breasts, she took Krishna in her lap and suckled him. In the process, she surrenders to Krishna saying "I give you all, my beloved child... I am yours." Further, Putana is purified and liberated from her mortal body by Krishna.^[10]

Previous birth[link]

Vamana triumphs over Bali

Garga Samhita and Brahma Vaivarta Purana further tell of the previous birth of Putana as Ratnamala, the daughter of demon king Bali. When she saw Vamana, the previous incarnation of Krishna as a dwarf, she felt a desire to have him as her son and suckle him. She soon changed her mind and decided to kill Vamana, after he acquired all possessions of Bali. Krishna knew her desires and allowed her to fulfil both of them - to suckle him and to attempt to take his life.^[11]

Symbolism[link]

One theory interprets Putana being the first foe faced by Krishna (further numerous demons are sent by Kamsa to kill Krishna) or as the first obstacle of possessive maternal instinct faced by yogis.^[11] The legend assures a devotee liberation if they treats god as their own son.^[12] Another theory interprets Putana as an infantile disease that Krishna survived, which can be cured by forcefully suckling the child affected. Further, the theory relates to Krishna's later life when he fights a demon called Jvara (fever).^[13]

In Vishnu Purana, it is explicitly stated that Putana should work in the dark, symbolizing the lack of illumination of knowledge.^[14] Her ear-rings are described not as radiant, but as quivering, signifying her unstable nature.^[15] Agrawal equates Putana to Varuna, the Vedic god of darkness and chaos in the water. As Varuna pollutes life-giving water, Putana mixed her breast milk with poison. Thus, Putana stands for death and darkness.^[16] O'Flaherty says:

The myth of Pūtanā is significant not merely for the image it presents ... but for the intensity with which the image is depicted and the frequency with which the myth itself is told in India.^[17]

Kakar further adds:

The secret fantasy of poisoned milk, of nourishment that kills, originates early in life when the decisive separation between child and mother takes place. The elevation of this fantasy,..., to the status of myth for a whole culture indicates the intensity of (this) inner conflict... in the Indian setting.^[18]

According to Kakar, Putana may represent a dangerous schizophrenic mother, who has trapped her child in an emotional net, of which he cannot let go. He interprets Krishna clinging to Putana's breast as not only the infant's excitement and anger, but also a form of "incestuous intercourse", as in the killing of other maternal demons.^[19] By killing the "bad mother", the son kills "sexually ravenous maternal images in his psyche", leaving the protective images unhurt, and thus emerges as an adult, drawing boundaries between her and him.^[20]

Textual descriptions[link]

Putana is defined as yātudhānī at the beginning and the end of Bhagavata Purana. Though the word yātudhānī is rarely used, yātudhāna - the masculine form - is frequently used in Hindu scriptures to mean an evil spirit. In the text Rigveda, yātudhānas are to be killed, their body broken and their flesh eaten, just as Putana was treated.^[21] The Bhagavata Purana further tells of a milkmaid narrating a hymn for protection from evil spirits including the Matrikas and Putana, even though Putana is dead. In another instance in the Purana, it is said that Putana and "her tribe" still had access to Krishna. Finally, the whole chapter is called "Deliverance of Putana", and not "Killing of Putana". Both incidences enforce the view that though Putana's mortal body is killed by Krishna, she lives on in the world as a spirit.^[22]

In the Mahabharata, when mentioned with the Matrikas (Mothers) and the war-god Skanda, Putana is mentioned as a Protectress Rakshasi, a Grahini (female seizer), as well as a Matrika and Yogini.^[23] In Harivamsa, an appendix to Mahabharata, she is listed as a Grahini, with a prayer to protect the child at the end. In Agni Purana, she is mentioned as a Grahini and also a Yogini.^[4]

Group of Putanas[link]

The medical text Balatantra mentions Putana as the common name of 16 sisters of the demon king Ravana, who are permitted to eat the flesh of infants.^[4] The Buddhist text, Saddharmapundarika Sutra and the 1131 CE encyclopedia Manasollasa by Western Chalukya king Somesvara III lists multiple demons, including a group of Putanas. The Brahmanda Purana and Harita Samhita mention Putanas as a sub-group of Matrikas and Grahinis, whose individual names include Kali and Dakini.^[24]

In Ayurvedic medicine[link]

The Ayurvedic medical text Sustum Samhita describes Putana as "black in colour, with a gaping mouth and projecting teeth and disheveled hair, clad in filthy garments, very smelly, and dwelling in empty broken-down buildings." It further prescribes an offering of crow dung, fish, a rice dish, ground sesame and alcohol to Putana and recitation of hymns to Putana, urging her to protect the baby, along with other treatments.^[4] Kumaratantra ("Rituals related to childhood"), a branch of Ayurveda, specifically mentions that it aims to heal diseases that arise from "empoisoned milk of Seizers" (Grahini), Putana being one.^[25] As per Kumaratantra, all childhood diseases falling on third day, the third month, or the third year of a child's life are attributed to Putana, regardless of the disease's symptoms.^[26]

Depiction as a bird[link]

Putana is portrayed as a bird in sculpture and myth. Kushan images of Putana as a bird are found in Mathura, Deogarh and Mandor.^[4] In a third century version of Harivamsa, Putana is called the "nurse of Kamsa", who comes to a child as a female bird (shakuni), and is one of many birdlike female divinities mentioned in Harivamsa.^[25] Putana's bird form symbolizes desire of materialistic objectives.^[11] In some texts, Putana is described as a Vaki, a female crane, thus a symbol of crookedness and hypocrisy.^[27]

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Agrawal, V.S. (1996). "Putana and Yasoda". In Shashi, Shyam Singh. Encyclopaedia Indica. Anmol Publications PVT. LTD. ISBN 81-7041-859-3. http://books.google.com/?id=q8cTA1jEMoMC&pg=PA822&dq=putana. 
• Dimmitt, Cornelia; Buitene, Johannes Adrianus Bernardus (1978). "Putana: The Child Killer". Classical Hindu Mythology: A Reader in the Sanskrit Purāṇas. Temple University Press. ISBN 0-87722-122-7. http://books.google.com/?id=TmFOX7q2IqgC&pg=PA103&vq=Putana. 
• Gopal, T. V. (2000). Hrishikesa. Universal-Publishers. ISBN 1-58112-732-4. http://books.google.com/?id=O7B4Q21Jy0oC&pg=PA96&dq=putana. 
• Herbert, J. (1996). "Sakata and Putana". In Shashi, Shyam Singh. Encyclopaedia Indica. Anmol Publications PVT. LTD. ISBN 81-7041-859-3. http://books.google.com/?id=q8cTA1jEMoMC&pg=PA822&dq=putana. 
• Kakar, Sudhir (2002). "Cults and myths of Krishna". In Devy, G. N.. Indian Literary Criticism: Theory and Interpretation. Orient Blackswan. ISBN 81-250-2022-5. http://books.google.com/?id=MbGyZN1I4E0C&pg=PA425&dq=putana. 
• Kakar, Sudhir (1978). The Inner World: A Psychoanalytic Study of Childhood and Society in India. Delhi. 
• O'Flaherty, Wendy Doniger (1982). Women, Androgynes, and Other Mythical Beasts. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-61850-1. http://books.google.com/?id=DTwvtkqYrNgC&pg=PA250&dq=putana. 
• Olson, Carl (2007). ""Putana's arrival in Vraj" from Bhagavata Purana". Hindu Primary Sources: A Sectarian Reader. Rutgers University Press. ISBN 0-8135-4070-4. http://books.google.com/?id=zuqB0o8aGzMC&pg=PA240&dq=putana. 
• White, David Gordon (2003). Kiss of the yoginī: "Tantric Sex" in its South Asian contexts. University of Chicago Press. pp. 51–53. ISBN 978-0-226-89483-6. http://books.google.com/?id=ErTHR2kRdCkC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Kiss+of+the+Yogini+By+David+Gordon+White&q=Kiss%20of%20the%20Yogini%20By%20David%20Gordon%20White. 

v t e Hindu deities and texts Gods Deva Ganesha Brahma Vishnu Shiva Rama Krishna Murugan Hanuman Indra Surya more Goddesses Adi parashakti Devi Saraswati Lakshmi Sati Parvati Durga Shakti Kali Sita Radha Mahavidya Navadurga Matrikas more Texts Vedas Upanishads Puranas Ramayana Mahabharata Bhagavad Gita more Hinduism Hindu mythology

Fabri Fibra
Background information
Birth name	Fabrizio Tarducci
Born	(1976-10-17) October 17, 1976 (age 35)
Origin	Senigallia, Marche, Italy
Genres	Hip hop, pop rap
Years active	1996–present
Website	http://www.fabrifibra.it

Fabri Fibra (born Fabrizio Tarducci on 17 October 1976) is an Italian rapper.

Biography[link]

Tarducci was born in Senigallia, Marche. He became interested in music from a young age; he wrote and performed his first piece when he was 17 years old.

In 1995 he recorded his first demo. He created the tandem Uomini di Mare with DJ Lato, beatmaker and deejay, and in 1996 they produced the underground CD Dei del mare quest'el gruv. In 1999 Fabri and Lato produced and distributed the LP Sindrome di fine millennio ("End of the Millennium Syndrome"), with collaborations from El Presidente (also known as Esa), Inoki, Joe Cassano and his brother Nesli.

Following his underground success, Fabri Fibra began performing around Italy. In 2000 he established his label and group Teste Mobili Records (Bobbing Head Records), and collaborated with various Italian rap groups, lending vocals as well as lyrics to the mixtape circuit.

Solo career[link]

[edit] Turbe Giovanili (2002)

In 2002 Fabri released his first solo album, titled Turbe giovanili (Juvenile Troubles), for which he wrote and recorded his lyrics under the production and arrangement of Neffa. A year later Fabri distributed Lato e Fabri Fibra which brought a close to the partnership with Lato and the Uomini di mare project with aky il grande.

Nesli's Home and Fabri Fibra's Mr. Simpatia were released simultaneously on 1 September 2004.

[edit] Mr. Simpatia (2004)

Released in 2004, Mr. Simpatia (Mr. Sympathy) is Fibra's second solo album. All the instrumental bases were made by his younger brother, the rapper Nesli Rice, with the exceptions of "Non Ti Invidio" ("I Don't Envy You") (made by Bassi Maestro) and the album's bonus track (by Bosca).

The album cover shows Fibra's head lying on its side with a gruesome injury. Mr. Simpatia is an ironic title; the tracks' main themes are the Italian hip hop scene, contempt for society, relationships with girls, and Fibra's frustration about his job.

[edit] Tradimento (2006)

Fabri Fibra Live in Florence, in 2006

Fabri Fibra Live in Udine, in 2006

After splitting from his recording company contract at Vibrarecords, Fabri went underground and went unheard from for a year, until he resurfaced with a new deal at major recording company Universal Music Italia. Under the production of Fish and brother Nesli Fabri created his most commercially and artistically successful album, Tradimento ("Betrayal"). His first single, released in Europe 4 April 2006, was "Applausi per Fibra" ("Applause for Fibra"). The single discussed Fibra's personal and life experiences overcome by Fabri himself, with a certain emphasis on self-praise.

Only a week after the official launch (6 June 2006) the album reached the number one spot in album sales. However it was criticized^[who?] for its use of expletives, indifference in its presentation of provocative themes, and its misogynist views of women, all of which were found across the album.

Following the success of "Applausi per Fibra", the second, more urban-themed single, "Su le mani" ("On Your Hands"), was released. This was followed by the release of "Mal di stomaco" ("Stomachache"), which gained instant infamy, most notably for the originality of its music video (a fabricated broadcast of SKY TG24 - a Satellite news station) that reports on the death of Fabri Fibra in a car accident. The authenticity is sealed with "live coverage" reports, interviews from famous stars such as Fernanda Lessa, Eva Henger, Jimmy Ghione, producer Fish, rapper Vacca and brother Nesli. The video ends with Fabri's body disappearing from the morgue.

The last single is "Idee stupide" ("Stupid Ideas"), with a black and white video which, whilst not as original as the former video, uses a Rocky-style montage that compliments Fabri's underdog lyrics.

In 2010, Tradimento came second in a newspaper poll, making it the second most important album of the decade in Italy^{[citation needed]}. Tradimento is the biggest selling album in Italian music history.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Bugiardo (2008)

Fabri Fibra and Vacca during a live show in 2008

Fabri Fibra's next album, Bugiardo (Liar), came out on 9 November 2007, after the release of the street-single "Questo è il nuovo singolo" ("This is the new single"). The first official single, "Bugiardo", came out on 15 October 2007 and the second official single being "La Soluzione" ("The Solution"), which came out on 9 November 2007. On 25 April 2008, Fibra released the single “In Italia” featuring singer Gianna Nannini. The song became a massive summer hit, being the most watched music video in Italy of 2008^{[citation needed]} and earning a nomination at the MTV Europe Music Awards for Best Italian Act.

[edit] Chi Vuole Essere Fabri Fibra? (2009)

On 10 April 2009, Fibra released his fifth album, entitled Chi Vuole Essere Fabri Fibra? (Who Wants To Be Fabri Fibra?) He released two songs from the album, entitled "Incomprensioni" ("Incomprehension") (featuring Federico Zampaglione) and "Speak English", which discusses the cultural differences between Italy and England; the video for "Speak English" was shot in Brighton, where Fibra lived and worked for four years. A track off the album, entitled "Donna Famosa" ("Famous Woman"), is featured in the soundtrack of the FIFA 10 football video game.

[edit] Controcultura (2010)

Fabri Fibra in Cesena (2010)

Fabri Fibra in Rimini (2011)

From 18 February 2010, MTV Italia broadcast a program on Thursday nights entitled Fabri Fibra: Italy. The program was defined as a docu-drama, and included five episodes showing the lives of young people living in socially disadvantaged situations. On 4 May 2010, Fibra released a remastered album of Turbe giovanilili, entituled Turbe giovanili Remaster. On 20 July 2010, Fibra also released his first web-album, entitled Quorum, which is available in his website.

The album Controcultura (Counterculture) was released on 7 September 2010 and reached #1 in the Italian albums chart. The album has so far spawned three singles named "Vip In Trip", "Tranne Te" ("Except for You") (both peaking at #2 in the Italian singles chart), "Qualcuno Normale" ("Somebody Normal") featuring the artist Marracash and "Le Donne" ("The Women"). Fibra said that "Le Donne" music was a response to the bales of misogyny that he had to face for years, mainly because of "Mrs. Simpatia".

On 1 March 2011, Fibra released the "Tranne Te: Rap Futuristico EP", a extended-play which had remixes of Tranne Te with other artists, like Redman, the French rapper Soprano and old friends from Fibra like Marracash and Dargen D'Amico. At the same month, Fibra released a online mixtape named "Venerdì 17" ("Friday 17"), available to download for free on his website. It contains many freestyles and remixes of some of his earlier work including many remixes of some of his more recent work.

The year of 2011 was also remarkable for Fibra, which he has won four consecutives awards: the platinum disc for "Controcultura", a multiplatinum disc for "Tranne Te", a "Superman" award from the TRL Awards 2011 and a "Wind Music" award.

In the Summer of 2011 Fibra launched his own record label named "Tempi Duri Records" (Hard Times Records). Young rappers Entics and Clementino have been signed to the label.

[edit] Rapstar-Non é gratis (2012)

Fabri Fibra met Clementino in the summer of 2011 at his Controcultura Tour in Naples, and immediately they began to record together. The initial idea, as stated by Clementino in an interview, was simply to make a mixtape. Subsequently, however, both changed their minds and decided to produce a whole album under the name of Rapstar. On January 9, 2012 out double single: Ci rimani male/Chimica Brother, single opening of Non é gratis, debut album of the band, released on January 31, 2012.^[1]

Discography[link]

With Uomoni di Mare[link]

• 1996 - Del mare quest'el gruv
• 1999 - Sindrome di fine millenio

Solo career[link]

• 2002 - Turbe giovanili
• 2004 - Mr. Simpatia
• 2005 - Mr. Simpatia (Live)
• 2005 - Mr. Simpatia (Gold Edition)
• 2006 - Tradimento
• 2006 - Tradimento + Pensieri scomodi
• 2007 - Bugiardo
• 2009 - Chi vuole essere Fabri Fibra? (Gold)
• 2010 - Turbe giovanili Remaster
• 2010 - Quorum
• 2010 - Controcultura (Platinum)
• 2011 - Tranne Te: Rap Futuristico EP (EP)
• 2011 - Venerdì 17 (Mixtape)

With Rapstar[link]

• 2012 - Non é gratis

Singles[link]

Solo career[link]

• Applausi per Fibra (2006)
• Mal Di Stomaco (2006)
• Su Le Mani (2006)
• Idee Stupide (2006)
• Questo è Il Nuovo Singolo (Street Single) (2007)
• Bugiardo (2007)
• La soluzione (2008)
• In Italia featuring Gianna Nannini (2008)
• Incomprensioni featuring Federico Zampaglione (2009)
• Speak English (2009)
• Festa Festa featuring Crookers & Dargen D'Amico (2010)
• Vip in Trip (2010)
• Tranne Te (2010)
• Qualcuno Normale featuring Marracash (2011)
• Le Donne (2011)

With Rapstar[link]

• Ci rimani male/Chimica Brother (2012)

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Fabri Fibra

• Official website
• Fabri Fibra on Myspace
• Fabri Fibra's channel on YouTube

Iago Aspas Juncal (born 1 August 1987 in Moaña, Pontevedra, Galicia) is a Spanish footballer who plays for Celta de Vigo as a forward.

Football career[link]

Brought through the youth ranks of local team Celta de Vigo, Aspas made his first team debut in 2007–08, with the club in the second division (it would be his only of the campaign).

He was definitely promoted from the reserves for the 2009–10 season, going on to appear in several more campaigns in the second level with the Galicians. In 2011–12, he scored a career-best 23 league goals, second-best in the competition behind UD Almería's Leonardo Ulloa.

Club statistics[link]

Personal[link]

Aspas' older brother, Jonathan, is also a footballer. Both were groomed at local side Celta.

External links[link]

• BDFutbol profile
• Futbolme profile (Spanish)
• Transfermarkt profile