Shocking Reasons: Why 'Lord Krishna' Appears Is In 'Blue'?

By Pandit Sharad Yadav (Guest Writer)

INFORMATIVE Krishna is the omnipotent, supreme person. His name, ‘Krishna,’ means that he is the most attractive person. We all know about the mightiness of the God, but do you know why is the God depicted with colour blue?

One of the theories is that Vishnu, because of his association with water, is depicted blue; therefore all his incarnations including Krishna, are shown as such. In Hinduism, persons who have depth of character and the capacity to fight evil are depicted as blue skinned. 

Another theory refers to Vishnu implanting two hairs, one black and the other white in Devaki's womb which miraculously got transferred to Rohini's and as a result, from the black hair Krishna tool birth, with a dark skin, and from the white hair his brother Balarama.

The theory of the blue coloring of Krishna goes to the fact that the Creator has given the maximum of blue to nature i.e. the sky, the oceans, the rivers and lakes. The deity who has the qualities of bravery, manliness, determination, the ability to deal with difficult situations, of stable mind and depth of character is represented as blue colored. 

Lord Krishna spent his life protecting humanity and destroying evil, hence he is colored blue. One of the theories is that Vishnu, because of his association with water, is depicted blue; therefore all his incarnations including Krishna, are shown as such. In Hinduism, persons who have depth of character and the capacity to fight evil are depicted as blue skinned.

The Sanskrit word Krishna means ‘black’, ‘dark’ or ‘dark-blue’ and is used as a name to describe someone with dark skin. Krishna is often depicted in murtis (images) as black, and is generally shown in paintings with a blue skin. 

Krishna is easily recognized by his representations. Though his skin colour may be depicted as black or dark in some representations, particularly in Murtis (See Dwarkadhish Murti, Shamlaji Murti,Shrinathji Murti,Ranchodji Murti), in other images such as modern pictorial representations, Krishna is usually shown with blue skin. 

The Brahma Samhita describes Krishna's complexion as being ‘tinged with the hue of blue clouds’ and he is often depicted in paintings with blue or dark-blue skin. 

In Hinduism, persons who have depth of character and the capacity to fight evil are depicted as blue skinned.

Shiva, the Destroyer, is also depicted in light blue tones and is called neela kantha, or blue-throated, for having swallowed poison in an attempt to turn the tide of a battle between the gods and demons in the gods' favour. 

Another reason behind Krishna's having a bluish complexion, here is a very beautiful explanation given in Krishna Bhakti Ratna Prakasa by Raghava Gosvami wherein it is said:

“Atha kaiscid uktam. yadi sva-prakaso lila-rasa-mayah paramatma-svarupas tasmin katham syama-varnatvam sarvatra prasiddham. yatha srutau rupam na vedyam na ca bindunadah ity adi. tad aha”

"syamabhatvam vidhatte yat, sarva-varno 'tra liyate, nityam ca prabhavaty, eva kalo 'smin naiva vidyate"

This means:

At this point some may ask: "Why is it that the form of the Personality of Godhead, which He manifests only by His own wish, and which is made of the sweetness of transcendental pastimes, is famous everywhere for its dark complexion?"

Part of the answer to this question may be found in the statement of the Sruti-sastra: "No one can understand even a drop of the Lord's transcendental form." Aside from this it is also said: "He eternally manifests the color syama, within which all colors rest. His complexion is not the material color black."

Thus from the last verse we see it says "sarva-varno" which means that the colour syama is a special color, which is like a composite of all colours. And we notice that if we combine all colours we get a colour which is blackish, but not black.