Lord Krishna is one of the most important and popular figures in Hinduism. He is revered as the eighth avatar of the god Vishnu and is often regarded as a supreme god in his own right. Krishna is particularly known for his role in the Bhagavad Gita, where he teaches Arjuna the meaning of life and duty.
Given Krishna’s exalted status as a divine being, there has been significant debate and discussion over his race or skin color. This issue has theological importance to some Hindus, as it relates to the nature and appearance of one of their most revered deities. At the same time, the racial interpretation of Hindu gods has also been impacted by colonialism, racism, and colorism over the long course of Indian history.
In this article, we will examine the textual and historical evidence regarding Lord Krishna’s race. Key questions that will be addressed include:
What do Hindu scriptures say about Krishna’s physical appearance?
How has Krishna been depicted in art and iconography over time?
What do different Hindu traditions believe about his race today?
How have colonial theories about caste and race influenced modern interpretations?
Examining these issues can shed light on both the theological views within Hinduism as well as the broader social history of race in Indian and Hindu culture.
Textual Descriptions of Krishna’s Appearance
The earliest surviving textual sources provide vivid descriptions of Krishna’s physical appearance. The most authoritative accounts are found in the Mahabharata, Harivamsa, and Puranas.
Several common themes emerge:
– Krishna is described as being dark or blue in color. The Sanskrit word most commonly used is śyāma or nīla, which means “dark blue.”
– His complexion is sometimes compared to a raincloud, dark collyrium, or the blue lotus flower.
– He is often described as wearing “pitambara”, meaning yellow silken garments or gold jewelry.
– Texts praise Krishna’s dark complexion and regard it as evidence of his divine beauty, charm, and poise.
Some specific examples:
Mahabharata
“he had no equal in beauty in the three worlds…the color of a dark blue cloud, he wore yellow silken garments”
Vishnu Purana
“the color of the atasi flower, embellished with garments yellow as the filaments of the lotus”
Brahmavaivarta Purana
“I know without doubt that his complexion is dark blue like a dense raincloud, his garments are brilliant like lightning, his beauty eclipses the brilliance of the sun.”
Therefore, early scriptural descriptions clearly establish Krishna’s dark complexion. The specific color mentioned, blue or black, suggests he was depicted similar to many South Asians today. There is no suggestion that he was fair-skinned or belonged to a different racial group.
Archeological & Artistic Evidence
Sculptures and paintings of Krishna from different eras also support the textual depictions of his dark color.
Ancient Period
– Terracotta sculptures from around 100 BCE in Mathura show infant Krishna as a cherubic, blue-skinned baby
– Stone reliefs at Buddhist sites like Amaravati depict episodes from Krishna’s life story, with a distinctly bluish complexion
Classical Period
– Famed murals at the Ajanta Caves from the 5th-6th century CE portray a dark-skinned Krishna
– Badami cave temples feature Vishnu icons with blue skin as early as the 6th century
Medieval Era
– Bronze Chola figurines of Krishna from the 9th-12th centuries have a pronounced blue skin tone
– Kerala mural paintings also follow the same iconographic convention
Modern Era
– ‘Miniature’ Mughal, Rajasthani and Pahari paintings from the 16th-19th centuries consistently show Krishna as blue-black
– Calendar art and modern prints of Krishna as the iconic, flute-playing cowherd have the same coloring
Therefore, there is striking continuity in how Krishna is visually portrayed across two millennia of Indian religious art. The ubiquitous use of a blue or black complexion matches the textual descriptions. There is no artistic tradition of depicting Krishna with fair or pale skin, at least until the colonial era.
Krishna’s Race in Hindu Traditions Today
Modern Hindu traditions generally accept that Krishna was dark-skinned based on scriptural authority:
Vaishnavism
– Most Vaishnavas accept that Krishna’s complexion was a dark blue, possibly symbolic of his all-encompassing nature and divinity
Gaudiya Tradition
– Gaudiya texts like the Chaitanya Charitamrita state that Krishna is the svayam bhagavan or source of thegodhead and his divine body is completely non-material. So it transcends all physical categories like race or color.
ISKCON
– ISKCON, a popular contemporary Vaishnava tradition, also affirms that Krishna is a divine being who is beyond material designations
Shaktism
– Shaktas worship Krishna but are more focused on Mother Goddess forms like Durga. They generally accept traditional descriptions of Krishna’s dark complexion.
Smartism
– Smartas accept Krishna as one of the five primary Hindu deities. They adhere to the textual depictions of his blue/black color.
So for most Hindus today, Krishna’s physical appearance is considered a divine manifestation beyond mundane attributes like race or skin color. The dark complexion is overwhelmingly accepted as accurate, being well-established in scripture and tradition. At the same time, Krishna as svayam bhagavan also transcends all material qualities.
Colonial Influences on Modern Interpretations
During the colonial era, certain Orientalist scholars introduced speculative theories about Krishna’s race being different than mainstream Indians:
– British administrator Herbert Hope Risley claimed that Krishna and other personalities in the Mahabharata may have had Central Asian racial extraction. This was part of dubious racial science that tried to stratify Indian communities.
– Some scholars during the colonial period argued that the reference to Krishna’s color as ‘black’ was not literal but metaphorical. This seemed to stem from an assumed racial bias where dark skin was seen as ‘inferior’.
– Missionaries tried to appropriate Krishna and claim that he was Christ under a different name or historical influence. Speculative racial differences from Indians were cited to try and justify this view.
Such colonial rhetoric about Krishna’s race being foreign had a social impact:
– It conditioned upper-caste Indians to start associating beauty and divinity with whiteness or fair complexion, as opposed to dark skin which was seen as lowly.
– This contributed to the development of India’s modern colorism where Eurocentric beauty standards are venerated. Darker gods like Krishna were sometimes ‘whitewashed’ in popular depictions.
– It created dubious theories about white or other foreign races being the source of Indian civilization.
However, serious historians and Indologists have thoroughly repudiated such colonial race theories as scientifically inaccurate and culturally motivated. Krishna’s representation in the ancient Indian record leaves no doubt about his identity within the Hindu religious imagination as being a deity of dark complexion. Efforts to recast him as racially foreign or fair-skinned are not grounded in evidence.
| Time Period | Type of Evidence | Description of Krishna’s Color |
|---|---|---|
| Ancient Era | Textual | Dark blue, black, or the color of a raincloud |
| Classical Era | Archeological | Stone, terracotta, and mural evidence showing blue skin |
| Medieval Era | Iconographic | Miniature paintings, murals and sculptures showing blue/black skin |
| Modern Era | Theological | Most Hindu traditions affirm dark complexion based on scriptures |
Conclusion
Based on an analysis of primary sources and historical evidence, Lord Krishna can definitively be said to have had a dark blue or black complexion. This is overwhelmingly confirmed in Hindu scripture, archaeology, iconography, and religious tradition. Some modern interpretations that suggest otherwise are likely grounded in outdated colonial attitudes about race rather than theology or history. For most Hindus, Krishna’s divine qualities and teachings are more important than physical appearance. But the available information clearly indicates that he was dark-skinned and represented ancient India’s indigenous culture and identity.