Photo: lil artsy

Is Krishna black or blue?

Etymologically speaking, the Sanskrit word 'Krishna' means black or dark. At times, it is also translated as “all attractive”. According to Vedas, Lord Krishna is a dark-skinned Dravidian god. Even in traditional patta chitras (cloth art) in Odisha, Lord Krishna and Vishnu are always shown having black skin.

downtoearth.org.in - Can science explain blue skin of Lord Krishna? - Down To Earth

What does God's voice sound like?

The Bible more often portrays God's voice as sounding ordinary and meek than as booming and thunderous. Feb 3, 2015

Last updated Dec 3, 2022

What color is the 3rd eye chakra?

Purple Purple. The third eye chakra, located between the eyebrows, is associated with the color purple. The third eye is important in a lot of...

Last updated Aug 10, 2021

Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »

Promotion

Religion interprets blue skin as the aura of a spiritual body; science considers it a rare genetic disorder The world has depicted Lord Krishna as a baby stealing butter and a charming youth holding a flute, with a peacock feather on his head. And in all these depictions, there’s one common link: the blue colour of his skin. The question as to why his skin looked different from ours must have nudged you? The legends tell us that Lord Krishna had drunk poisoned milk given by a demon when he was a baby and that had caused the bluish tinge in his skin. The same theory is floated to explain blue throat (neelkanth) of Lord Shiva, who is believed to have drunk the poison to save the world from destruction at the time of Samudra Manthan.

Religious interpretation of blue

Etymologically speaking, the Sanskrit word ‘Krishna’ means black or dark. At times, it is also translated as “all attractive”. According to Vedas, Lord Krishna is a dark-skinned Dravidian god. Even in traditional patta chitras (cloth art) in Odisha, Lord Krishna and Vishnu are always shown having black skin. Then why is Lord Krishna universally depicted as someone with blue skin?

Hindu religion believes in symbolisms and the blue color is a symbol of the infinite and the immeasurable. According to Swami Chinmayananda, the inspiration behind Chinmaya Mission, whatever is immeasurable can appear to the mortal eye only as blue, just like the cloudless summer sky appears blue to the physical eye. Since Lord Krishna is beyond our perception, it seemed apt to attribute this colour to him.

Blue is the colour of aura

Some are of the opinion that the bluish tinge in Lord Krishna’s skin is not the colour of the material body but the eternal spiritual body of the Lord that emits blue aura. According to Bhagavad Gita, the blissful form of Lord Krishna is visible only to pure devotees. He may have bewildered the non-devotees, but those who offered pure devotional service to Him had always seen Him in his blue blissful form.

The science of blue skin

How do you ask Buddha for luck?

How to Ask Buddha for Your Fortune First, you must bai bai, or show your respect to the gods. ... Next, pick up two crescent-shaped blocks and hold...

Last updated Apr 19, 2019

What happened to manna kept overnight?

On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much… The rule of the manna was that when they tried to collect...

Last updated Jul 13, 2021

Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »

Promotion

But in real life, can people actually have that skin colour? While James Cameron, in his film Avatar, showed Na’vi having blue skin to imply otherness, there’s nothing alien about being born with a blue skin. Blue-tinged skin is the result of methemoglobinemia—a condition wherein hemoglobin, the molecule in red blood cells that distribute oxygen to the body, is unable to release oxygen effectively to body tissues. As the blood doesn’t get oxygenated, it makes the skin look blue, lips purple, and blood chocolate-coloured. Most of us have less than 1 per cent of methemoglobin. The skin gets the bluish tinge when that level rises to 10-20 per cent.

Famous Fugate family of Kentucky

Six generations of the Fugate family, who lived in the hills of Kentucky from 1800 to 1960, had blue skin. The blue lineage began in the early 1800s when Martin Fugate, a French orphan, settled on the banks of the Troublesome Creek. He married a red-haired American lady who had a very pale complexion. Their genetic chemistry resulted in a mutation and the both unknowingly carried the recessive gene that resulted in their descendants being born with blue skin. Due to intermarriage, the next generations were also born with this rare disorder. However, most of the family members lived into their 80s and 90s with no significant health problems.

Blue Baby syndrome

Methemoglobinemia may be passed down through families or can be caused by exposure to certain drugs and chemicals. Uranium toxicity because of contaminated water is also believed to have the potential to cause ‘blue baby syndrome’. Indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers in Punjab villages saw a surge in blue baby syndrome in 2009. Cases of blue baby syndrome were reported in villages in Romania and Bulgaria that faced sanitation problem and high level of nitrates in groundwater.

Hopefully, Lord Krishna wasn’t a victim of groundwater contamination.

downtoearth.org.in - Can science explain blue skin of Lord Krishna? - Down To Earth

What triggers a broom?

10: Trigger's Broom In this classic scene, Trigger claims that he's had his road sweeper's broom for 20 years. But then he adds that the broom has...

Last updated Apr 15, 2018

What is the hottest housing market in 2022?

Hottest Housing Markets 2022 Salt Lake City, UT. This year's hottest housing market is expected to be Salt Lake City. ... Boise, ID. ... Spokane-...

Last updated Nov 9, 2021

Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »

Promotion

What is a lucky color for 2022?

Cerulean blue, fiery red, mint green and imperial yellow are the lucky colours for 2022. These colours are derived from the four elements of Feng...

Last updated Aug 13, 2018

Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »

Promotion

What was the age of Krishna when he died?

Krishna (Telugu actor) Krishna Died 15 November 2022 (aged 79) Hyderabad, Telangana, India Other names Nata Sekharudu, Superstar Krishna...

Last updated Jul 24, 2020