I found the following quote from the BBT translation of the Brahma-saMhitA
where KRSNa (pronounced Krishna), God, also known as Govinda, is described
by Lord Brahma, who created the material world at the request of Lord KRSNa:
' veNuM kvaNantam aravinda-dalAyatAkSaM
barhAvataMsam asitAmbuda-sundarAGgam
kandarpa-koTi-kamanIya-vizeSa-zobhaM
govindam Adi-puruSaM tam ahaM bhajAmi
"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is adept at playing on His
flute, whose eyes are blooming like lotus petals, whose head is bedecked
with peacock feathers, whose beauty is tinged with the hue of blue
clouds, and whose unique loveliness charms millions of Cupids." '
Commenting on this passage, the famous guru, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada notes:
'The matchless beauty of KRSNa, the Supreme Lord of Goloka, is being
described. KRSNa, the all-pervading cognition, has a spiritual form of His
own. The form of KRSNa is not a fanciful creation of imagination formed
after visualizing the beautiful things of the world. What BrahmA saw in
his ecstatic trance of pure devotion, is being described.
KRSNa is engaged in playing upon His flute. That flute by his enchanting
musical sound attracts the hearts of all living beings. Just as a lotus
petal produces a pleasant sight, so the two beautiful eyes of KRSNa who
causes the manifestation of our spiritual vision, display the unlimited
splendor and beauty of His moonlike face. The loveliness that adorns His
head with peacock feather figures, the corresponding feature of the
spiritual beauty of KRSNa.
Just as a mass of blue clouds offers a specifically soothing, pleasant
view, the complexion of KRSNa is analogously tinged with a spiritual
dark-blue color. The beauty and loveliness of KRSNa is far more enchanting
that that of Cupid multiplied a millionfold.'
The following from the BBT commentary on the SrImad-BhAgavatam (11.5)
talks about the the variety of colours the Lord assumes. The four "yugas"
mentioned are time periods that last up to thirty-two hundred thousand
years. Our current Kali Yuga lasts four hundred thousand years and is five
thousand years old, having begun when Lord KRSNa left the planet.
'The Supreme Personality of Godhead, SrI Hari, accepts in each of the
different yugas various colors, names and forms and is worshiped by
various prescribed processes.
In Satya-yuga the Supreme Lord is white in complexion, has four arms,
dresses as a brahmacArI, is known by such names as HaMsa and is served by
the practice of meditational yoga.
In TretA-yuga He is red in color and four-armed, is the personification of
sacrifice, is characterized by the symbols of the sacrificial spoon,
ladle, etc., is called by such names as YajJa and is worshiped by Vedic
sacrifices.
In DvApara-yuga He is of dark blue complexion, wears a yellow garment, is
marked by SrIvatsa and other signs, has such names as VAsudeva and is
worshiped in His Deity form by the regulations of the Vedas and tantras.
In Kali-yuga He is golden in color, is accompanied by associates who are
His primary and secondary limbs and His weapons, is absorbed in
kRSNa-kIrtana and is worshiped by the performance of saGkIrtana-yajJa.
Since in Kali-yuga all the goals of human life can be achieved simply by
the glorification of the holy name of Lord SrI Hari, those who can
appreciate the real essence of things praise Kali-yuga.
In Kali-yuga many people in South India (DraviDa-deza), in places where
the TAmraparNI, KRtamAlA, KAverI and MahAnadI rivers flow, will be
dedicated to the devotional service of the Supreme Lord.'
Lord RAmacandra's incarnation is described in the SrImad BhAgavatam as
greenish, the colour of a parrot. Lord BalarAma who came with Lord KRSNa
five thousand years ago as His brother is described as white. Both were
incarnations of BalarAma, God's first expansion.
It is often said that because Lord KRSNa appeared 5000 years ago in His
original form of Lord SyAmasundara (pronounced Shyaamasundara), in the
colour of the syama flower (the hue of freshly-formed clouds), that this
is the greatest incarnation; for while all other incarnations are indeed
the complete Personality of Godhead in full glory, this one had that one
special unique feature above and beyond all the rest.
We can appreciate this further, examining the BBT translation of
Brahma-SaMhita (5.31 and 5.38):
' Alola-candraka-lasad-vanamAlya-vaMzI-
ratnAGgadaM praNaya-keli-kalA-vilAsam
zyAmaM tri-bhaGga-lalitaM niyata-prakAzaM
govindam Adi-puruSaM tam ahaM bhajAmi
"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, round whose neck is swinging a
garland of flowers beautified with the moon-locket, whose two hands are
dorned with the flute and jeweled ornaments, who always revels in
pastimes of love, whose graceful threefold-bending form of SyAmasundara
is eternally manifest."
premAJjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena
santaH sadaiva hRdayeSu vilokayanti
yaM zyAmasundaram acintya-guNa-svarUpaM
govindam Adi-puruSaM tam ahaM bhajAmi
"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is SyAmasundara, KRSNa Himself
with inconceivable innumerable attributes, whom the pure devotees see in
their heart of hearts with the eye of devotion tinged with the salve of
love." '
Commenting on this last verse, A.C. Bhaktivedanta writes:
'The SyAmasundara form of KRSNa is His inconceivable simultaneous
personal and impersonal self-contradictory form. True devotees see that
form in their purified hearts under the influence of devotional trance.
The form SyAma is not the blue color visible in the mundane world but is
the transcendental variegated color affording eternal bliss, and is not
visible to the mortal eye.
On a consideration of the trance of VyAsadeva as in the zloka,
bhakti-yogena manasi etc., it will be clear that the form of SrI KRSNa is
the full Personality of Godhead and can only be visible in the heart of a
true devotee, which is the only true seat in the state of trance under the
influence of devotion. When KRSNa manifested Himself in Vraja, both the
devotees and nondevotees saw Him with this very eye; but only the devotees
cherished Him, eternally present in Vraja, as the priceless jewel of their
heart.
Nowadays also the devotees see Him in Vraja in their hearts, saturated
with devotion although they do not see Him with their eyes. The eye of
devotion is nothing but the eye of the pure unalloyed spiritual self of
the jIva. The form of KRSNa is visible to that eye in proportion to its
purification by the practice of devotion. When the devotion of the
neophyte reaches the stage of bhAva-bhakti the pure eye of that devotee is
tinged with the salve of love by the grace of KRSNa, which enables him to
see KRSNa face to face.
The phrase in their hearts means KRSNa is visible in proportion as their
hearts are purified by the practice of devotion. The sum and substance of
this zloka is that the form of KRSNa, who is SyAmasundara, NaTavara (Best
Dancer), MuralIdhara (Holder of the Flute) and TribhaGga (Triple-bending),
is not a mental concoction but is transcendental, and is visible with the
eye of the soul of the devotee under trance.'
I hope this has been as enjoyable for you as it was for me. Perhaps if we
continue to refine our sincerity, we will one day come to know the true
colour of God.
Good luck to those who got this far - no doubt He appreciates our interest
today.
All glories to Lord Syamasundara!
Ghari
-- The BATMAN . . . . Gary Stevason ..... http://www.geocities.com/Athens/2108 Caitanya@torfree.net "Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear." - God, Bhagavad-gita
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