The Divine Form of Lord Krishna: Beyond Myth and Iconography

Lord Krishna: Beyond Myth and Iconography

The description of Lord Krishna's divinity can be found in the Brahma Vaivarta Puran, an ancient Hindu scripture. This text elaborately describes the beauty and divine attributes of Lord Krishna, depicting Him as the embodiment of divine love, wisdom, and cosmic order.

Description from Brahma Vaivarta Puran

In the Brahma Khanda chapter 2 of the Brahma Vaivarta Puran, Krishna is described as follows:

His beauty resembles millions of Kamadevas (deities of love). His form is the abode of divine plays. He has two arms and holds a flute. He has a smiling face and is clad with a yellow lower garment. He is adorned with beautiful gem-studded ornaments. His limbs are adorned with sandal paste and saffron. His chest is adorned with the Srivatsa mark. His head is adorned with the Kirttika Mukuta, studded with gems. He is seated over a gem-studded throne. He is indeed Parabrahman, the great Lord, self-born, the cause of the creation of all the universe, and the absolute Brahman. Always remaining in the tender age, He moves in the form of a cowherd. He is endowed with the beauty of millions of full moons, compassionate towards His devotees, spotless, unattached, complete Brahman, omnipresent, remains present in the divine dance Rasesvara, peaceful, the one who extends welfare to all, the abode of welfare, the seed of blissfulness, the truthful, indestructible, imperishable, eternal Lord of all achievements, the form of all the achievements, beyond nature, Isvara, the formless form of the great soul, calm, and the refuge of all. Calm-looking Vaisnavas meditate on Him. Therefore, it is one Lord alone who takes many forms. He witnessed the complete void everywhere at the time of dissolution.

Visual Representation of Lord Krishna

In Hindu iconography, the appearance of Lord Krishna varies, but the description from the Brahma Vaivarta Puran is considered to be the closest. According to this scripture, Lord Krishna is often depicted with female facial features, highlighting His beauty. This representation is not unique to Lord Krishna; other religious figures like John the Apostle or even Jesus sometimes exhibit androgynous traits to represent beauty.

Physically, Lord Krishna is described as a young man in his mid-teens to early twenties, approximately 5'11" to 6'0". He is depicted with blue skin, which signifies a dark-skinned person. His face is delicate, resembling that of a woman. He has an athletic yet shapely appearance, being somewhat muscular but slender. His hair is dark and long, and his eyes can be light brown, amber, golden, or green, depending on the artist. Lord Krishna is often portrayed without a shirt, wearing a pair of Hindu prince pants or an ancient Indian-hindu prince long skirt. He is usually holding a flute.

Conclusion

The depiction of Lord Krishna's divine form is rich with symbolism and significance in Hindu mythology. His androgynous appearance and youthful beauty reflect the duality of existence and the divine essence. Understanding these descriptions and representations can provide a deeper insight into the spiritual and cultural aspects of Lord Krishna in Hindu tradition.