Today is Janmashtami- the birthday of Lord Krishna. Its celebrated with gusto across India. A famous sportive event, Dahi Handi is usually celebrated across Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa.
Krishna is seen as the incarnation of Lord Rama. Both the mythological icons dominate Indian theological virtues. Lord Ram is seen by his followers more perfect than other mythological icons including Shiva. There is a strong belief that chanting "Ram" once equates to chanting Lord Vishnu’s name thousand times.
In India the ruling saffron party BJP is more obsessed with "Ram" than the "Krishna", for the obvious reasons. It is more cash-able in politics because of its political value. Ram was born in Ayodhya and there was an ancient temple but it was destroyed by a Mugahl (Babar) to built a Masjid (mosque) over there. And so "Ram Lalla" is living in a makeshift accommodation since than. How can a Hindu party tolerate this. As such. it vows to restore the Ram temple to its original place. And by doing this, BJP will rule the "Ram bhagat" Indian mindset for long.
It is said in Indian mythology that Rama is Vishnu, Vishnu is Rama and Krishna is Vishnu and vice versa There is No difference between them. Lord Rama is another form of Lord Krishna. But, I have never heard saffron people chanting "Hare Krishna,,, Krishna" as vociferously as " Hare Rama, Hare Rama".
But there is a sharp difference between the two mythological icons. Lord Krishna is shown in a bluish color. In ancient paintings Krishna is depicted in light blue. In fact Lord Krishna was not blue but bluish back in color. And in Sanskrit ‘’Krishna’’ means person with dark complexion. Medical science sees it a rare hereditary disorder of hemoglobin called methhemoglobinemia where ones skin remain blue right from birth. It is rarest of rare type of disorder.
There is an mythological explanation for Krishna's blue skin as well. When Demon Putna tries to kill child Krishna by his poisoned milk, Krishna didn’t die but his skin became blue. So Krishna’s power in killing demon was seen in blue color, he is often seen in blue color. Blue is the Nature's color. Sky (air) is blue and so is water. Both are essentials for life. The blue color also encompasses the whole cosmos. Millions of glowing stars twinkle in the sky, universe or galaxy and they appear blue in day due to sun rays but in fact it is black and infinite. For Krishna supporters, blue color embodies the vastness of his character and the unfailing timeliness of his deeds. Krishna is supreme and most powerful of all mythological icons.
Krishna gave the doctrine of Bhagavad-Gita- the self explanatory narrative framework scripture-to mankind. So what more can we expect from the one born an ordinary mortal yet, manifesting the powers of cosmos that be. I find Krishna, more relevant to contemporary world. But why saffron people don't adore Krishna as devotionally as Rama is intriguing?
(Chander Sharma)