Krishna’s Outlook in four Yugas! Full details!
Sanjay Asked like this:
“Srimad Bhagwatam 10.8.13, Talks about the four colors of Lord Krishna’s avatars in every Yuga. What are the names of the Avatars for each of these Yugas? Thanks, Ys, Sanjay”
REPLY:
I think that you have raised this question reading just a single sloka from Srimad Bhagavatham. These details about Krishna are spread across entire Bhagavatham.
Let me give the details of Krishna’s Outlook in four Yugas in different avatars. It will be blissful to read:
Srimad Bhagavatham 10-8-13 says like this:
“Your son Krishna appears as an incarnation in every millennium. In the past, He assumed three different colors — white, red and yellow — and now He has appeared in a blackish color. [In another Dvapara-yuga, He appeared (as Lord Ramacandra) in the color of suka, a parrot. All such incarnations have now assembled in Krishna.]”
(Explanation of Sambandha, Abhidheya and Prayojana mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatham! READ HERE!)
The point is that Bhagawan takes different colours in different avatars. It may be any avatar – lila, yuga, etc.
Read the types of avatars taken by Krishna in our another post HERE.
However, Krishna who is the source of all the avatars and comes in black colour in His original form as Krishna Himself.
It is not the same colour in all yugas. That is interesting.
As in the Bhagavatham 10-8-13, there is a similar verse in Sri Caitanya Caritamruta also:
CC Madhya 20.246, Purport:
The four YUGA AVATARS are (1) Sukla (white) in Satya-yuga (SB 11.5.21), (2) rakta (red) in Treta-yuga (SB 11.5.24), (3) Syama (dark blue) in Dvapara-yuga (SB 11.5.27) and (4) generally Krishna (black) but in special cases pita (yellow) as Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Kali-yuga (SB 11.5.32) and (SB 10.8.13).
(Original Guru Parampara of Mahabharatha & Bhagavatham! READ HERE!)
Let us now know the Colours and Outlook of Krishna in the four yugas:
KRISHNA’s OUTLOOK IN FOUR YUGAS
(1) IN SATYA YUGA
SRIMAD BHAGAVATHAM – 11.5.21:
In Satya yuga, The Lord is WHITE and four-armed, has matted locks and wears a garment of tree bark. He carries a black deerskin, a sacred thread, prayer beads and the rod and waterpot of a brahmacarī.
SRIMAD BHAGAVATHAM – 11.5.23:
In Satya-yuga the Lord is glorified by the names Haṁsa, Suparṇa, Vaikuntha, Dharma, Yogesvara, Amala, Isvara, Purusa, Avyakta and Paramatma.
CAITANYA CARITAMRUTA – MADHYA LILA – 20.332:
“ In Satya yuga, the Lord appeared in a body colored white, with four arms and matted hair. He wore tree bark and bore a black antelope skin. He wore a sacred thread and a garland of rudrakṣa beads. He carried a rod and a waterpot, and He was a brahmacari.”
CAITANYA CARITAMRUTA – MADHYA LILA – 20.334, Translation and Purport:
“As the white incarnation, the Lord taught religion and meditation. He offered benedictions to Kardama Muni, and in this way He showed His causeless mercy.
(Do Srila Prabhupada’s advices suit for all yugas? READ HERE!)
In Purport: Kardama Muni was one of the prajapatis. He married Devahuti, the daughter of Manu, and their son was kapila deva. The Supreme Lord was very pleased with Kardama Muni’s austerities, and He appeared before Kardama Muni in a whitish body. This happened in the Satya-yuga millennium, when people were accustomed to practicing meditation.
(2) IN TRETA YUGA
SRIMAD BHAGAVATHAM – 11.5.24:
In Treta Yuga, the Lord appears with A RED COMPLEXION. He has four arms, golden hair, and wears a triple belt representing initiation into each of the three Vedas. Embodying the knowledge of worship by sacrificial performance, which is contained in the Rig, Sama and Yajur Vedas, His symbols are the ladle, spoon and other implements of sacrifice.
SRIMAD BHAGAVATHAM – 11.5.26:
In Treta-yuga the Lord is glorified by the names Visnu, Yajna, Prsnigarbha, Sarvadeva, Urukrama, Vrsakapi, Jayanta and Urugaya.
CAITANYA CARITAMRUTA – MADHYA LILA – 20.333:
“In Treta yuga, the Lord appeared in a body that had a reddish hue and four arms. There were three distinctive lines on His abdomen, and His hair was golden. His form manifested the Vedic knowledge, and He bore the symbols of a sacrificial spoon, ladle and so on.”
(TEN PRIMARY SUBJECT MATTERS IN BHAGAVATHAM! READ HERE!)
(3) IN DVAPARA YUGA
SRIMAD BHAGAVATHAM – 11.5.27:
In Dvapara Yuga, the Supreme Personality of Godheead appears with a DARK BLUE COMPLEXION, wearing yellow garments. The Lord’s transcendental body is marked in this incarnation with Srivatsa and other distinctive ornaments, and He manifests His personal weapons.
CAITANYA CARITAMRUTA – MADHYA LILA – 20.337:
“In Dvapara-yuga, the Personality of Godhead appears in Blackish hue. He is dressed in yellow, He holds His own weapons, and He is decorated with the Kaustubha jewel and the mark of Srivatsa. That is how His symptoms are described.”
(4) IN KALI YUGA
SRIMAD BHAGAVATHAM – 11.5.32:
In the age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the names of Krishna. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Krishna Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions.
The above are Krishna’s Outlook in four yugas!
(HOW TO READ SRIMAD BHAGAVATHAM IN 7 DAYS? READ HERE!)
PEOPLE’s DUTIES IN FOUR YUGAS
We have to do only what has been recommended for every yuga in which we have taken birth, to get the mercy of Krishna fast. In addition to the Colours and Outlook of Krishna in the four yugas, let us know them also.
CAITANYA CARITAMRUTA – MADHYA LILA – 20.335:
In the Satya-yuga the people were generally advanced in spiritual knowledge and could meditate upon Krsna very easily. The people’s occupational duty in Treta-yuga was to perform great sacrifices. This was induced by the Personality of Godhead in His Reddish incarnation.
CAITANYA CARITAMRUTA – MADHYA LILA – 20.336:
“In Dvapara-yuga the people’s occupational duty was to worship the lotus feet of Krsṇa. Therefore Lord Krishna, appearing in a blackish body, personally induced people to worship Him.
CAITANYA CARITAMRUTA – MADHYA LILA – 20.339:
“By this mantra, the people worship Lord Krsṇa in Dvapara-yuga. In Kali-yuga the occupational duty of the people is to chant congregationally the holy name of Krsna.
Hope you are clear now about Krishna’s Outlook in four yugas.
(MANTHRAS FOR ALL THE FOUR YUGAS! READ HERE!)