Why Krishna’s deities are white or black in different temples?
“Why lord krishna idol is white in some temples and black in some temples? I will be very glad if you clear my doubts master ji. Hare krishna????”
REPLY:
In our Sanatana dharma, there are reasons for every procedure or material we follow in the spirituality.
As far as the colour of the deities of Krishna is concerned, those big sized deities are not given any abhishek. They are called MOOL VIGRAHAS that are kept just to give an attractive darshan to the audience in bigger size.
So, they can be kept in any size or colour. In some parts of India, white coloured deities are seen and in some other parts of India, you can see black coloured deities.
Krishna, when is shown and worshiped as Shyama, is made in black colour. Krishna was dark in Shyama Sundar form particularly when He played with the Gopis.
He also appears in fair colour in some situations.
Krishna can accept unlimited number of forms.
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These deities are only for the Public darshan of the devotees.
Let us now see why Krishna’s deities are white or black in different temples.
When the deities are made of granite stone will look black in colour. Why do they use granite stones?
Because the granite stone is the only stone which has a balanced 5 elements ie earth, water, heat/fire, air and space. It is hard enough to resist abrasion, inert to weathering, strong enough to bear massive weight and also accepts a brilliant polish. It has a comparatively high durability.
In some other temples they use marble stones.
There is another very important deity that is treated as God himself. They are archa murthis/vigrahas.
In every temple, there will be small deities called ARCHA or URCHAV MURTHIS, made up of different metals like Panch Loka (Five metals), brass, silver, gold, etc..
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These small deities are almost similar in all temples. They are offered abhisheks and food every day and the power of that god is stored into these small archa or Urchav murthis through manthras during Kumba Abhishek every 12 or more years..
The original murthi may be made up of stones such as marble or granite or other stones, but, the archa/ urchav vigrahas will be mostly made up of metal.
The Big sized Urchava murtis made up of marble or granite or wood are taken to the streets around the temple to give darshan to the people on important occasions. They are not usually done any abhishek. They are only for the darshan of the people.
But the Archa vigrahas are not taken out. All the offerings are done for archa murtis.
Hope you are clear about why Krishna’s deities are white or black in different temples.
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