Question Posted Wednesday September 3 2008, 7:56 pm
If Krishna is black, (black/the dark one, usually painted with dark blue or black skin, made from a black hair) why then does he support the mistreatment and opression of the sudras (blacks in india)? I know the rig veda is supposed to be one of the oldest books of hinduism, but there are many verses that support the killing of black/dark skinned people...i understand that this may have been a part of their culture at the time...but if krishna came out of this...and he is black, why would he hate or think low of his own kind? There are scriptures in some books that say killing on of the sudras is nothing more than killing a little bird or a frog...How can a religion that promotes enlightenment and peace with people, promote the opression and disrespect of another race? Would someone with some real facts and experience please explain this to me. I came accross this info in my studies of buddhism and the history of india and things like that...Thank you.
Additional info, added Wednesday September 3 2008, 11:08 pm: Now i have also read that the caste system was not meant to be racial, but practical based on qualities. Like some people are book people, some are fighters, some are more God focused. . .and that explains to me Krishna supporting that, but not the whole killing of the sudras being menial, and the rig veda stuff. References:
In the Bhagavad Gita, Ch.4, Verse 13
The Lord says:
"The fourfold caste has been created by Me
according to the differentiation of Guna and Karma;"
Gita Ch. 18, V.41:
"Of Brahmanas, Kshtriyas and Vaishyas, as also the Sudras,
O Arjuna, the duties are distributed according to the qualities
born of their own nature."
"Indra, the slayer of Vrittra, the destroyer of cities, has scattered the Dasyu (hosts) sprang from a black womb." RgV. II 20.6
Soma Pavamana - 9.41.1 - "ACTIVE and bright have they come forth, impetuous in speed like bulls, driving the black skin far away."
Soma Pavamana - 9.73.5 - "O'er Sire and Mother they have roared in unison bright with the verse of praise, burning up riteless men, Blowing away with supernatural might from earth and from the heavens the swarthy skin which Indra hates. Want to answer more questions in the Miscellaneous category? Maybe give some free advice about: Spirituality? Neetz answered Tuesday January 6 2009, 11:13 pm: Lord krishna never did support mistreatment or oppression of the sudras...He ,being the full and perfect incarnation of God,in fact,opened ignorant people's eyes to the truth that all caste systems,namely-brahmins,kshathriyas,vaisyas,sudras,are equal in the eyes of God.the difference being that these people belonging to various caste systems had different duties to perform in this world,according to their inborn nature,which depended on the kind of actions in previous births,which only God knows about. people are and always been ignorant through the ages,they cannot understand or even make an effort to see the real divine meaning which is hidden in the sacred scriptures.I feel,that if any mention is given on the basis of skin colour,it could mean people of demonic qualities,not virtuous people.God sees all,he knows all,His law of karma runs the universe.we reap what we sow.no one is a brahmin by birth,it is only when we try to reach the state of brahman,that we can be called brahmins.and which ever caste system we belong to,we cant escape from our karma! [ Neetz's advice column | Ask Neetz A Question ]
Teen2TeenHelp answered Thursday December 4 2008, 11:40 pm: What you should do is ask a respected Priest [pundit], a very knowlegable one. I don't think you're going to find an answer here. Personally, I feel that when they said Krishna opressed dark skinned people, I think they meant demons. Most demonds depicted were dark in color. [ Teen2TeenHelp's advice column | Ask Teen2TeenHelp A Question ]
Anathemic answered Friday September 5 2008, 1:10 am: I'm not sure, but I would think that just because he is portrayed as a certain color does not mean he really looked like that. Jesus is usually portrayed as white yet he was a Jew in Israel, which would positively make him darker skinned.
I have the Bhagavadgita although I have not read it yet, so I am not sure about what the passages say and to what context they are in, but I don't think they are meaning to oppress any dark skinned peoples. I have studied Hinduism, it was only one class, but I have never heard of such a thing. It's a beautiful religion I think.
So the Sudras were darker skinned and were discriminated against? I know his name means the dark skinned one or the dark blue one or something. I'm sure I haven't helped you. I hope you can figure this out. Good luck! [ Anathemic's advice column | Ask Anathemic A Question ]
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