Is ISKCON racial?

Question

Krishna was black skinned. all the temples in India have idols of krishna in deep blue or black color WHEREAS ISKCON temples have idols of Krishna with white skin.

Although the idols of Krishna in iskcon temples are beautiful, but why they changed the color of krishna. Is it because they are whites and can not digest a black Krishna?

Is it a sort of racism, or there is logical explanation for this change.

Will some ISKCON followers explain ?

PLEASE FOR GODS SAKE I am not trying to offend ISKCON!

I am myself regular goer to their temple in East of Kailash.

I just wished to know about this color changing

Answer 1

I am an ISKCON member so I will answer this question to the best of my knowledge. First of all, of course ISKCON has nothing to do with racism. On the contrary, any temple you go you will see the devotees of all skin colours and races present and blissfully cooperating in serving Krishna. The teaching of Bhagavad-gita, the base scripture in our movement, is that the soul transmigrates from body to body in the cycle of life and death, changing not only the human bodies of different races, but also the bodies of different species of life! I.e. one can be in a white human body in this life, and in a black body in another, and in an insect's body in another etc. In this way, Krishna devotees in ISKCON are taught to be above the bodily concept of life and see each other and all other living entities as children of God, equally deserving His love. It is also one of the reasons we are vegetarians.

As to Krishna's deities in the ISKCON temples, some of them have His murti made of black marble, and some of white, and some even of brass. According to scriptures, there are different materials you can make a murti (deity) out of for worship. I can't recall all of them now, but some are obviously stone, metal, a picture, I think sand is mentioned too. The colour of the murti has nothing to do with racism. Actually, Krishna is not even black, like His murtis are in the temples. He is Shyamasundara - the colour of a rain cloud. He is kind of blackish-blueish, or anyway that's as close as we can describe it in English. Someone who has more knowledge about making murtis would be able to answer why sometimes preference is given to white marble over black one (maybe it is less costly; I don't know - just my speculation...), but it certainly has nothing to do with mundane differences between people of different races. Krishna's body is not material like ours, it is transcendental, and transferring our ignorant material views and conditionings on His spiritual form would be extremely offensive. I hope this answers your question.

Answer 2

Room Conversation, October 5, 1975, Mauritius ‒

Prabhupada: This is Vedic civilization: plain living, high thinking. And poor thinking, poor in thought, poor in behavior, and living with motorcar and this, that, nonsense. It is all nonsense civilization. A first-class Rolls Royce car, and who is sitting there? A third-class negro. This is going on. You’ll find these things in Europe and America. This is going on. A first-class car and a third-class negro. That’s all. Is it not?

Discussion with Syamasundara dasa about John Dewey, 1976 ‒

Sudras have no brain. In America also, the whole America once belonged to the Red Indians. Why they could not improve? The land was there. Why these foreigners, the Europeans, came and improved? So sudras cannot do this. They cannot make any correction.

Lecture on SB 1.16.4 Los Angeles, January 1, 1974 ‒

Prabhupada: So here, this man was cheating. Because here it is said: nrpa-linga-dharam. He was dressed like a king. Just like king is very gorgeously dressed. But his bodily feature, he was a black man. The black man means sudra.

Room Conversation, January 21, 1977, Bhuvanesvara ‒

Ramesvara: That’s the trend, then, everywhere, because unemployment is increasing.

Prabhupada: And especially in your country it will be dangerous because these blacks, if they don’t get employment, they will create havoc, these blacks. And they are not civilized. They want money, and if they don’t get money, then they will create havoc.

Gargamuni: Money and liquor.

Hari-sauri: Yes. If they do get money, they just buy it.

Room Conversation, August 2, 1976, New Mayapur, Lucay le Male, France ‒

Prabhupada: Dravidian culture. Dravida. They are non-Aryans. Just like these Africans, they are not Aryans. Now they are mixing up with Europeans and Americans. In India, it was, one from the higher section, brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, they will be fair complexion. Sudras, black. So if a brahmana becomes black, then he’s not accepted as brahmana. Kala bahu (?). And if a sudra becomes fair, then he’s to be know that he’s not pure sudra.

Letter to Satsvarupa from Prabhupada, San Francisco, 9 April, 1968 ‒

Certainly we are not going to say these things about the negro people publicly; we have no distinction between black or white, or demon or demigod, but at the same time, so long as one is demon or demigod, we have to behave in the proper way. Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu; He had no distinction between a tiger and a man. He was so powerful that He could convert even a tiger to dance. But so far as we are concerned, we should not imitate and go to some tiger and try to make him dance! But still, tiger is equally eligible like a man. So, you can understand that these talks are not for the public, as they have not got the ability to understand.

Answer 3

Lord krishna is the absolute. He has form and formless.
If we say something formless then it means it can take any form.
God can never be racial. For he is the creator and has chossen to create this diverse universe.
But in our world there are more fools and ignorant people than wise people.
Only crooked guys for quest of power and control makes unracial into racial.
Even in ISKON there are shades wise people. Those who are starters can be racial or may be some who are in key positions still ignorant can be racial.
But Master Srila Prabupada was never ever Racial. He is true master.
All are human none are perfect. Do forgive fools and think it as a blessing in disguise to teach us how we should not be.

Answer 4

Because Lord Krishna has been Narrated as a '' Lover of Milk and Butter '' which are in White colour.

Answer 5

what r u talking about ? in the two ISKCON'S tht I hav seen Krishna's idols and pictures are black or blue AND Balrama's is fair because he was fair. I am not an ISCKON follower(in the sense tht i belong to tht society ie superficially) but i will not shirk from saying tht DOUBTING ISCKON IS A GREAT FAULT. ISCKON IS ONE OF THE RARE TRUE RELIGIOUS PLACES TODAY AND ALL THAT IT PREACHES IS TRUE AND THE BEST-BHAKTI. if u read any of the books by ISCKON or come to know a follower i m sure ur doubts will vanish in a moment.

Answer 6

ISKON is doing what is suitable for them to popularize Lord Krishna and earn more money as donation etc. As a Krishna devotee you should not be bothered for that. I am a logical devotee of Krishna. However I respect him, admire him as the most intelligent person ever born in India and not as Lord Vishnu. There are thousands of proof for existence of Krishna but the entire mankind do not have a single direct proof of existence of Lord Vishnu.

Answer 7

attachment to form is the beginning of the falll....

liberation is open to you when you stop clinging to form or colour...

Hari Bol !

PS : I am not an ISKCON follower but have been practising the Tibetan Gelugpa tradition for 30 years, sorry for barging in
but having visited the ISKCON temple in Vrindavan a few days before Swami Prabhupadha's parinirvana I had to say a few words...

Answer 8

I am not from ISKCON cant really tell about that...however Krishna is KRISHNA what ever color we give to him.

Answer 9

I dont know in particular but 1 thing I want to know is Why a Human being is in blue colour. As a fine art sttudent I asked many of my lecturers but couldnt get a correct answer.
2nd ISKON is good for Hinduism. It preaches good
But still it lacks something, and they dont belive or care some hindu scripts and gurus.

Answer 10

agree with aumji.
Krishna is Krishna...he will be krishna...no matter whatever colour is given to him.

he just needs to be believed in and loved by all.

:)