Blue gods aren't unique to India: Egyptian Amun, Thoth, and Aztec Quetzalcoatl were all depicted blue. Vedic hymns reference blue deities going back 4,000 years, though visual depictions only became possible around the 1st century AD when indigo dye appeared. Three shades carry meaning: cosmic shyama for Vishnu and Krishna, nila for Indra, and destructive shyama for Kali and demons. One theory: methemoglobinemia, a condition tinting skin blue at 15% levels, may have inspired these depictions.
Mystery of blue deities: three shades linked to cosmic symbolism
Key facts
- Blue deities are not unique to India: Egyptian Amun, Hapi, Thoth, and Osiris were depicted blue or blue-green; Aztec gods Huitzilopochtli, Tlaloc, Quetzalcoatl also shown with blue skin
- Earliest mentions of blue gods in Vedic hymns date to the 2nd and 1st millennia BC (up to ~4,000 years ago)
- Two Sanskrit words describe the color: shyama (dark blue/blackish) and nila (blue/azure or blue-green)
- Visual depiction of blue deities became possible in the 1st century AD when indigo blue dye appeared from Indigofera tinctoria plant
- Three shades of blue: cosmic shyama (Vishnu and avatars like Krishna, Rama), nila (Indra and Nagas), destructive shyama (Kali, Asuras, Rakshasas, Yama)
- Brahma is reddish-gold/pink; Shiva is ash white with only his throat blue from poison; Ganesha appears in many colors
- Blue skin tone scientifically could result from methemoglobinemia, a condition where hemoglobin fails to deliver oxygen properly
- If methemoglobin levels rise to 15% in humans, skin takes on a blue tint
Sources
Amunen.wikipedia.org
Amun was a major ancient Egyptian deity who appears as a member of the Hermopolitan Ogdoad. Amun was attested from the Old Kingdom together with his wife Amunet ...
Amun - Explore Deities of Ancient Egyptegyptianmuseum.org
Amun, god of the air, was one of the eight primordial Egyptian deities. Amun's role evolved over the centuries; during the Middle Kingdom he became the King ...
Ancient Egyptian God Amun Illustrations & Vectorsdreamstime.com
Download 189 Ancient Egyptian God Amun Stock Illustrations, Vectors & Clipart for FREE or amazingly low rates! New users enjoy 60% OFF.
A Brief Visual Guide to Ancient Egyptian Godsbrewminate.com
Thoth, the god of wisdom, science, and magic. He was traditionally depicted with the head of an ibis, a wetland bird native to Egypt. Some ...
Ancient Egyptian gods and goddessesbritishmuseum.org
By the Middle Kingdom, Amun became linked with the king and was considered a protector of the royal family – and king of the gods. Amun was married to Mut, and ...
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