Arguments have been raging on social media regarding the skin tone of Lord Rama, since he has been depicted as fair-skinned in some recent viral AI images. Rama was not fair, nor completely black-skinned. He is said to have had the complexion of a blue-black lotus, similar to that of Lord Vishnu. Here are some descriptions from traditional texts to bring clarity on the skin colour of Lord Rama.
In the Ayodhya Kanda, many Kings declare why they support the coronation proposal of Rama.
Oh best of kings, Dasaratha ! We shall see Rama adorned with the princely kingdom. Your son Rama has the complexion of a dark lotus flower and annihilates all his enemies.
Let the wish of the people to make him Yuvaraja be fulfilled by your grace.
In the Sundara Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, Sita asks Hanuman to prove himself that he knew Rama and Lakshmana. Then, Hanuman starts describing various characteristics Of Rama. As a part of the description, Hanuman says as follows:
He has a voice like the sound of a dundubhi (kettle-drum). He has shining skin. He is full of splendour. He is square-built. His limbs are built symmetrically. He is endowed with a dark complexion.
When Sita enters the fire by herself, All the Gods reach Lanka and approach Rama. Brahma describes who Rama in reality is, and proclaims his (Rama’s) divinity.
Sita is no other than Goddess Lakshmi (the divine consort of Lord Vishnu), while you are Lord Vishnu. You are having a shining dark-blue hue.
You are the Lord of created beings. For the destruction of Ravana, you entered a human body here, on this earth.
Rama Raksha stotram written by Budha Kaushika muni is a popular hymn. In the stotra, the muni praises Lord Rama as below.
Meditating on Rama who is black like the blue lotus flower, who has lotus like eyes, who is our Lord, who is accompanied by Sita and Lakshmana, whose head is surrounded by the tufted hair.
Who is the best among kings, who is truthful, who is son of Dasaratha, who is black hued and who is the personification of peace and patience.
Goswami Tulsidas worships Rama thus,
Whose body has the hue of a blue lotus, who is dark-skinned, whose body parts are soft, on whose left resides Sita;
Who has a transcendental arrow and a beautiful bow in His hands, I pray to Sri Ram, Lord of Raghu dynasty.
In the Aranya Kanda, Marichi describes the teenage Rama to Ravana thus,
One with yet unborn identities of masculinity, the fortunate boy, dark complexioned, with magnificent looks;
wearing a loincloth, holding the longbow, having locks of hair and, wearing a golden pendant.
Earlier, in the Aranya Kanda itself, a spy of Ravana named Akampana rushes to him to break the news of annihilation of Janasthaana by Rama thus,
Blue-black in complexion, highly renowned, magnificent, with matchless might and valour,
One such as He slew Khara, along with Dushana in Janasthana.
In Bhakti literature Ramayanas, Rama is also called Nīlameghaśyāma meaning the one who is of the complexion of a blue-black cloud. The pictures of Rama in goura (pale red, white, yellow) varna can be considered artistic imagination. It is important to note that in the dhyanam of Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam, Lord Vishnu is described thus,
We meditate upon Vishnu, who is ever peaceful, who lies on the great serpent-bed; from whose navel springs the lotus of the creative power, who is the controller of the gods, whose form is the entire universe, and who is the foundation for the universe, who is all pervading as the sky, of the hue of a cloud, of fascinating beauty.
His body hue is dark like the clouds. He lives in the pure ocean of milk. He has Lakshmi in his chest.
Deepam Chatterjee is the author of The Millennial Yogi. He can be contacted on deepamchatterjee@yahoo.co.in