"Turning to the Vedas for any indication whether the Aryans had any colour prejudice, reference may be made to the following passages in the Rig Veda : In Rig Veda, i . 117 . 8, there is a reference to Ashvins having brought about the marriage between Shyavya and Bushati. Shyavya is black and Bushati is fair. In Rig Veda, i . 117 . 5, there is a prayer addressed to Ashvins for having saved Vandana who is spoken as of golden colour. In Rig Veda, ii . 3 . 9, there is a prayer by an Aryan invoking the Devas to bless him with a son with certain virtues but of ( pishanga ) tawny (reddish brown) complexion. These instances show that the Vedic Aryans had no colour prejudice. How could they have ? The Vedic Aryans were not of one colour. Their complexion varied; some were of copper complexion, some white, and some black. Rama the son of Dasharatha has been described as Shyama i.e., dark in complexion, so is Krishna the descendant of the Yadus, another Aryan clan. The Rishi Dirghatamas, who is the author of many mantras of the Rig Veda must have been of dark colour if his name was given to him after his complexion. Kanva is, an Aryan rishi of great repute. But according to the description given in Rig Yeda — x . 31 . 11, he was of dark colour."