Jesus lived in India

[Kam1825]

I have heard this story many times that jesus actually came from India well grew up there and died their.

The story of the tomb of Yus assaf in srinagar being that of jesus.

- Three wise men being budhist priests coming to find the next buddha,

- The disappearence of christ between the ages of 12 -30 in the bible due to Christ going to india to learn from monks

- The message of peace similar to that of Buddha

I spoke to the Mormans about this and they belive the Christ visiting india was possible as he went to south america and spread his message to prophets such as morani and morman. But dont accept that christ died.

well here is the article i found

Thus begins Holger Kersten's book "Jesus Lived in India". This German book is a thorough, methodical and authoritative examination of the evidence of Christ's life beyond the Middle East before the Crucifixion and in India and elsewhere after it.

This article is a summary of Kersten's exhaustive research into Christ's travels after the Crucifixion, his arrival in India with the Mother Mary and finally his death and entombment in Kashmir. Kersten notes the many parallels of Christ's teachings with other religious and cultural traditions and suggests that at least some of these figures may have been one and the same personality. It is not possible, Kersten asserts, to disprove that Christ went to India. The current information documenting Christ's life is restricted to the gospels and the work of Church theologians. One can hardly trust these sources to be objective considering their obvious interest in maintaining the authority of their Church and its grip on the masses.

The Russian scholar, Nicolai Notovich, was the first to suggest that Christ may have gone to India. In 1887, Notovich, a Russian scholar and Orientalist, arrived in Kashmir during one of several journeys to the Orient. At the Zoji-la pass Notovich was a guest in a Buddhist monastery, where a monk told him of the bhodisattva saint called "Issa". Notovich was stunned by the remarkable parallels of Issa's teachings and martyrdom with that of Christ's life, teachings and crucifixion.

For about sixteen years, Christ travelled through Turkey, Persia, Western Europe and possibly England. He finally arrived with Mary to a place near Kashmir, where she died. After many years in Kashmir, teaching to an appreciative population, who venerated him as a great prophet, reformer and saint, he died and was buried in a tomb in Kashmir itself.

The first step in Christ's trail after the Crucifixion is found in the Persian scholar F. Mohammed's historical work "Jami-ut-tuwarik" which tells of Christ's arrival in the kingdom of Nisibis, by royal invitation. (Nisibis is today known as Nusaybin in Turkey) . This is reiterated in the Imam Abu Jafar Muhammed's "Tafsi-Ibn-i-Jamir at-tubri." Kersten found that in both Turkey and Persia there are ancient stories of a saint called "Yuz Asaf" ("Leader of the Healed"), whose behaviour, miracles and teachings are remarkably similar to that of Christ.

The many Islamic and Hindu historical works recording local history and legends of kings, noblemen and saints of the areas thought to be travelled by Jesus also give evidence of a Christ like man; the Koran, for example, refers to Christ as "Issar". Further east, the Kurdish tribes of Eastern Anatolia have several stories describing Christ's stay in Eastern Turkey after his resurrection. These traditional legends have been ignored by the theological community.

Kersten also suggests that prior to Christ's mission in the Middle East, he may have been exposed to Buddhist teachings in Egypt. After his birth in Bethlehem, his family fled to Egypt to avoid Herod's persecution. Surprisingly some scholars now acknowledge that Buddhist schools probably existed in Alexandria long before the Christian era.

More clues are drawn from the Apocrypha. These are texts said to have been written by the Apostles but which are not officially accepted by the Church. Indeed, the Church regards them as heresy since a substantial amount of the Apocrypha directly contradicts Church dogma and theology. The Apocryphal 'Acts of Thomas', for example, tell how Christ met Thomas several times after the Crucifixion. In fact they tell us how Christ sent Thomas to teach his spirituality in India. This is corroborated by evidence found in the form of stone inscriptions at Fatehpur Sikri, near the Taj Mahal, in Northern India. They include "Agrapha", which are sayings of Christ that don't exist in the mainstream Bible. Their grammatical form is most similar to that of the Apocryphal gospel of Thomas. This is but one example giving credibility to the idea that texts not recognised by the Church hold important clues about Christ's true life and his teachings.

In tracing Christ's movements to India and beyond, Kersten also discovered that many of his teachings, which have been gradually edited out of the modern Bible were originally Eastern in nature. Principles such as karma and re-incarnation, for example, were common knowledge then, and seem to have been reaffirmed by Christ. Imagine the implications that this discovery holds for Western Christianity and its churches, who have kept Christ in their doctrinal top pockets and have constrained the entire Western culture within the narrow teachings of blind faith, organised religion and original sin!

Further clues are cited from The Apocryphal Acts of Thomas, and the Gospel of Thomas which are of Syrian origin and have been dated to the 4th Century AD, or possibly earlier. They are Gnostic Scriptures and despite the evidence indicating their authenticity, they are not given credence by mainstream theologians. In these texts Thomas tells of Christ's appearance in Andrapolis, Paphlagonia (today known as in the extreme north of Anatolia) as a guest of the King of Andrappa. There he met with Thomas who had arrived separately. It is at Andrapolis that Christ entreated Thomas to go to India to begin spreading his teachings. It seems that Christ and Mary then moved along the West coast of Turkey, proof of this could be an old stopping place for travellers called the "Home of Mary", found along the ancient silk route. From here Christ could easily have entered Europe via France. He may have even travelled as far as the British Isles, for in England there is an ancient oak tree called the "Hallowed Tree" which (says local legend) was planted by Christ himself.

In his travels through Persia (today's Iran) Christ became known as Yuz Asaf (leader of the Healed). We know this because a Kashmiri historical document confirms that Isa (the Koranic name for Christ) was in fact also known as Yuz Asaf. The Jami - uf - Tamarik, Volume II, tells that Yuz Asaf visited Masslige, where he attended the grave of Shem, Noah's son. There are various other accounts such as Agha Mustafa's "Awhali Shahaii-i-paras" that tell of Yuz Asaf's travels and teachings all over Persia. It seems that Yuz Asaf blessed Afghanistan and Pakistan with his presence also. There are for example two plains in Eastern Afghanistan near Gazni and Galalabad, bearing the name of the prophet Yuz Asaf. Again in the Apocryphal Acts of Thomas, Thomas says that he and Christ attended the Court of King Gundafor of Taxila (now Pakistan), in about 47AD, and that eventually both the King and his brother accepted Christ's teachings. Kersten claims that there are more than twenty one historical documents that bear witness to the existence of Jesus in Kashmir, where he was known also as Yuz Asaf and Issa. For example the Bhavishyat Mahapurana (volume 9 verses 17-32) contains an account of Issa-Masih (Jesus the Messiah). It describes Christ's arrival in the Kashmir region of India and his encounter with King Shalivahana, who ruled the Kushan area (39-50AD), and who entertained Christ as a guest for some time.

{Christ's life in India, after the crucifixion, challenges current Church teachings at their very foundation. The theology of Saint Paul, the major influence on modern Christianity, is empty fanaticism in the light of this discovery.|

The historian Mullah Nadini (1413) also recounts a story of Yuz Asaf who was a contemporary to King Gopadatta, and confirms that he also used the name Issar, ie. Jesus. There is also much historical truth in the towns and villages of Northern India to prove that Jesus and his mother Mary spent time in the area. For instance, at the border of a small town called Mari, there is nearby a mountain called Pindi Point, upon which is an old tomb called Mai Mari da Asthan or "The final resting place of Mary". The tomb is said to be very old and local Muslims venerate it as the grave of Issa's (ie Christ's) Mother. The tomb itself is oriented East-West consistent with the Jewish tradition, despite the fact it is within a Muslim area. Assuming its antiquity, such a tomb could not be Hindu either since the Hindus contemporary to Christ cremated their dead and scattered their ashes as do Hindus today.

Following Christ's trail into Kashmir, 40km south of Srinagar, between the villages of Naugam and Nilmge is a meadow called Yuz-Marg (the meadow of Yuz Asaf, ie. Jesus). Then there is the sacred building called Aish Muqam, 60km south east of Srinagar and 12km from Bij Bihara. "Aish" says Kersten is derived from "Issa" and "Muqam" place of rest or repose. Within the Aish Muqam is a sacred relic called the 'Moses Rod' or the 'Jesus Rod', which local legend says, belonged to Moses himself. Christ is said to also have held it, perhaps to confirm his Mosaic heritage. Above the town of Srinagar is a temple known as "The Throne of Solomon", which dates back to at least 1000BC, which King Gopadatta had restored at about the same time as Christ's advent. The restoration was done by a Persian architect who personally left four inscriptions on the side steps of the temple. The third and fourth inscription read: "At this time Yuz Asaf announced his prophetic calling in Year 50 and 4" and "He is Jesus -- Prophet of the Sons of Israel"! Herein lies a powerful confirmation of Kersten's theory. Kersten suggests that Christ may have travelled to the South of India also, finally returning to Kashmir to die at the age of approximately 80 years. Christ's tomb, says Kersten, lies in Srinagar's old town in a building called Rozabal. "Rozabal" is an abbreviation of Rauza Bal, meaning "tomb of a prophet". At the entrance there is an inscription explaining that Yuz Asaf is buried along with another Moslem saint. Both have gravestones which are oriented in North-South direction, according to Moslem tradition. However, through a small opening the true burial chamber can be seen, in which there is the Sarcophagus of Yuz Asaf in East-West (Jewish) orientation!

According to Professor Hassnain, who has studied this tomb, there are carved footprints on the grave stones and when closely examined, carved images of a crucifix and a rosary. The footprints of Yuz Asaf have what appear to be scars represented on both feet, if one assumes that they are crucifixion scars, then their position is consistent with the scars shown in the Turin Shroud (left foot nailed over right). Crucifixion was not practised in Asia, so it is quite possible that they were inflicted elsewhere, such as the Middle East. The tomb is called by some as "Hazrat Issa Sahib" or "Tomb of the Lord Master Jesus". Ancient records acknowledge the existence of the tomb as long ago as 112AD. The Grand Mufti, a prominent Muslim Cleric, himself has confirmed that Hazrat Isa Sahib is indeed the tomb of Yuz Asaf!

Thus Kersten deduces that the tomb of Jesus Christ Himself is in Kashmir!

The implications of Kersten's discovery are monumental. Christ's life in India, after the crucifixion, challenges current Church teachings at their very foundation. The theology of Saint Paul, the major influence on modern Christianity, is empty fanaticism in the light of this discovery. Threatened also are the doctrines of obedience to the Church, original sin, salvation through blind faith and the non-existence of reincarnation, etc. Yet these ideas underlie the morality and ethics, (or lack of them), that govern the entire Western social structure, from the legal system to medical health care schemes. It is no wonder that the modern Churches and their secular interests refuse to consider such a proposition as Kersten's!

The Synopsis of "Jesus Lived In India" by Holger Kersten was written by Dr Ramesh Manocha & Anna Potts.

[Guest Javanmard]

I can't believe that after so much time this theory is still believed by some people. Now I am not talking here as someone who has only heard about this theory. I have read Kersten's book at least a good 10 times and even better I have had mail exchange with Holger Kersten himself a good 10 years ago.

What are the problems with his theory and his method:

a. His thesis is that Jews would have been unable to produce such lofty teachings such as those of Jesus. In this he is continuing the tendency of European intellectuals since the 19 century to free Europe from Judeo-Christianity by taking Indo-arian India as an alternative. If you are not convinced...read his chapter on the population of Kashmir where he compares the noses of a Muslim Kashmiri and a Sikh...strangely enough the same thing SS officers would do in their "scientific" study of race... the same theory that made the Aryan race (even though such a race never existed) superior to the Semites.

b. There is no substantial proof that "Yus Asaf" was Jesus. Linguistically seen it is difficult if not impossible to prove that "Yus Asaf" is the same as "Yeshua".

c. Kersten does pont out some contradictions in the synoptic Gospels such as that Jesus was bleeding profusely on the cross even though he was dead already when the roman soldier pierced him with the spear. Agreed there is contradiction but why does he only concentrate on those Gospels and why does he not take into account those who simply say that Jesus never was crucified as the Qur'an says? From a methodological point of view this is sheer intellectual dishonesty.

d. The Muslims, mentioned in this article and in Kersten's book, who support that the man buried in the Rawzabal shrine of Srinagar is Jesus, are Ahmadis, a sect deamed heretic by most Muslim scholars. Thei founder Mirza Ghulam Ahmad proclaimed that he was not only Imam Mahdi but also Jesus at the same time. Now the Qur'an says Jesus didn't die but that he was lifted to heaven until judgement day. The sunnah explains that he will come back with Imam Mahdi to restore justice. In order to prove that he was Jesus re-born he had to first prove that Jesus actually died and he is actually the one to come up with the srinagar story. He then goes on to say that he became Mary (no joke) and that Jesus was born in him and that he was Jesus...I let you decide what to think of that...

e. Kersten pretends that Jesus was a vegetarian and a Budhhist. To this day I find it difficult to find traces of Budhhism in the gospels who describe Jesus as a Nazarene (never cut his hair), drank wine, ate fish and meat and had female disciples. Buddhism does not admit the possibility for women to achieve nirvana. They have to perform good actions in order to be reborn as men. And the Pali canon's passages on women would shock those who thought Islam discriminated against women.

f. there is a deep theological problem. Even though he posist the idea that Jesus is a bodhisattva he contradicts himself. If Jesus was born perfect and all knowing...why the need to travel all the way to India to get some mysterious knowledge. Even of he wasn't divine (which i don't believe) Alexandria had the best library and teachers in the world at that time. Why on earth move to distant India?

Kersten's book is just fool of Orientalist fantasies about India being the paradise of Indo-Aryan civilisation, racial prejudice against Semitic people and it is only able to please two types of people:

Europeans dreaming about an Aryan Jesus and Indians who in a wave of reverse-colonialism want to claim everything and anything of value under the sun as Indian, from Jesus to the Kaaba. Yes India brought the world, so did Europe and so did the Islamic world...

[Kam1825]

really good points there Javanmard. not heard these arguements. usually just get the one sided programme on the discovery channel or sci fi channel.

From your reply i see that muslims do not belive christ died on the cross. can you explain furhter what the view for christ's death is from the quran

[Kam1825]

Javanmard if you find that the idea of christ living in india later in life and dying their lacks credibility then what about the mormon view of christ going to the south americas and passing his techings to the latter day saints such as morman and morani?

[Guest Javanmard]

Mormons? Please! Biggest joke ever! All based on a fantasy about a golden book in hierogliphs the founder of Mormonism could only read with special glasses...what next Jesus was a martian?

[Kam1825]

i thought the same but how have they got such a big following.

i only learned about the mormans believe it or not through south park where they ridiculed joseph smith.

Im guessing this golden book does not exist then?

[Guest Javanmard]

If you give 19th century frustrated male Protestants the right to have as many docile wives as they want (contrarily to Islam where it's limited to four and not encouraged...) and move into a desert far away from other Christians to live that sort of life style what do you think is going to happen...

[vijaydeep Singh]

Gurfateh

Lord Jesus had faith ihn God wile Budhuism say for a few Mahayanas is more a sort of Sharaman Dharma and does not has faith in God.

Das anyway knows a place near Meerut,where Catholics beoved that lord visited,Duirng his life or after decedning to Hevan,das could not say.That place is called Sardhana.Church was bulit by Begum Samru.

She had good ties with Sikh Misls of that time.She was catholic covert from Islam.