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THE FIFTH GOSPEL

 
Fida Hassnain and
Dahan Levi
1988

CHAPTER FIVE

JESUS CHRIST IN THE EAST
 
 
I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
-- Matthew
 
 
In the light of our new knowledge of the Dead Sea Scrolls, it can scarcely be doubted that John the Baptist belonged to the Essenes. Jesus was baptised by him and his followers became attached to Jesus Christ.1 Members belonging to this Order were termed as pious. They would hold their meetings very secretly away from habitations. Every member of this brotherhood had to take an oath that he would always take the side of justice; even at the cost of his life. They would use white garments and lead pious lives. Their conduct was orderly and neither bribe not torture could make them false to their brotherhood.2 Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus and Mary Magdalene belonged to the same brotherhood. Jesus would often retire to the wilderness and mountains to meet these friends. When his enemies sought to take him, he would escape and take shelter in a secret place.3 The Essenes had a secret shelter on the top of the Mount of Olives.4 Jesus belonged to this brotherhood himself.5 Some members of this very sect had entered the sepulchre to help Jesus out to safety. After having been saved, Jesus was nursed by them. Their writings have been unearthed from the Dead Sea, which reveal that Jesus lived with them after the event of crucifixion.
 
Dead Sea Scrolls
 
A careful study of the Dead Sea Scrolls reveals that the Jews and their leaders left no stone unturned to persecute the True Master. They not only opposed him but scoffed at him and made him a scapegoat by a wrong verdict. Jesus Christ, during his stay with the brotherhood of the Essenes, gives some details about his misfortunes and thanks God for saving him from out of the hands of his enemies. He declares:
 
God,
I thank Thee,
For again giving me,
A new lease of life.
For saving me from death:
And,
Surrounding me,
With a defensive wall.
The cruel wanted to take my life,
But,
I stood firm on Your commandments.
They are the supporters of the wicked,
And,
Do not understand Thee.
Your grace is my guardian:
Thou hast saved me;
And,
Thou willed that,
They could not catch my soul.
God,
Thou came to the rescue of this humble servant,
It is Thee,
Who saved my life from the clutches of the powerful.
 
The above are excerpts from the prayers contained in the Dead Sea Scrolls. It is evident that the wicked wanted to persecute the True Master and then kill him. But he was saved by God and rescued from the enemy. Who is this True Master, who sings the praises of God? Who is he who thanks God for saving his life? The Dead Scrolls have established the link between Jesus Christ and the Essenes.
 
lt is a historical fact that the Gospels have been revised and recast by various compilers from time to time. The net result has been that some very important material which informed us about matters not to the liking of the bishops has been deleted. One such example is the last page of the Gospel of Mark, which was salvaged by the famous Bible scholar, C.R Gregory, who wrote The Canon and the Text of the New Testament.
 
The salvaged verses are as follows:
 
And all the things announced,
To those about Peter briefly:
They spread about,
And after that,
Jesus himself appeared from the east,
And out to the west he sent out,
By them the sacred,
And uncorrupted preaching,
Of the eternal Salvations.
Amen.
 
The above verses, which were deleted from the gospel of Mark, clearly inform us that Jesus appeared from the east and directed his disciples to spread his teachings in the west. This also proves his second life, which has altogether been suppressed by the Church.
 
Testament
 
Jesus Christ had prayed to God to save him, and he was saved. He had suffered untold miseries but he was always thankful to God.
 
I was sold into slavery,
And the Lord of all made me free:
I was taken into captivity,
And his strong hand succored me;
I was beset with hunger,
And the Lord himself nourished me:
I was alone,
And God comforted me:
I was sick,
And the Lord visited me:
I was in prison,
And my Lord showed favour to me;
In bonds,
And he released me.6
 
Here Jesus Christ tells about his misfortunes, imprisonment, captivity, illness, etc. and how God saved him. This is the testament of Jesus Christ, who himself claims that he was saved by God.
 
O God, I thank thee,
For bringing me
Out of the well of death;
Thou brought me on earth;
So that I could traverse on its vast surface.
 
Flight of Jesus Christ
 
Jesus Christ told his disciples that he would not tell them about his destination because he wished to keep it as secret.
 
He rose and hastily went away through the gathering mist. It was rumored that he had been taken up by the clouds. This was simply a mythological tale.7
 
Jesus though officially crucified in about 30 A.D. escaped alive towards the East, and in about 35 A.D. was seen on the road to Damascus by Paul, who had been sent by the Romans to bring him back for a second crucifixion.8
 
The Conversion of Paul
 
Paul had been deputed by the Romans to intercept Jesus Christ. He had journeyed to Damascus, when he heard a voice; "Saul, why persecutest thou me? " He asked who he was. He heard:
 
I am Jesus whom thou persecutest;
It is hard for thee to kick
against the pricks.
Arise and go into the city,
And it shall be told thee
What thou must do."9
 
Jesus had a disciple at Damascus named Ananias, who was directed by him to go to Paul, and inform him that he was the chosen vessel, and that he must preach in the name of Jesus Christ in Israel.10
Accordingly, Paul contacted the other disciples of Jesus Jesus Christ and spent a few days with them at Damascus. After that he preached Christ in the synagogues and made many converts.11 He also went to Jerusalem and then to Tarsus, and continued missionary activities in collaboration with Barnabas and John.12 The above account has been called a vision by the compilers of "Acts." Visions are real and do exist, but they do not arise in dull brains. After all, Paul was only a tent maker.13
 
The Apostles still feared that the Romans might pursue Christ, and thus invented the theory of visions, and intermingled fact with imagination. Another confusion arises about Paul because he was also known as Saul in the beginning.14 If a vision could be termed unreal, then the basis of all mythology in the world would be removed and we would be left blank. Most of the stories given in mythology have now stood the scientific test. Was the great flood during the day of Noah a vision? Was the space craft of Ezekiel a vision? If all these facts are visions, then the virgin birth of Jesus, his crucifixion, and even his existence on this earth could be termed as a vision and there would arise no need to believe in Jesus Christ or his mission. It is a historical fact that Paul conducted a series of long missionary tours to far-off countries including Greece and Asia Minor.15
 
Jesus Christ lived in the house of Ananias at that time. But when the Jews sent a commission to Damascus, he left the place and reached Babylon. As he had visited the east in his childhood, he knew the routes and topography of these countries. He had already been saved and now on this strange odyssey, God guided him, so that he could be saved from further persecution.16 Jesus and his mother had to migrate from Palestine and they departed for a far-off country. Both of them traversed from country to country.17 Some of his devotees followed him from place to place. During his journey toward the east, Jesus was accompanied by Mary the Mother, Peter the Apostle, and another Mary who can be no other person than Mary Magdalene. It can not be denied that Mary Magdalene had taken a personal interest in the affairs of Jesus Christ. She had been possessed by demons which were cast out by the Lord.18 She had stood by the cross during the time of the crucifixion.19 She watched the burial of Jesus Christ and came early to the sepulchre.20 She also saw the risen Lord, and the event is described in the Gospel of John as follows:
 

But Mary stood without at the sepulchre,

And as she wept,
She stooped down,
And looked into the sepulchre,
And seeth two angels in white sitting,
The one at the head,
And the other at the feet,
Where the body of Jesus had lain.21
Jesus saith unto her, Mary,
She turned herself, and saith unto him,
Rabboni;
Which is to say,
Master.22
 
According to the Gospel of Philip, Mary Magdalene was the consort of Jesus Christ. As such, it is obvious that of the two who accompanied Jesus Christ on his migration towards the east, one was Mary, the mother of the Lord, while the other one must have been Mary Magdalene, the consort of Jesus Christ.23
 
It is a strange coincidence that the successor of Buddha has been called Rahula. When he is separated from his mother, a lady devotee named Magdaliyana acts as a messenger between him and the mother. The word, Rahula may mean, Ruh-Allah, or the Spirit of God and Magdaliyana. The lady messenger may refer to Mary Magdalene, who was so much attached to Jesus Christ.24 It is also strange that the Tomb of Mary has been located about 6 miles from Kashgar in Central Asia.
 
It is probable that the tomb in question is that of Mary Magdalene.25 .
 
Jesus Christ in Parthia
 
We are informed by the Gospel of Philip that after having been saved from crucifixion, Jesus Christ was nursed by his friends and disciples and remained in hiding for some time. During this period, he imparted special spiritual knowledge to Peter and James. After having remained with them for a period of about one year and a half, he made up his mind to leave them. He appointed James as his successor and migrated.26 It has already been mentioned that Thomas had already been deputed to Parthia and India by Jesus. As such, it is but natural that Jesus Christ felt safe to travel in these lands. At that period, the Parthian empire extended right from Antioch and Palmyria to Kabul on one side and from the Caspian sea to the Arabian sea. He wanted to avoid the limits of the Romans, and as such, took the first opportunity to reach Damascus. From that place he went to the city of Nisibis, which had a colony of exiled Jews.27 The city being the meeting ground of many caravan routes was full of men of all nations busy in trade and commerce.28 Jesus Christ tried his best to conceal his identity, and it was at this place that he came to be known as Yuz Asaph. He wore clothes and a turban of white fleece and carried a rod in his hand. He set a seal of silence on his lips, and began his journey further.29 Nisibis lay on the silk route from Syria to Mosul and beyond, towards the east. Jesus had travelled incognito to this place.
 
Nisibis
 
It is related by Josephus that the king of Adiabene sent his son Ezad to stay with Abennerigos, the king of Spasinou Charax at the head of the Persian Gulf. The small principality of Adiabene existed between Tabriz and Mossul, on the banks of the river Tigris. Ezad returned home to ascend the throne of Adiabene on the death of his father. It was Ananias who had converted Ezad and his queens. After some years the king of Parthia accorded him to rule over Nisibis with the result that his kingdom extended right up to the banks of the Mediterranean.30 We know already that it was Ananias who had reached Jerusalem with a letter from Abgar Ukkama for Jesus. It was too late and Jesus had been crucified. It was Thomas who gave the shroud to him for Abgar. Both Ezad and Abgar were contemporaries of Jesus Christ. If seems that from Damascus Jesus and his party reached Nisibis, which was a safe place for them. Maybe Ananias wished to carry Jesus to Edessa but the proximity of the Roman capitol prevented Jesus from proceeding westward. As such, Jesus moved towards the east and reached Mossul, and from that place to Babylon, which was on the banks of Euphrates.
 
We are informed that Jesus preached his doctrines in Nisibis and many accepted him. At the same time the orthodox became his enemies and tried to kill him.31 Early evidence of Christianity at Nisibis is provided by an inscription on a grave which reads as follows:
 
I saw the Syrian plain, and all the cities - even Nisibis,
having crossed the Euphrates.
Everywhere I found people with whom to speak.32
 
Jesus in Persia
 
From Babylon, Jesus proceeded to Ur and from that place to Kharax, which was the capital of the kingdom of Mesene. It was the main port to which ships brought the products of India and the far east. From that place, the goods were transported up the river Euphrates to Babylon, then to Arbel in Adiabene and thence to Nisibis and Edessa in the west.33 It was possible for Jesus to take a sea route to India but he avoided it and instead crossed into the Persian empire.
 
In Persian works, we hear about Yuz-Asaph, which means Yuzu, who is the leader of those lepers who have been cured by him. Here is the report given in the Persian dictionary:
 
In the days of Hazrat Isa, when lepers were cured by him, they, on being admitted among the healthy people, were known as Asaph. Thus Hazrat Isa, who cured lepers. also came to be known as Yuz-Asaph, for he not only cured them but gathered them under his merciful protection.34
 
Jesus Christ was known in Persia as Yuz-Asaph. His sayings and teachings in the region, as recorded in the Iranian traditions, are the same as those of Jesus Christ.35 This shows that his preachings were popular among the Persians. It is clear that after the advent of Islam, the Christians, the Jews and the Zoroastrians lost importance, and were reduced in numbers. But the sayings, and parables of Jesus Christ continued in their traditions and lived afterwards as those of Yuz-Asaph. From Nisibis two routes led toward the east; one passed through Nishapur and Herat to Kabul, and the other through Susa, and Hermuz to Sind. Jesus Christ took the former route.
 
It may be recalled that from the beginning of the second millennium B.C. till about 1200 B.C., the Hittites inhabited Asia Minor. From the middle of the 13th century B.C. the Hurrians formed one of the most powerful states of western Asia, which included Mesopotamia, Syria, and Assyria. The Hurrians worshipped the Indian gods Varuna, Indra, Mittra, and the Matsiya, besides other deities. The Assyrians consolidated their supremacy in the region at the end of the 9th century B.C. However, the creators of the first flowering of civilization which connected the east with the west were the Sumerians, who had settled in Mesopotamia in about 3000 B.C.36
 
It may be mentioned that trade routes, both by sea and land, between India and other countries in the west have existed since ancient times. It was in about 3100 B.C. that the seafaring Sumerians established their colonies in the Indus Valley region. right from Mohenjo-daro to Kashmir. They exploited the economic and commercial resources of the region. The Sumerian seals excavated at Mohenjo-daro and Harappa have revealed that the Indus Valley region was an abode of Amorites or the seafaring people, who were fire and sun worshippers.37
 
From Kabul, the trade route went to Peshawar, and then to Taxila. Jesus Christ and his companions had to bear many hardships during their travel from Herat to Kabul, and then to Taxila. They had lived on wild fruits and vegetables. Jesus had walked on foot, but some of his companions brought a horse for him. But Jesus refused to have the horse, and journeyed on foot. During his travels, he had to face many hardships. It is reported that he was arrested, but as he had healed the sick, the governor of the city became his devotee. Many among the people and the soldiers became his disciples. He, preached among them and they became happy to hear his words.58
 
Apostolate
 
We do not have much information as to what happened to the followers, friends and devotees of Jesus Christ after his departure towards the east. One thing is clear: that the hostility of the Jews to the followers of the Christianity became increasingly implacable. We know that James, the brother of Jesus Christ, was chosen as their leader by the early Christian community at Jerusalem. But Herod Agrippa took savage measures against him and got him executed. It is also recorded that Peter was also imprisoned by him. Thus, the early Apostolate was shifted to Antioch in Syria. It was here that Paul met Peter and got himself enlisted as the disciple of the Lord.39 It is to his credit that he carried the message of Jesus Christ to far-off lands. His Apostles carried his mission through the ancient trade routes to various cities of Arabia, Syria, Rome, Alexandria, Italy, Egypt, Persia and Armenia.
 
Through the efforts of the Apostles, Christianity became very popular among the masses. Seeing this, the enmity of the followers of Judaism toward the new faith became acute. The Apostles had preached among the poor with the result that a good number of the Pagans became Christians. The Jews could not tolerate the popularity of Christianity and thought of doing something to attract the masses. Out of frustration, they raised up the banner of revolt against the Romans, who had subjugated the Holy Land. The Pharisees saw that it was absolutely necessary for them to establish their own theocratic kingdom. But they failed against the might of the Romans, who ravaged and destroyed nearly all Jewish settlements. The Roman soldiers stormed Jerusalem and burnt down the Temple in 70 A.D. Thousands perished in the revolt but many more thousands were carried off as slaves by the Romans. According to one estimate, nearly eleven thousand prisoners died of starvation.40 While lamenting over Jerusalem, Jesus Christ had already predicted it s destruction:
 
O Jerusalem,
Jerusalem,
Thou that kills the prophets,
And stonest them which are sent to thee,
Behold,
Your house is left unto you desolate
For I say unto you,
Ye shall not see me henceforth.41
 
The Romans wanted to annihilate the Jews from their camps. As such they devastated their settlements by killing all capable of bearing arms. Josephus has described the destruction of the Jews as follows:
 
One could see the whole lake red with blood and covered with corpses, for not a man escaped.42
Thus, it would be seen that the mission of Judaism failed but the kingdom of God remained solid as a rock.
 
Jesus in Persia
 
Jesus delivered many sermons in Persia, and he was welcomed by the people, who listened to him devoutly. The high priest got him arrested, and he was asked about which new God he was speaking to the people when Zoroaster only had the privilege of communion with the Supreme Being. He was also told that the laws were given to Zoroaster by God, and he should not sow doubts.in the heart of believers. On hearing this, Jesus said unto them:
 
It is not of a new God that I speak:
But of our Heavenly Father,
Who has existed since all time;
And who will still be after,
The end of all things.
It is of Him,
That I have discoursed to the people,
Who,
Like unto innocent children,
Are not yet capable,
Of comprehending God,
By the simple strength of their intelligence;
Or of Penetrating,
Into His divine,
And spiritual sublimity.43
 
In the Name of the Heavenly Father
 
Jesus told them that he spoke in the name of our Heavenly Father. He explained that just as a baby discovers in the darkness its mother's breast; in the same way, people who have been led into error by erroneous doctrine,do recognise by instinct their Heavenly Father.
Jesus paused a while in many a hamlet, town and cities in Persia. He preached and healed among the common people, who followed him in throngs. He also attended a feast in Persepolis. He spoke to the priests in these words:
 
There is a Silence where the soul may meet its God,
And there the fount of wisdom is,
And all who enter are immersed in light,
And filled with wisdom, love and power.
The Silence is not circumscribed;
Is not a place closed in with wall, or rocky steeps,
Nor guarded by the swords of men!
Men carry with them all the time the secret place,
Where they may meet their God.
It matters not where men abide,
On mountain top, in deepest vale or in the quiet home;
They may at once,
At any time,
Flung wide the door,
And find the Silence,
Find the house of God:
It is within the soul.44
 
During his short sojourn in Persia, Jesus sat in silence in the prayer hall of the Magi priests, for seven days. Then he spoke on the origin of evil and good.
 
He told them not to worship the sun, for it was but a part of the cosmos which God has created for humanity. It is to God and to God alone, that we owe all that we possess in this world. On hearing him, the priests asked how could a people live according to the rules of justice if it had no preceptor? Jesus replied that so long as the people had no priests, the natural law governed them, and they preserved the candour of their souls. He further explained that when their souls were with God, they could commune with the Father, without the medium of any idol or animal or the Sun or the fire. He said:
 
You contend,
That one must worship the sun,
The spirit of good and of evil:
Well:
I say unto you;
Your doctrine is a false one:
The sun acting not spontaneously,
But according to the will of,
The invisible Creator,
Who gave it birth.
The Eternal Spirit is the soul of all,
That is animate.
You commit a great sin in dividing it,
Into a spirit of evil,
And a spirit of good:
For there is no God outside the good.
Who,
Like unto the father of a family,
Does but good to His children,
Forgiving all their faults:
If they repent.
Wherefore I say unto you,
Beware of the day of judgment,
For God will inflict a terrible chastisement.
Upon all those,
Who shall have led His Children astray,
From the right path.45
 
We have no information about the route taken by Jesus and his companions in their onward march towards the east. Maybe they visited Hamadan and Nishapur, from which city there are two roads, one leading to Afghanistan via Herat and thence to Kandhar and the other leading to Bukhara and Samarkand. The tomb of Mary Magdalene has been located near Kashgar in Central Asia. It is probable that Jesus took her to Bukhara, then to Samarkand and thence to Kashgar. After her demise, Jesus came back to Balkh and thence took the route along the bank of the river Indus and reached Sind. We will deal with this odyssey in subsequent pages.
 
Jesus in Sind
 
It is of value, at this point in the narrative, to examine the various sources we have that give us evidence concerning the "missing years of Jesus" - from the age of thirteen through twenty-nine, when he returned to Israel. In a previous chapter, we mAde a brief reference to his stay in India (See pages 128-132) during that time. It is our belief that it was as a result of the profound learnings made by Jesus during this earlier stay in the east that he now knew that his life, having been completed in the west, concerned his mission there.
 
Let us examine these sources. Piecing together many documents including The Life of St. Issa, The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ and The Unknown Life of Jesus Christ (among others) tells us that at the age of thirteen, Jesus left his parental house in secret and departed with the merchants toward Sind.46 His main object in leaving his country was to perfect himself in the Divine Word and to study the law of great Buddhas.47
 
In the course of his fourteenth year he reached Sind and established himself among the Aryans. After crossing the five rivers of the Punjab, he reached Rajputana and from that region. he proceeded towards Gujarat. Here he came into contact with the followers of Jainism. His fame had spread throughout and the Jains requested him to dwell among them. But he proceeded further and reached Orissa and was welcomed by the priests. They taught him the occult sciences.
 
He then went to the holy cities of Rajagiri and Benaras and everyone loved him. He had spent six years in his travels. As he freely mixed with the low caste Vaishyas and Shudras, the upper caste Brahmanas and Khistriyas disliked his attitude. They told him:
 
Death only can set them free,
From their servitude:
Leave them then,
And come;
And worship with us,
The gods,
Who will become incensed,
Against thee;
If thou dost disobey them.48
 
But he did not listen to their discourses and disliked their attitude. After that event he started preaching against the Brahmanas and the Khistriyas. When Jesus saw the Shudras and the Vaishyas drawing near him, he said:
 
The Holy One has said:
That all his children shall be free,
And every soul is a child of God.
The Shudras shall be as free as priests,
The farmer shall walk hand in hand with the king;
For all the world will own the brotherhood of man.
O men,
Arise.
Be conscious of your powers,
For he who wills need not remain a slave.
Just live as you would have your brother live,
Unfold each day as does the flower;
For earth is yours,
And God will bring you to your own.49
 
Sermons
 
Jesus inveighed against the act of a man arrogating to himself the power to deprive his fellow beings of their rights of humanity. He had spent nearly six years in India and could speak in the local language. He lived with the poor masses, to whom he gave many sermons. He preached:
 

God, the father,

Makes no difference between His children,
All to Him are equally dear.
Fear thy God,
Bend the knee before Him alone,
Bring thy offerings to Him alone.50
 
He denied the gods invented by the people and told them that God has willed and created the universe. He alone has existed since all eternity, and His existence will have no end. He has no equal either in the heavens or on earth and has not shared His power with any living being. He alone is omnipotent!
 
He willed it,
And the world appeared;
In a divine thought:
He gathered together;
The waters,
Separating from them,
The dry portion of the globe.
He is the principle,
Of the mysterious existence of man,
In whom,
He has breathed,
A part of His Being.51
 
He warned them as follows:
 
The anger of God,
Will soon be let loose against man,
For he has forgotten his Creator;
For he has filled His temples,
With abominations;
For he worships;
A crowd of creatures,
Which God hath made subordinate to him.
For to do honour to stones and metals,
He sacrifices human beings,
In whom dwells,
A part of the spirit of the Most High.
Those,
Who deprive their brethren,
Of divine happiness;
Shall be deprived of it themselves.52
 
Jesus taught equality of human beings and made a prophesy that the Brahmanas and the Khistriyas shall become the Shudras; and with the Shudras, God shall dwell everlastingly. He told them that on the day of the last judgement, the Shudras and the Vaishyas will be forgiven because of their ignorance, while the Brahmanas and the Khistriyas shall be punished for their arrogance.
 
The above sermons of Jesus contain much philosophical content. He talks of God as the Father of all human beings and exhorts all to bow before him alone. He is the eternal soul and the impetus behind all creation, His will separated water from earth, created the continents. To Him, there is no difference between human beings, for all are His children. As such, all have to bow before Him, and none else.
 
His words and works caused unrest through all the land. The poor followed him in throngs but the priests resolved to drive him out of India. All the Brahmana priests met in a council, and employed a murderer with the mission to kill Jesus.53
 
In Communion with Buddha
 
Having been informed about the plot, and advised by friends to depart, Jesus left the place by night. With haste, he journeyed to the north, and reached Kapilavastu, the birthplace of Sakyamuni Buddha. The Buddhists opened wide the doors of a monastery for him, and he started living among the monks. He witnessed their religious rites, and participated in their prayers. A time came when he fully understood the words of the Master and began to teach on the same lines. The head lama declared in a congregation:
 
We stand today upon a crest of time,
Six times ago a master soul was born,
Who gave a glory light to man,
And now a master sage stands here.
This Hebrew prophet is the rising star of wisdom,
He brings to us a knowledge of God;
And all the world will hear his words,
Will heed his words,
And glorify his name.54
 
Departure
 
He lived among the Buddhists for six years. He learnt and taught in the monastery where he abode.
 
Whom the Buddha had elected
to spread his holy word,
had become a perfect expositor
of the sacred writings.55
 
Then he left Nepal and the Himalayan mountains, and went towards the west, preaching to the diverse peoples the supreme perfection of man, in these words:
 
He who shall have regained his original purity;
Will die having obtained,
Remission for his sins;
And he will have the right,
To contemplate the majesty of God.
The Eternal Law-giver is one;
There is no other God but Him;
He has not shared the world with anyone,
Neither has He informed anyone of,
His intentions.
 
One day, in silent meditation, Jesus sat beside a spring among the poor people. He saw the hard drawn lines of toil on every brow, and his heart was stirred with pity for these poor toilers, and he said:
 
Cease to seek for heaven in the sky;
Just open up the windows of your hearts,
And like a flood of light,
Heaven will come,
And bring a boundless joy;
Then toil will be no cruel task.56
 
Jesus continued his sermon as follows:
 
Even as a father would act.
Towards his children,
So will God judge men,
After their deaths:
According to the Laws of his mercy.
Never would he so humiliate his child,
As to transmigrate his soul,
As in a purgatory,
Into the body of an animal.57
 
Here, Jesus speaks of God as father and human beings as his children. God the father, being merciful, will judge every one according to the laws of mercy, and never would humiliate his children. According to the above text, he further explains as follows:
 
All things have been sacrificed to man,
Who is directly,
And intimately,
Associated with Me:
His Father:
Therefore,
He who shall have stolen from
Me:
My child;
Will be severely judged,
And chastised by the divine law.
 
Here Jesus speaks of God as the father of humanity, which is intimately and directly connected with him. According to him, all men are his children and he is the father to them.
 
Man is naught before the eternal Judge,
As the animal is naught before man.
Wherefore,
I say unto thee:
Leave your idols;
And perform not rites,
Which separate you from your Father:
Associate ye not with the priests,
From whom the heavens,
Have turned away.58
 
The Tibetan Gospel
 
The above narrative, translated by Nicolas Notovitch from several scrolls found in the Hemis monastery in Ladakh, provides invaluable information about the missing years of Jesus.
 
Hippolytus, the Bishop of Rome in about 220 A.D., mentions a Judaeo-Christian scripture of the land of the Seres in Parthia. According to an old tradition, this holy book of revelations had fallen from heaven, and dealt with the 'Hidden power.' Eli the Prophet, who was the incarnation of God, received it. During the period of Hippolytus, the name Seres denoted a nation which produced silk and lived above India. Thus, the holy book of revelation was the Tibetan Gospel. It is interesting to note that Nicolas Notovitch translated the scrolls about the life of Jesus Christ from the Hemis monastery in Ladakh. It is also important that the western Christians of the 3rd century knew of the eastern books on Christianity. The Hemis scrolls, therefore are not as unusual as these seemed to be at first sight.60
 
This would reveal that Jesus was very much respected by the common people, who adored him and wished that he could stay with them. The above scrolls also establish the fact that Jesus Iearnt many occult sciences in India.
 
According to the Hemis scrolls, Jesus had been elected to remind a deprived humanity of the true God. Since his departure from Jerusalem, the pagans had inflicted still more atrocious sufferings on the Israelites. Many among them had already begun to abandon the laws of their God and those of Moses, in the hope of appeasing their savage conquerors.6l
 
Nicolas Notovitch published his translation of the Hemis scrolls in 1890, calling his work, The Life of Saint Issa. Subsequently in 1894 the book was published in French, entitled, La Vie Inconnue de Jesus and in English as The Unknown Life of Christ. At the time of publication of his work, Notovitch knew that the Church would repudiate his find as a fabrication. He therefore suggested organisation of a scientific expedition to Ladakh for verification of his discovery. From the outset, the book became a source of great controversy. The Church denied the very existence of Nicolas Notovitch and even of the Hemis monastery. But when it came to light that Nicolas Notovitch had visited Kashmir and Ladakh and met many important officials of the Indian and state governments, the Church took another course. At the instance of the Church. the then British government in India directed the famous Orientalist, Max Muller and a professor of Agra, Archibald Douglas, to conduct on-the-spot inquiries. Both of them published their findings in newspapers and concluded that Nicolas Notovitch was a fraud.62 In 1894, the Church deputed a neo-convert, Ahmad Shah, to Ladakh in the disguise of a hakim, but with the main aim to find any means "to refute the findings of Nicolas Notovitch."63 He remained in Ladakh for four years and wrote a book with the title of Four Years in Tibet. It is probable that out of the great fear of the then British Government in India, the Buddhist lama concealed the scrolls or handed over some fragments to Ahmad Shah.
 
In 1922, Swami Abhedananda, the world famous Vedantist, visited Ladakh and learnt from the lamas of the Hemis monastery that the account about the coming of Jesus Christ to India was indeed correct.64 With the help of the lama, he obtained a translation of a few pages from the Tibetan manuscript. We will conclude this issue with the remark that the Buddhists of Ladakh and Tibet have scrolls about the life of Jesus hidden among the innumerable manuscripts housed in dark cells. According to the Buddhists, Jesus had become a perfect expositor of the sacred writings, for he had been elected by Buddha to spread his holy word.65
 
Buddhism and Christianity
 
Buddhism and Christianity have many similarities. The following information recorded in 1812 by a traveller to Ladakh is interesting:
 
Every Tibetan makes one of his sons a Lama, or one who has forsaken the world. Both male and female Lamas remain unmarried, and are the spiritual guides of the people. They do not worship the idols kept in their temples, which they declare are merely representations of departed saints and Lamas, to contemplate which is considered an act of piety. When a Lama or great man dies, his body is burned, and a sculptured representation of him is placed on his tomb. Some of these figures are said to represent a certain prophet who is still alive in the waters and forests, the former being under his complete control. Others again consider the figure to represent a prophet who is living in the heavens, which would appear to point to Jesus Christ. The Tibetans consider their scripture to be inspired; this book contains many moral precepts and exhortations to worship God, to fulfill a promise, to speak the truth, to abandon what is evil, and such like. It also commands that if any man take away thy sheet give him thy cloak also. Again, 'if any man strike thee on one cheek tell him so strike the other also'. With the exception of the custom of burning the dead, many of their observances are similar to those of Christians.
 
The traveller noticed other similarities which are noteworthy and are reproduced below:
 
They are forbidden to eat the flesh of the horse or camel, - and they are allowed but one wife. Their great feast again is held at the time when the sun enters Capricorn, corresponding with Christmas. From this time their year commences, but I was unable to ascertain the exact date. Another similar custom is that a man, when taking an oath, swears by Kunchok-Sum. Kunchok meaning God, and Sum, three, that is by the three Gods of the Trinity. In the infliction on themselves of heavy penances also, the Lamas resemble Christian priests. I was informed by an aged man that he had ascertained beyond all doubt that some portions of the Bible had been revealed to the Tibetans, but that, in consequence of their not being in possession of the whole book, the practices of burning the dead, and the doctrine of transmigration of souls have been admitted as a portion of their practice, and faith. The Tibetans assert that their original scripture was in a language now become unintelligible to them, and has been translated into their own tongue.66
It may be pointed out that striking similarities between the moral teachings of Buddha and Jesus Christ lead us to think that Mahayana Buddhism borrowed much from Christianity. When we look at the events and the timing of the Fourth Buddhist Council, this possibility becomes even more plausible, since the council took place at a time when sources place him and his followers in that part of the world.
 
The Fourth Buddhist Council
 
Several legends have depicted the great Kushana king, Kanishka as the patron of Buddhism. He is said to have convened the 4th Buddhist Council in Kashmir in about 78 A.D. Besides a large audience, this Council was attended to by 500 Arhats, 500 Boddhisattvas and 500 Pandittas. This Council paved the way for the acceptance of Mahayana, the progressive school of thought, in Buddhism.67 lt is recorded in the Buddhist canon that after the Buddha, another redeemer or the next Boddhisattva will come, and he will be called Metteyya. He will be the leader of a band of disciples.68 It is for this reason that the Buddhist Lamas reached Palestine; in search of their Boddhisattva, at the time of the birth of Jesus. It is also recorded in the prophesy concerning Metteyya that he will come at the time when the religion of the Buddha will be forgotten and the new Boddhisattva will show them the way. In this context, it remains to be seen as to what part Jesus played - if he actually did - in the 4th Buddhist Council held in Kashmir.
 
It may be mentioned that the word Metteyya is no other than the word Messiah, because the sound of t changes into s in Arabic or Persian.69 It is interesting to note that Jesus is mentioned as Mi-shi-ho in the Chinese Buddhist canon of the 8th century A.D.70 Examination of Buddhist iconography shows that all Boddhisattvas stand or sit a lotus throne. Some show their hands and palms with round marks. Those statues of the Mahayana period, with marks on palms and feet, symbolically depict the wounds of crucifixion. This fact is immortal evidence for the identity of Jesus as the teacher of the Mahayana monks.71
 
We are struck by the extraordinary similarity between the doctrines and rituals of Buddhism and the Catholic Church, The dress of the monks in both the religions was remarkably the same, as can be verified from early paintings. "The ranks of the various orders in the Monasteries bear a resemblance to the monastic orders in the Roman Church. The Buddhists make suffrages, alms, prayers and sacrifices like the Catholics; and the Buddhists take vows of celibacy, poverty, chastity and obedience like the Catholic monks. The Buddhists use holy water and singing services. The Buddhist liturgy also resembles the Eastern Christian liturgies.72
 
It may be pointed out that due to the striking similarity between the two religions, most thinkers believe that Christianity is the Buddhism of the West. Both Jesus as well as Buddha are called Saviours in their respective scriptures and it is a strange coincidence that both make the same claim when they say: I am the Light and the the Way.73 Titles which have been ascribed to Jesus in the Gospels have been similarly ascribed to the Buddha in the Buddhist scriptures. Both have called themselves Light, Master, Blessed, Prince and the Refuge. Both fasted at the time of temptation and the fast lasted for forty days.
 
The Buddha describes alms-giving as "good seed sown on good soil that yields an abundance of fruits." Jesus says the same thing when he says that alms-giving means providing ourselves "with a treasure in the heaven."74 In the Lalita Vistara, a famous Buddhist scripture, the Buddha declares that "the shepherd who is full of wisdom" will guide those who have fallen over the great precipice." In the same manner, Jesus Christ says:
 
I am the good shepherd:
The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.75
 
There is a striking resemblance between the teachings of both the masters. It seems that Buddhism had prepared the way for Christianity. It is a historical fact that Ashoka collected about eighty thousand Buddhist monks who were sent by him for missionary work to China, Persia, Babylonia, Syria, Palestine and Egypt. It was due to the influence of their teachings that many mystical sects like the Therapeutae, Essenes and Zoroastrians became popular among the followers of Judaism. Jesus had received his early education under the guidance of the Essene masters and it is for this reason that we find traces among them of Buddhist virtues like non-violence, brotherhood, kindness, love and piety.
 
As times passes on, documents are forthcoming which show that Jesus visited Tibet and Ladakh. According to one source Jesus went to Tibet and stayed for some time in the chief monastery. He did not preach there but absorbed himself in meditation. After some time, he reached Ladakh and was received well by the Buddhist monks. There he healed a dying child, and his fame spread far and wide. He said in a sermon:
 
My Father God is king of all mankind.
And he has sent me forth,
With all the bounties of his matchless love,
And boundless wealth:
I go my way,
But we will meet again;
For in my Fatherland is room for all,
I will prepare a place for you.
Jesus raised his hands in silent benediction, and then went his way.76
 
 
They Seek Miracles
 
Jesus preached against idol worship saying:
 
Wherefore I say unto you,
Leave your idols,
And perform not rites.
Which separate you from your Father.77
For the reproaches he made against them, the priests asked him to do a miracle. But he answered:
 
The miracles of our God have been worked.
Since the first day;
When the universe was created;
They take place every day,
And at every moment;
Whosoever seeth them not,
Is deprived,
Of one of the fairest gifts of life.
But woe unto you.
Ye enemies of men!
If it be not a favour that you await.
But rather the wrath of the Father;
Woe unto you.
If ye expect miracles,
To bear witness to His power.78
 
Seeing the powerlessness of their priests, the pagan people developed a great faith in the saying of Jesus. They broke their idols to pieces, and the priests fled away to safety. Jesus told the people not to strive to see God with their own eyes, but to endeavour to feel him in their hearts. He further preached:
 
Abstain from consuming human sacrifices;
Immolate no creature to whom life has been given;
Do not steal the goods of your neighbour;
Deceive no one so as not to be yourselves deceived.
Jesus Christ then passed by the way of Kashmir, where he joined a caravan of merchants. When they heard him speak like a prophet, and when they came to know that he wanted to travel to Persia, they gave him a Bactrian beast. Having reached the Punjab, Jesus performed many miracles and healed many among the sick.79
 
Thomas the Apostle of India
 
Thomas, who was also called Didymus, holds the seventh position among the chief disciples of Jesus Christ. He considered Jesus as his God.80 His real name was Judas and as such his Gospel is known as the Acts of Judas Thomas. He is considered to be the twin brother of Jesus. When the disciples of the Lord divided the whole world for missionary work, India fell to his lot. He is known as the apostle of Parthia and India.81 In the beginning, he was reluctant to go on a long journey, for he wanted to die for Jesus Christ.82
At that time, an Indian merchant named Habban arrived in the south of Palestine. In obedience to the commands of the Master, Thomas sailed with Habban towards the east .83
 
At the time of nominating his disciples, Jesus had asked him to work within the Parthian empire, which included the northwestern areas of India also. The Parthian empire extended from the Euphrates to the Indus and from the Arabian sea to the Caspian sea. Thomas was known as the evangelist of Parthia and India.84 He preached to the Parthians, Medes, Persians, Bactrians, Indians and Hyrecaneans.85
 
Among the Graeco-Bactrian rulers of Kashmir whose coins have been found in that region, mention may be made of Euthydemus (220 B.C.) Eucratides (180 B.C.) Hippostratus (140 B.C.) Menander the Great (110 B.C.) Antimacjus II (100 B.C.) Azilises (20 B.C.) Spalagadames. Vonoes, Spalyrises (10 A.D.)
Gondaphares (50 A.D.) and Abdagases (100 A.D.). It was during the rule of Gondaphares that Thomas crossed the borders of India. Then he reached Attock, where he was introduced to the ruler, Gondaphares, by Abdagases.86 Gondaphares, after combining the territories held by the Parthians and the Sakes, had established his kingdom in the northwest of India, and reigned from 21 A.D. to 50 A.D.87 It was in about 48 A.D. that Thomas supervised the building of the palace for the king.
 
In the meanwhile, Jesus, along with his mother and a few disciples, reached Taxila. He was invited by the king to attend the marriage ceremony of Abdagases. Circumstances leading to the meeting of Jesus with Thomas will be dealt with subsequently.
 
Taxila
 
The valley of Taxila, near Rawalpindi in Pakistan, occupies an important place on the trade routes which used to connect India with central and western Asia. In the beginning of the 5th century B.C. It formed an important region, included in the Achaemenid Empire of Persia. It was in 326 B.C. that Alexander the Great halted here for some weeks, as a guest of Ambhi, the king of Taxila. The Bactrians occupied the region in about 231 B.C. with the result that many Buddhists migrated from this place to Khotan.88 Taxila was swept away by the Scythians and the Parthians in about the first century B.C. After the death of Azes II, the kingdoms of Taxila and Arachosia were united under the rule of Gondaphares, who figures in early Christian writings of the same period as the king to whose court Thomas the Apostle was sent.89
 
In the Kingdom of Gondaphares
 
Our task in locating the places visited by Jesus becomes very difficult for the reason that during this period northwestern India witnessed many political upheavals. Information obtained from various sources reveal that the region came under the control of many kings, fighting each other for supremacy. We find the Scythian overlords trying to oust the Parthian, with the result that Gondaphares seems to have controlled the northern regions, with his capital at Taxila. We have some references to him and his brother Gad, and it is now established that Gondaphares ruled in Taxila during 25-60 A.D. Coins of the period and some inscriptions found at Takht Bhai, are conclusive proof of the fact that Gondaphares established a kingdom during the period.90 Coins of Gondaphares have been found in Kashmir also. Antiquities relating to him, his brother Gad, and Abdagases have been excavated at Char Sadah.91 Among the antiquities found there, the statues of Thomas and Peter have been identified. Archaeological findings at Char Sadah also include a large number of slabs exhibiting crucifixion. All this establishes the fact that Char Sadah had become an important centre of Christianity in the mid first century A.D.
 
Among the famous relics found at Taxila is an inscription in Aramaic mentioning construction of a palace of cedar and ivory by a foreign carpenter, who was pious devotee of the Son of God. The inscription reads as follows:
 
Dear foreign carpenter,
Pious devotee of the Son of God,
Built this palace of cedar and ivory,
For the king.
 
In the inscription priya means dear, rideshiya means a foreigner, nagruda means a carpenter, and Rudradeva means the Son of God.93
 
It is mentioned in several historical works that Gondaphares desired of Thomas to build a palace for him. The apostle promised to complete the work within six months but expended all the money given to him in alms-giving. When the king asked him to account for it, he explained that he was building a place for the king in heaven, not with hands but which was everlasting.
 
He preached with such zeal and grace that the king, his brother Gad and multitudes of the people embraced the faith. Many signs and wonders were wrought by the holy apostle.94
 
We have succeeded in obtaining information about the presence of Jesus Christ at Taxila at the marriage ceremony in the royal family of Gondaphares. As the incident is of vital importance, let us quote fully:
 
And the king requested the groomsman to go out of the
bridal chamber.
And when all the people had gone out, and the door of the
bridal chamber was closed, the bride-groom raised up
the curtain, that he might bring the bride to himself.
And he saw our Lord, in the likeness of Judas, who was
standing and talking with the bride.
And the bridegroom said to him: Lo, thou didst go out at
first; how art thou still here ?
Our Lord saith to him: I am not Judas, but I am the
brother of Judas.
And our Lord sat down on the bed, and let the young
people sit down on the chairs,
And began to speak to them.95
 
The above conclusively proves the presence of Jesus Christ at Taxila. The incident is also given in the Acta Thomas, which is reproduced here:
 
Thomas after the ceremonies left the place.
The bride-groom lifted the curtain, which separated
him from the bride.
He saw Thomas, as he supposed, conversing with her.
Then he asked in surprise:
How canst thou be found here?
Did I not see thee go out before all?
And the Lord answered:
I am not Judas Thomas, but his brother.96
 
As the marriage ceremony was performed in 49 A.D. it is an established fact that Jesus Christ had reached Taxila at the period.
 
Statue of Thomas
 
While describing the statues found in cell 29, Marshall who excavated these antiquities at Taxila, says that the dress and bearded head of a peculiarly distinctive style proves him to be a foreigner. All the figures in the group are shown barefooted except the central figure, which appears to have sandals. This particular bearded figure has the peaked cap of a Syrian traveller, tunic to the knees, as was worn in Syria, and strangely enough, boots without laces or latchets. This figure has definite and distinctive Jewish features.97
It is due to their dress and physical features that these statues have been called the statues of foreigners.98 These were found at Julian, Taxila, where an Assyrian type of monastery was built by Julian, who accompanied Thomas during his travels to India. Near this monastery, there existed the palace of the king Gondaphares. From the palace, an Aramaic inscription has been excavated giving some little information about the pious carpenter, a disciple of the Son of God who constructed it from cedar and ivory.
All these hints lead us to the conclusion that the figure with a peaked cap is none other than Thomas, the Apostle of the Son of God. Just as some of the statues excavated at Taxila have been designated as those of foreigners, on the same consideration the figures on the stone slabs, found at Khurhom, in the Lolab valley of Kashmir, have been described as those of foreigners.
 
Mary the Mother
 
Mary, the mother of Jesus, commands much respect among the Christians. One reason is that she agreed to conceive Jesus and thus helped God to manifest Himself in flesh in this world. As Jesus was considered an incarnation of God, Thomas addressed him as "My Lord and my God."99 Leaving aside mythology, we can assign another reason to the greatness of Mary. She not only nourished Jesus like other mothers but also took great pains to get him educated by the Essenes in Egypt. At the feast of the Passover at Jerusalem, when Jesus is lost to his parents, she feels greatly worried and searches for him from place to place. When, at last she finds him, she says, "Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us?"
 
The Gospels do not provide us with full information about Mary's role during the ministry of Jesus. Like every mother, she feels perturbed over his ministry.100 She is present at the wedding at Cana and tells Jesus that there is no wine for the guests.101 Then we find her at the time of crucifixion, when Jesus addresses her as the mother of humanity.
 
When Jesus therefore saw his mother,
And the disciple standing by,
Whom he loved,
He saith unto his mother,
Woman,
Behold thy son!
Then saith he to the disciple,
Behold thy mother.102
 
The above would show that Mary was given the title of the mother of all mankind by Jesus who addressed her as woman but told his disciple that she was the mother. We are also informed that Mary was present in the meeting at Jerusalem, when Matthias was included in the group of Apostles.103 After the resurrection, she accompanied Jesus Christ on a long journey towards the East. According to the Gospel of Philip, both she and Mary Magdalene accompanied him. In about 49 A.D. they seem to have reached Taxila. Due to a political upheaval, when the Kushans attacked the region for establishment of their supremacy, Jesus had to flee towards the adjoining hills. Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, died on the way, and was buried at a place called Mari then, and now called Murree.104 Researches conducted about the resting place of Mary the mother indicate that she is buried on the hill of Murree.105 The place was known as Mari till 1875, when the spellings were changed to Murree. The tomb is described as Mai-Mari-de-Asthan, or, the resting place of Mother Mary.106 Mumtaz Ahmad Farouqi, who has conducted exhaustive researches on the Tomb of Mary, has propounded that:
 
Mary belonged to the priestly class of the Israelites, and it was befitting that she should be buried on the top of a hill. According to the local tradition, the Tomb is the resting place of Mother Mary.
 
The shrine has been worshipped by the Hindus in the past, and the Muslims make their offerings and light up earthen lamps filled up with oil, on Thursdays. In 1898, Richardson, the Garrison Engineer, wished to demolish the tomb at the time of the construction of the defence tower. Shortly afterwards he died in an accident, and the locals connect the incident with his evil intentions towards the tomb. The grave, which is still facing east, has now been repaired . In 1931 A.D. the Commandant made a complaint to the Municipal Committee that a red flag with a white circle in the centre had been planted by someone at the site. Further investigations conducted by the revenue authorities established that the site was an ancient historical monument, to which the local populace, both Hindus and Muslims, have offered homage since ancient times.107
 
It is a fact that popular local tradition provides valuable assistance in researches, and can be accepted as supplementing the historical records. In the present case, when ancient documents are not available, we have no option but to accept the local tradition, which emphasises that the site is known as the resting place of Mother Mary. In the interest of research, it is demanded that the grave be opened and the remains put to scientific tests, so that the issue may be resolved. Till then, we will have no option but to believe that Mary Magdalene is buried at Kashgar and Mary the Mother is buried at Murree.
 
The Valley of Kashmir
 
The valley of Kashmir has been described as paradise on earth by many famous writers. It is bounded by Himalayas and its rocks range in age to earliest palaeozoic period. The discovery of a massive flake, a crude hand axe and stone tools in the valley have proved the existence of well stratified deposits dating back to glacial periods. It can be said that the valley of Kashmir may have been the repository of earliest human cultures. Traces of middle palaeolithic and Neolithic cultures have been found in Kashmir. The later culture can be placed between 2500 B.C. The Neolithic culture of Kashmir has close affinity with the similar cultures discovered in Italy and Central Asia. The etymology of Kashmir is attributed to the name of the valley given by its inhabitants as Kasheer. The people call themselves as Kushur. It is also claimed that many tribes settled in the valley during prehistoric times and prominent among these was the Kassites or Kush tribe, who founded habitations with the name of Kush, such as Kashan in Iran, Kashgar in Central Asia and Hindo-Kush in Afghanistan. This tribe belonged to the sons of Cush, who were ordered to migrate to the land of fat pastures.108 The Kushans founded their empire in the first century A D. and held the fourth Buddhist Council in Kashmir. Prior to the advent of Christianity, the Buddhists had established their viharas, right up from Kashmir to Iran, Syria and the Dead Sea.
 
The Silk Route
 
In the ancient world, the countries in southwest Asia formed one compact unit. During the 6th century B.C Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and some regions of northern India formed part of the Achaemenian dominion of Cyrus and Darius.109 The people living in this vast tract of land had close links by way of trade, commerce and culture.
 
Prior to the advent of Jesus Christ, Egypt, Iran, Afghanistan and Kashmir were connected by the Silk Route. During the lifetime of Jesus the highway had the following stages:
 
Jerusalem (Hierosolyma) - Bostra - Damascus - Palmyra - Edessa - Nisseus (Nisibis) - Herat - Bamiyan - Kabul - Khybar - Taxila - Murree - Chitral - Gilgit - Bandipur - Kashmir. From Herat another route lay to Balkh - Badakshan - Ladakh - Kashmir.
 
It may be mentioned that the valley of Kashmir, though secluded and surrounded by mountains, is located in the region where west, east, south and central Asia meet. It was an important link in the communication system at the hub of Asia, centripetally uniting all its realms.110
 
From ancient times, the valley of Kashmir had established commercial relations with Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asian countries. Its capital lay on the Silk Route. which connected east with west. Many centuries before the advent of Jesus Christ, the armies of the Greeks penetrated into north India and the Indus basin through land routes of the past. So it is no wonder that any traveller could reach Kashmir from Palestine. These tracks and routes were in existence through all time, and were used by emigrants, traders and pilgrims.
 
Herodotus knew the people of Kaspira or Kashmir, long before the first century A.D.111 Seven centuries before Christ. the Jews had been transported to the northwest of Indian and central Asia, who had established small centres of civilization and trade in these regions, including Kashmir.
 
Dispersion of Jews
 
Dispersion of the Jews started with the fall of Samaria in 721 B.C. After that they went on migrating towards the east and settled in far off lands. They settled in Bamyian, Bukhara, Samarkand, Khorasan, Kashmir and Kashgar. Some of their remnants even reached Western China.112
 
It is a historical fact that the Aryans and the Semites intermingled during their dispersion in about 2000 B.C. Some of the Semitic tribes reached the western borders of the Indus valley. But it was during the period of the Assyrian Empire that intimate commercial contacts were established with lran and Gandhara, which included Kashmir also. At the time, Media extended its sway right up to borders of Chitral, and intercommunications between India and the middle east had become well developed. During the reign of Cyrus the Great, the whole region from Thebes in Egypt to Taxila in the Punjab came under the domination of the Persians. With the extension of the Persian Empire by Darius, right up to the northwestern regions of India, the valley of Kashmir, including Hunza, Nagar and Chitral came under direct control of the Persians. Invasion by Alexander the Great, and his stop at Jehlum, proves that he was fully acquainted with the age-old routes from Mesopotamia to the Punjab. His successors established small kingdoms in the northwestern regions of India, and the Greeks ruled over Kashmir. The Greeks continued in Kashmir right up to l A D., when the power was snatched by the Kushans.
 
It may be pointed out that the Mediterranean people started moving and spreading towards the east, north and west, in the beginning of the Neolithic age. One branch migrated towards the northwestern part of the Indian sub-continent. This gigantic race movement started around 5OOO B.C.
 
This physical type forms the basis of the inhabitants in the region. Skeletons found at Mohenjo-daro and Harappa in Pakistan include representatives of the aboriginal stock as well as long-headed Mediterraneans who migrated from Mesopotamia.113 This type is common in Iran, Afghanistan and certain other regions in the north west of India.114 Broadly speaking, Kashmiris come under the broad heading of Caucasoids. Ethnologically, they fit in under the Mediterraneans of Armenoid and Nordic type.
 
The Kashmiri Jews
 
Most of the Afghan tribes are the descendants of the Jewish tribes. They lived as Jews till they were converted by the Muslims during the days of Khalid.115 Ethnologically, the overwhelming numbers of inhabitants of Afghanistan are the descendants of the lost tribes of Israel.116
 
As the centuries passed, these ancient tribes of Israel were succeeded in power by Islam and the rule of ten leaders was broken. Directly and indirectly, the broad mass of population was coerced to Islamic faith. Despite these changes a segment of population between Iran and Kashmir is still called Bani Israel, meaning the sons of Israel. Even today in the eastern areas from Afghanistan to Kashmir, in more then 350 instances, places and castes bear names which originate in, or derive from the Old Testament of the Hebrews.117
 
During the ancient period, the valley of Kashmir was occupied by various tribes. Among the prominent tribes mention has been made of the Nagas, the Pishachas, the Sakas, the Gandharas, the Khasas and the Tunganas.118 Most of these tribes were not the original inhabitants of the valley but came from the north and the west. It is possible that some of the Jewish tribes might have settled in the valley also. This is more probable, as Al-Beruni is definite in stating:
 
The Kashmiris are particularly anxious about the natural defences of their country. They keep strong vigil and hold on the passes and routes leading into it. In former times, they used to allow one or two foreigners to enter their country, particularly the Jews.119
 
According to Jesuit Catrou, the author of The History of the Mughal Empire, published in 1708, the Kashmiris are the descendents of the Jewish tribes which came out of Israel. They built an edifice on a high mountain near Srinagar, which is still known as the Throne of Solomon.120 Another author also writes that the people of Kashmir are the children of Israel.121 Bernier wrote in 1644 as follows:
 
There are many marks of Judaism to be found in this country. On entering the kingdom, the inhabitants in the frontier villages struck me as resembling Jews.122
 
The Kashmiris are of a tall, robust frame of body, with manly features; the women, full formed and handsome with aquiline noses and features resembling the Jews.123 Their physical and ethnic character has always struck observant visitors to the valley and they have universally connected them with the Jews.124 Kash or Cush, the overlord of one Jewish tribe, seems to be the main tribe which migrated to Kashmir. During their travel when they reached Nishapur in Iran, they founded the village of Kashmar when in Bokhara, they founded a village named Kash; in Samarkand, they founded the villages Kashband. Kashania, and after having founded Kashgar, they came to Kashmir, and named it Kashir, or the country of the Kash tribe.125
 
Jesus Christ had spoken of the Jews as the children of God that had scattered abroad, and he wanted to seek and save the lost sheep of Israel. Therefore there is no wonder that he proceeded towards the east, and reached Kashmir.
 
Shali-Vahana
 
Alexander the Great set out toward the east in about 327 B.C. At that time, the valley of Kashmir formed part of Gandhara, with Taxila as its capital. After his return, the Greek soldiers and generals scattered themselves in the Northwestern regions of India and established small kingdoms in Chitral, Afghanistan, Hazara and Kashmir. Here and there we find evidence; archaeological and numismatic, which prove the fact of the Greek rule in various regions of northwest India. Similarly, we find eleven Greek rulers who held sway over Kashmir.128
 
Kadphises I made himself the master of northern India in about 60 A.D. and his viceroy Kaniska subjugated the valley of Kashmir, some time later 73 A D.127 It was during this period that Shali-Vahana of Kashmir appeared on the scene as a champion of the Brahmanas, against the Indo-Scythians.128
He succeeded in defeating the foreigners and in order to commemorate his victory, introduced a new era after his name. Known as the Shali-Vahana Era, it was introduced on the first Baisakh 3179 Kalyugi Era, corresponding to the 14th March, 78 A.D.129
 
Jesus Christ and the Kashmiri King
 
The most important information about the arrival of Jesus Christ in the valley of Kashmir and his meeting with the king of Kashmir has been recorded for posterity by Sutta in his famous Sanskrit work entitled, Bhavisya-maha-purana, written in 3191 Laukik era, corresponding to 115 A.D. Shali-Vahana ruled over the valley of Kashmir and other mountainous region of the Himalayas during 39-50 A.D. At the time of his succession, the valley and the other parts of his kingdom witnessed attacks by the neighbouring tribes from China, Parthia, Bactria, and Sinkiang. These hordes were defeated by him but they left after looting his kingdom. Thus, he succeeded in demarcating the boundaries between the Aryans and the non-Aryans. Sutta further records that the king during his travels in the Himalayas met a saintly person near Wien who was fair in colour and wore white robes. When the king enquired about his name, the saint replied:
 
"I am known as the Son of God and born of a virgin." The saint also told him that he had suffered at the hands of the wicked, for he preached human beings to serve the Lord. He further informed the king that his name has been established as Isa-Masiha.
 
The above information clearly reveals the meeting of Jesus with Shali-Vahana, the king of Kashmir. None except Jesus Christ is known as the Son of God and none except him is known to have been born of a virgin. Secondly, Jesus Christ is known as Isa-Masih in the east, even at present. He is also remembered as Yusu-Masih. The above information being very archaic and important is translated as follows:
 
In the meanwhile, Shali-Vahana, the grandson of Vikrama-Ditya laid hold on the kingdom of his father. He defeated the invincible Shakas (Scythians) and fought off the hordes from Cheen (China), Tatari (Tartar), Balhika (Bactria), Kamrupa (Parthia), Roma (Rome) and Khura (Khurasan). He took possession of their treasures, and those who deserved punishment were punished. He defined the boundaries between the Aryan and the Mleechas (Amalekites), declaring this side of the Sindhu (Indus) as the country of the Aryans. This righteous king demarcated the habitat of the Mleechas (Amalekites) beyond the Sindhu (Indus). One day the king of the Shakas (Scythians) came to Himatunga (Himalaya). This King who was very powerful, saw in the mountains of Wien a distinguished person wearing white robes. 'Who are you?' asked the king, and the person replied in a pleasant manner:
 
Know me as Ishvara-putaram (the Son of God),
Kanya-garbam (Born of the womb of a virgin),
Being given to the truth, I
And penances:
I preached the religion to the Mleechas (Amalekites)
 
After hearing this, the king asked: "Which religion do you preach?" He answered:
 
When the truth had vanished,
And all bounds of propriety were crossed;
In the land of the Mleechas (Amalekites):
I appeared as Isha-Masih (Jesu Messiah).
I received the Messiah-hood, (Christhood)
In the land of Mleechas:
I saith unto them;
Remove all mental and bodily impurities,
Recite the revealed prayer truthfully,
Pray in the right manner,
Repeat within your heart the name of our Lord God,
Meditate upon Him whose abode is in the sun!
When I appeared in the Mleecha country:
The wicked and the guilty underwent pain through my
works;
But. they made me to suffer at their hands.
I say unto thee:
In truth all power rests with the Lord,
\The sun is in the centre;
While the cosmos is the contraction of the moving
elements;
And the elements, the sun and God are forever.
Perfect, pure and blissful frame of God
Has entered into my heart:
Thus my name has been established,
And promulgated as Isha-Masih!
 
After having heard this from the lips of the distinguished person, the king returned, making obeisance to him.130
 
The above is the correct translation of the verses from the ancient Sanskrit work entitled Bhavishya-maha-purana, which was written in 115 A.D. In it we are told that Shali-Vahana, the king of Kashmir, met Jesus Christ at Wien, which place still exists near Srinagar, Kashmir. Jesus is always mentioned in the east as Yusu-Masih or Isa-Masih, and all those who do not profess Hinduism are termed as Mleechas. The authenticity of this ancient manuscript has been dealt with in the chapter on sources. However, it may be noted that the manuscript provides most authentic information. Here, Jesus Christ is said to have referred to his sufferings at the hands of the Amalekites, who are termed as Mleechas by the author of the above Sanskrit work. It is also noteworthy that Jesus Christ clearly reveals that he is known as the Son of God, born of a virgin and that he was sent as Messiha to the country of the Amalekites. He also affirms that he taught love, truth and purity but suffered at the hands of the wicked. His statement that the Lord is in the centre of the sun and the elements and that God and the sun shall exist forever hints at the ordered system of the cosmos.
 
After having defeated the Scythians and the other invaders, Shali-Vahana introduced a new era, in the Kalyugi year 3139, which corresponds to 78 A.D. He had to leave for further conquests and it is probable that the above meeting between him and Jesus Christ might have taken place in the same year,or prior to 78 A.D.
 
Spirit of God
 
Jesus Christ was the Spirit of God, who assumed the name of Yuz-Asaph in Kashmir.131 This tradition has been inherited by the Muslims from the Hindus of ancient times, who also believed that Jesus came to Kashmir and settled here. Here Jesus disclosed his identity to the king of Kashmir in the following words.
"I am known as the Son of God and born of a virgin. As I have preached love, truth and purity of heart, I am called Messiah."132
 
His Ministry in Kashmir
 
It was during the reign of Gopananda I(79-109 A.D.) that Jesus Christ proclaimed his ministry in Kashmir and spent his later life in the valley. During the period, Sulaiman came for the repairs of a temple dedicated to Solomon. He had the following verses inscribed on the stone pillars of Takht-i-Sulaiman.
 
Yuz-Asaph, the Yusu of the tribes of Israel proclaimed his prophethood, in the year 54.
The translation from the Persian history of Kashmir of the relevant pages is given below:
 
The new king assumed the name of Gopananda and started his rule in the valley of Kashmir. During his reign, many temples were built and repaired. He invited Sulaiman from Persia for repairs of the cracked dome existing on the top of Mount Solomon. The Hindus raised objections saying that as he was not a Hindu but followed the other religion, he could not repair the sacred temple. During this very period, Yuz-Asaph arrived from Bait-ul Muqaddas (the Holy Land) and proclaimed his prophethood in the Wadi-a-Aqdas (Holy Valley). He absorbed himself in prayers, day and night, and was very pious and saintly. He called upon the people to follow the words of God and many became his disciples. The king requested him to bring the people on the right path.
 
Having completed the repairs of the dome in the year 54, Sulaiman had inscriptions engraved on the stones of the stairs as follows:
 
During this period, Yuz-Asaph proclaimed his prophethood. He was Yusu, the prophet of the children of Israel. I have seen in a book of the Hindus that this Prophet was really Isa, the Spirit of God, on whom be peace and salutations. He assumed the name of Yuz-Asaph and spent his life in the valley. After his demise, he was laid to rest in the tomb at Anzmar. It is also said that the rays of prophethood used to emanate from the tomb of this Prophet.133
 
According to the author, Jesus Christ proclaimed his ministry in Kashmir in the year 54, and the event is engraved on the stones of the stairs to the dome of Solomon. It may be mentioned that this ancient edifice was repaired several times after its repairs by Sulaiman. It was also repaired during the reign of Sultan Zain-ul-abidin, in the year 874 A.D. when four pillars were added to its dome. It was under his directions that the earlier inscriptions were translated into Persian and engraved on four pillars. These revised inscriptions were recorded by a Kashmiri historian as follows:
 
Mason of this pillar is Bihisti Zargar; year 54. Khaja Rukun son of Mirjan erected this pillar. Yuz-Asaph proclaimed his prophethood; year 54. He is Yusu, the Prophet of the Children of Israel.134
These inscriptions were intact up to the end of the 19th century but have been mutilated now. The photograph of only two lines is available at present.135 It is interesting to note that the year in the inscriptions is given as 54. As the inscriptions were translated into Persian from the original, we have to find out the exact equivalent of the year 54. The Kashmiris used the Laukika Era during ancient times, which began in 3076 B.C.
Accordingly; the year 3154 of the Laukika Era would correspond to 78 A.D. The year mentioned in the inscriptions was engraved as 54, which in reality is 3154, which can rightly be calculated as 78 A D. It is thus evident that Jesus Christ proclaimed his ministry in Kashmir in the year 78 A.D.
 
Preaching
 
Some information though scanty but significant is available about Jesus Christ in Kashmir. It is reported that people came together unto him; the rich and the poor, for blessings and guidance. Jesus said unto them:
 
Listen:
I say unto thee,
The words of wisdom,
And truth;
Ye may be able to make distinction,
Between right and wrong.
Indeed this is the religion of those,
Unto whom the words of God come.
Whosoever shall discard righteousness
Shall not enter heaven.136
 
Jesus had once said that those who are persecuted for righteousness shall enter the kingdom of heaven.137 He repeats the same sermon in Kashmir. He had also said that those who hear the word of God, and keep it, are blessed.138 Here, Jesus asks people to make distinction between right and wrong, and thus keep the word of God.
 
Listen,
I say unto thee;
Seek ye the kingdom of heaven,
Rather than that of the world;
Woe unto the seekers of the world,
For they shall perish.139
 
Here Jesus Christ asks them to seek the kingdom of God.140 At another place, he gave the following sermon;
 
Verily,
I say unto thee;
Death keeps no time;
For the hour has come,
And the birds have no power,
Over their enemies;
Save ye with faith.141
 
It has been written in the ancient scriptures that those who do not seek God, they shall be put to death.142 No one has power on the day of death, nor to retain spirit over the spirit.143
 
I say unto thee;
So long as there is light ye travel,
Keep your good deeds secret,
Lest these be for show only.
Blessed are they;
For they know,
That they shall be treated in the same way.144
 
The following statement is attributed to Jesus:
 
My food is fasting, my natural condition is fear, my dress a sack made from wool. My hearth is the sun in winter, my light in the night is the moon, my conveyance is my feet, my food the berries of the forest. When I go to sleep, I have nothing with me; when I rise I am empty handed. None is richer than me on the earth.
I advise you to concentrate your thoughts upon God, and lead a detached life. If you have a towering aspiration to meet God, concentrate upon Him.
 
Remember; if one employs all energy to attain an aim with clear thoughts, even a thorn may be turned into a rose garland.145
 
According to Jesus, we will receive due reward of our works. He advised people to keep away from worldly desires and do good. He says,
 
I say unto thee;
Shun worldly desires,
And give up anger,
And back-biting,
And keep your hearts pure.146
 
Parable
 
A parable is a narration of some event, adopted to teach a moral lesson. Jesus taught in parables in a most characteristic and striking way.147 In the New Testament, we find many parables which deal with loftiest spiritual truth. Here is one such parable which he gave to the common people:
 
Behold:
When a sower goes to sow,
And sows:
Some seeds fall by the wayside,
And are devoured by the birds.
Some seeds fall upon the stray land,
And reach the stony foundation,
and wither away
And some fall among thorns,
And grow not.
And the seeds which fall on good land,
Grows,
And brings forth fruit.
 
Here Jesus repeats the parable of the sower given in the New Testament.148 But the parable which he taught in Kashmir goes on further as follows:
 
By the sower is meant the wise;
By the seeds is meant his words of wisdom;
The seeds picked up by the birds,
Means those who do not understand.
By the seeds on the stony ground,
Is meant words of wisdom not heeded.
By the seeds thrown on stony ground is meant,
Those who understand but do not comply
By the seeds which fall on good ground,
Means those who understand
Obey,
And follow.149
 
Crucifixion
 
Isana lived at Ishbar on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar, Kashmir. He was a saint of great repute and his preachings were heard by all, and he had many devotees. One of his chief disciples, Samadhi-mati was ordered by the king of Kashmir to be imprisoned for ten years. But after some time, he was put on the cross. Isana, came and saw three sentences written on the forehead of Samadhi-mati:
 
This man will lead a life of poverty:
After ten years imprisonment;
He will be put on the stake;
After resurrection, shall be the king.150
 
When Samadhi-mati was put on the stake, the crowds witnessed his crucifixion. During night, fairies came and danced around his corpse. Isana felt sad and sat near the site. On the third day, Samadhi-mati came to life. The multitude saw him in amazement and offered him the throne of Kashmir. He refused to accept this offer, but when the people insisted, he agreed to be their king. This extraordinary event as described in the ancient Sanskrit historical work is reproduced here:
 
This king had an advisor called Samadhi-mati;
The greatest of sages,
Who was distinguished by his wonderful life,
And devotion to Shiva.
The wicked raised the king's hatred
Against that trusted advisor,
By telling him,
Beware of this person of wonders.
Full of wrath,
The king banished him
And reduced him,
To life-long poverty.
There spread a mysterious report,
From house to house,
Which declared,
To Samadhi-mati will belong the kingdom.151
Troubled by apprehensions
The king threw Samadhi-mati in prison,
There he pined
With his legs tormented by cruel fetters.
 
The above quoted verses reveal that Samadhi-mati was one of the greatest of sages, who was distinguished by his wonderful life and devotion to God. The wicked raised the King's hatred against him. There spread a mysterious report among the people: "To Samadhi-mati will belong the kingdom." Accordingly, the king got troubled by apprehensions and ordered chaining of the saint, whose legs were tormented by cruel fetters.
 
Then the king ordered
Samadhi-mati be put on the stake;
At night,
By savage executioners.152
When the news reached Isana,
The heart of this self-controlled person,
Broke away from control.
He proceeded To the place of execution;
To perform funeral rites
For this suffering man.
He found him,
Reduced to a skeleton;
At which
The wolves tore away,
His flesh,
Held fast by the bones,
Fixed under the foot,
of the stake!
 
The above verses show that the king ordered that the apostle be crucified. Accordingly, he was put on the stake at night by the savage executioners. When Isana heard the news, his heart broke away and he proceeded to the site of execution. There he found the skeleton and his flesh held fast by bones fixed under the feet of the stake.
 
Keeping off the howling wolves;
He carried away the skeleton;
On his forehead;
The verse inscribed
He will have a life of poverty;
Ten years imprisonment;
Death on the stake;
And still thereafter a throne.153
Thus he stayed,
To see
The fulfillment of the prediction,
And watched the skeleton
Then in the middle of the night
While he was awake;
Isana smelt
A heavenly perfume of incense.
 
The above reveals that Isana carried away the skeleton of the saint. But on his forehead, he saw inscribed that he would have life after death. Thus Isana watched the fulfillment of the prediction. At night, the witches came with incense and heavenly ointments and the skeleton was fitted up with all its limbs.
 
He saw the witches,
enveloped by a halo of light,
the skeleton in the midst
being fitted up with all its limbs.
He was covered by them;
with heavenly ointments
the spirit of Samadhi-mati
was put into his body.154
When the witches departed;
their voice was heard;
He who,
When chosen by us,
was joined with a heavenly body;
will be known on earth;
on account of his noble character,
as Arya-Raja or the prince of the Aryans.155
 
The extraordinary event of crucifixion, the only instance recorded in the ancient history of Kashmir, merits serious attention, due to the fact the crucifixion of Jesus Christ has been that repeated here in Kashmir. It is also a strange coincidence that the dates of Samadhi-mati and Jesus Christ are also almost identical. Further, both the personalities have strong resemblances, with the result that this event has become a mystery.156

It is also a strange coincidence that Jesus is called Isa in the East. It is possible that Isana of Kashmir, who is spoken of as a great saint, may be no other personality than Jesus Christ.

 
It is also possible that his disciple may have been crucified in Kashmir, and may have obtained resurrection at the hands of Isa. The other alternative would be to presume that Isana and Samadhi-mati Arya-raja may be the same person, and Kalhana the historian may be confused, while recording the crucifixion of this historical personality. This saint lived at Ishbar, meaning the place of Isa, which is still held in reverence by a section of the people of Kashmir. This fact has been mentioned in various historical works of Kashmir.157
 
Similarities
 
We now record versions of the three crucifixions, which may be summarised in order to show similarities between them.
 
My God, why hast thou forsaken me
Many bulls have compassed me:
For dogs have compassed me:
The assembly of the wicked have enclosed me:
They pierced my hands and my feet
But be not thou far from me, O Lord
O my strength, haste thee to help me:
I will declare thy name unto my brethren:
For the kingdom is the Lord's.158
 
This incident pertains to the pre-Christ period and is narrated in the Old Testament. The second incident is reproduced from the New Testament.
 
Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me.
They led him away to crucify him:
They parted his garments:
And they returned and prepared spices and ointments
Nicodemus came by night,
And brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes
Then took they the body of Jesus
And wound it in linen clothes with the spices:
At evening came Jesus and stood in the midst
And they worshipped him.
Go ye into all the world and preach.159
 
Now there is the third report of crucifixion, of the post-Jesus period;
 
There spread a mysterious report,
To Samadhi-mati will belong the Kingdom;
Savage executioners put him on the stake at
night.
Isana found him reduced to a skeleton.
Tho wolves tore away his flesh from the bones:
He smelt a heavenly perfume of incense:
The Yogins covered his body with heavenly
ointments:
The spirit of Samadhi-mati was put into his
body;
The Yogins cried,
He, who was joined with a heavenly body:
Is chosen as the prince of the Aryans.160
 
It appears that all three personalities who were crucified suffered a similar fate but resurrected after being put on the cross. In the case of the last two personalities, heavenly ointments were used; in the case of Jesus, by his disciples and in the case of Samadhi-mati, by the Yogins. It may be that all the above three personalities are one and the same, or they are different Christs. In the Buddhist mythology, we have the Buddha and then those becoming Buddhas, who are termed Boddhisattavas. All of them belong to the order of Buddha.
 
In the above mentioned case, it is possible that various personalities belonging to the Order of Jesus Christ may have come to this world at different times.
 
Jesus and the Jews
 
Jesus had claimed that he was the expected Messiah but the Jews had rejected him. While the Jews considered themselves as the chosen nation and their God as the God of Israel only, Jesus believed and preached universal brotherhood. He was dissident and as such they got him crucified.
 
Moreover, Jesus had developed strong links with the Essenes, who lived as ascetics around the Valley of Khirbet Qumran. Though other-wordly this monastic order was Jewish in character. They were, in reality, a break-away group, who recognised as their head a "Teacher of Righteousness" instead of Moses. To the Jews, Jesus of Nazareth was not the Messiah for whom they had looked during all these centuries; rather he was their enemy, who had modified the Law.
 
However, the Messianic movement started by the Messiah or the Christ continued to gain ground, not only at Jerusalem but in the areas dominated by the Romans. Claudius, who was on the Roman throne from 41 A.D. to 54. A.D., had to "drive the Jews out of Rome who were rioting because of Chrestus.161 This means that a Christian community did exist in Rome just after the departure of the Master. The apostles and their followers spread the word beyond the Jewish communities to the Pagans.
 
Peter in India
 
Jesus Christ had predicted that he would be denied thrice by Peter. After he had given the new commandment, Peter asked him where he would go, so that he could follow him. To this question Jesus Christ replied
 
Whither I go,
Thou canst nor follow me now;
But thou shalt follow me afterwards.162
 
The above prophecy clearly reveals that Jesus Christ had predicted that Peter would follow him later on. Thus, we shall have to find out what happened to Peter after the crucifixion.
 
It is a fact that Peter denied having known Jesus Christ and as he went out for safety, the cock crowed. When a maid saw him and said that he was one of the disciples, he again denied it. When he was pressed to reveal the truth, he swore that he had never known Jesus Christ. Thus, he denied thrice having known Jesus Christ. But he had told a lie and when he thought about he had done, he felt remorse and wept.163 Jesus had also predicted that he would build his church on the rock and the gates of hell should not prevail against it. Addressing Peter, he had declared:
 
And I will give unto thee
The keys of the kingdom of heaven;
And whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth,
Shall be bound in heaven;
And whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth.
Shall be loosed in heaven.164
 
It is significant that out of all his disciples, Jesus not only informed Peter that he should have to follow him at a later period but also gave him "the keys of the kingdom of heaven." This would mean that Jesus Christ made him his successor. It is but natural that after the flight of Jesus Christ, his successor should follow him to distant lands.
 
Soon after the crucifixion, Jesus' disciples met together and Peter addressed them.165 After that he started missionary work and added about three thousand converts to Christianity.166 Both Peter and John preached in Jerusalem for some time with the result that the number of Christians rose to about five thousand.167 Both of them were arrested and brought before the Jewish council. The priests admonished them and warned them not to speak in the name of the Lord. In the meanwhile, many, including Barnabas, supported them morally and financially. Among others who supported them was Ananias, who sold his possessions and presented a part of the price to Peter.168
 
The apostles of Jesus Christ were persecuted by the Sadducees, and put in the common prison, But the angels by night opened the doors and set them free. They again started preaching in the name of Jesus Christ and were again brought before the council. They were again told to stop their activities but Peter and the other apostles said that they ought to obey God rather than men. The priests wanted to slay them but they were saved through the intervention of Gamaliel.169
 
After some time, Stephen was arrested and stoned to death. Peter went to Lydda and healed Aeneas, who had been ill for eight years.170 Then he went to Joppa and restored Dorcas to life after death. Staying for some time there, he proceeded to Caesarea and converted Cornelius along with other people. It was shortly afterwards that James was killed, and Peter was imprisoned, under orders of Herod.171
 
But one night, an angel rescued him from the prison. Herod, in anger got the jail keepers killed for carelessness. Peter departed for Caesarea and lived there for some time. After that we hear of him at Antioch, when Paul rebukes Peter for not eating with the Gentiles.172
 
Paul preached the doctrines among the Romans, the Corinthians, the Galatians, the Ephesians, the Philippians, the Colossians and the Thessalonians. Peter attached much importance to the East and addressed himself to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Bithynia, Cappadocia and Asia.173 Addressing the nations in the East he said:
 
But ye are a chosen generation
A royal priesthood,
A holy nation,
A peculiar people.
That ye should show forth the praises
Of him who hath called you out
Of darkness into his marvelous light
Which in time past were not a people,
But are now the people of God
Which had not obtained mercy.174
 
While addressing the Asians, Peter praises them as the holy and chosen people. He also tells them that they were not on the right path earlier and they have now come to the right path and obtained the mercy of God. It is significant that he tells them that it all has happened now when Jesus "hath called you out of darkness."
He addresses the Asians from Babylon, which shows that his Ultima Thule is not in Europe but in Asia. In his second letter, he does not indicate the name of place, wherefrom he wrote, but his first letter clearly reveals that he wrote from Babylon, in presence of Silvanus and Mark.175 After this, nothing is known about the whereabouts of Peter, but it is evident that he should have followed Jesus Christ as predicted earlier.176 Later findings have revealed that like Thomas, Peter also visited India and reached Taxila.177 In his research paper, Shaikh Abdul Qadir has drawn attention of scholars to a bronze statue found by the Archaeological Survey of India at Char-saddha, a photo whereof has been published without identification.178
 
This bronze statue is an early specimen of Christian antiquities in India. It represents Peter, sitting on a chair, wearing royal attire. His beard and hair are thick and curly. He holds a key in one hand, while the other hand is up in the blessing mood. The statue is a masterpiece of Gandhara Art. According to the western orientalists, this statue represents Peter, who arrived in Gandhara after crucifixion.179
It may also be pointed out that the skeletal features, thick and heavy hair on head and face, and facial index prove that statue is of a person of the Mediterranean group, belonging to the Mesolithic Natufians of Palestine.
 
Demise
 
Like his advent, the demise of Jesus Christ is shrouded in mystery. While the gospels make him leave this world at the age of 30, the oriental writers have assigned to him a long life of from 115 to 120 years.
 
At the approach of death, he sent for his disciple Babad, and expressed his last will to him, about carrying on his mission. He directed him to prepare a tomb for him, at the very place, he would breathe his last. He then stretched his legs toward the West and kept his head towards the East, and passed away. May God bless him.180
 
According to an another account, Jesus Christ left his mortal remains at the ripe age of 120 years.181 His burial ceremony was performed by Babad in the Jewish style.182
 
Who was this Babad, who was summoned by Jesus Christ, before his demise? Thomas was a twin brother of Jesus Christ, and his real name was Judas. His Acts Thomae in Syriac are known as the Acts of Judas Thomae or the Acts of Judas the Twin. Judas is spoken as the brother of Jesus in the Gospels.183
Thomas in Aramaic, Didymus in Greek, Thomas in Syriac, Theom in Nestorian, and Tauam in Arabic, means the twin. It may be pointed out that Babad also means the twins who suck milk from the same mother.184
 
This speaks for reason as to why the another of the Kanal-Ud-Din, speaks of Thomas as Babad.
Jesus Christ passed away in the year IO9 A.D. It was a great mourning day for the Kashmiris of that period. According to Jewish custom, the body of the dead had to remain on the shelf, and after decomposition, the bones would be stored in a wooden or stone chest. No information is available on the issue, except that the sacred body of Jesus was laid in the sepulchre, according to the Jewish style.185 In order to settle the controversy, once for all, it is necessary to open the ground floor of the present tomb, and find out the sacred relic, which might be in a wooden, stone or earthen casket.186
 
A big tomb was raised on his grave and it became a place of pilgrimage for all, whether rich or poor. People came with offerings at the tomb and led prayers there.187 Thomas, who had, always devoted his life to the services of Jesus Christ, felt very much bereaved and left for Malabar to preach among the lost tribes there.188 Thomas preached among the people of south India and established seven churches there. He suffered martyrdom at Maelapur in Madras and is buried there.
 
His disciples call themselves the Christians of St. Thomas and they solemnize only two rituals of Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
 
The Tomb of Yuz-Asaph
 
The Tomb of Yuz-Asaph is situated in Anzimar, Khanyar, Srinagar, the summer capital of Kashmir. Srinagar, which means the city of the sun, is an ancient city. It is divided into parts, i.e. the old city and the new city and the tomb is situated in the old city. The people of Kashmir call it Roza-bal, meaning the site of the tomb, and declare that it is a tomb of Yuz-Asaph. This prophet came to Kashmir 1000 years ago, and preached the same parables of Christ.189 Popular local to tradition connects it with the tomb of Jesus Christ.190 Some say it is the tomb of the Prophet of "the people of the Book."191
 
In Bagh-i-Sulaiman, there is a poem about the tomb of Yuz-Asaph, which is reproduced below:
 
Here is the Tomb, so famous!
Sepulture of the Prophet,
So illuminating!
Whosoever bows before it,
Receives inner light, solace and contentment,
According to a tradition there was a prince,
Most accomplished, pious and great,
Who received the Kingdom of God.
He was faithful to the Lord.
Who commanded him to be the Prophet,
Through His grace he became the guide to the people,
Of this valley of Kashmir.
Here is the tomb of that prophet
Who is known as Yuz Asaph.192
 
Decree 1194&emdash;A.H.
 
The Decree granted to the keeper of the Tomb, dated 1194 A.H./1776 A.D. by the Grand Mufti of Kashmir declares that the tomb has two graves; one of Yuz-Asaph sent as Prophet to the people of Kashmir during the reign of King Gopadatta; the other is of a descendant from the family of the Prophet of Islam. 193 The translation of the decree is given as follows:
 
THE SEAL OF THE JUSTICE OF ISLAM
MULLA FAZIL
1194-A.H.
 
In this High Court of Justice, in the Department of Learning and Piety of the Kingdom.
Present
Rehman Khan, son of Amir Khan, submits that: the kings, the nobles, the ministers and the multitude come from all direction of the king dom to pay their homage and offerings in cash and kind at the lofty and the holy shrine of Yuz-Asaph, the Prophet, may God bless him.
Claims That
he is the only and absolute claimant, entitled toreceive the offerings and utilize these, and none else has any right, whatso-
ever on these offerings.
Prays That
a writ of injunction be granted to all those who interfere and the others be restrained from interfering with his rights.
Verdict
 
Now, this court after obtaining evidence, concludes as follows:
 
It has been established that during the reign of Rajah Gopadatta, who had built many temples and had repaired, especially, the Throne of Solomon on the hill of Solomon, Yuz-Asaph came to the valley, Prince by descent, he was pious and saintly, and had given up earthly pursuits. He spent all his time in prayers and meditation, The people of Kashmir, having become idolators, after the great flood of Noah, the God Almighty, sent Yuz-Asaph as a Prophet to the people of Kashmir. He proclaimed oneness of God till he passed away. Yuz Asaph was buried at Khanyar on banks of the lake, and the shrine is known as Rozabal. In the year 871 A.H. Syed Nasir-ud-Din, a descendent of Imam Musa-Raza was also buried beside the grave of Yuz-Asaph.
 
Orders
 
Since the shrine is visited by the devotees, both high and common and since the applicant Rahman Khan is the hereditary custodian of the Shrine, it is ordered that he be entitled to receive the offerings, made at the shrine as before, and no one else shall have any right to such offerings. Given under our hand, 11th Jamad-ud-Sani, 1184 A.H.
 
Signed and sealed:
 
Mulla Fazil Abdul Shakoor.
Mohammad Aza Mohammad Akbar.
Hafiz Ahsan Ullah, Raza Akbar.
Khizar Mohammad Atta.
Faqir Baba
 
The above Decree granted by the High Court in Kashmir, presided over by the Grand Mufti and other judges, clearly affirms that Yuz-Asaph was sent as a Prophet to the people of Kashmir.
 
Architecture of the Tomb
 
The present building built from bricks and mortar is raised on the ancient stone sepulchre. The building is rectangular with an attached entrance chamber. Towards the East of the structure lies the common graveyard.
 
The plinth of the present building is in reality a rectangular structure enclosed by walls made of chiselled stone blocks of big size.Very recently, the ancient stone walls have been plastered with cement, but the upper portion of the original door for access to the crypt is still visible. Its decorated stones have been plastered with cement. The cella is an ancient structure decorated internally but access to it is blocked now by the road on the west side which was built some time ago. There is also a small niche to the north of this access door. This cella is the original sepulchre containing the remains of Yuz-Asaph. The structure above it contains the following:
 
1. Outer wooden sarcophagus.
2. Inner wooden sarcophagus.
3. Two artificial gravestones.
4. One stone slab with carved foot prints.
5. One rectangular stone slab or gravestone
6. One wooden cross.
7. One wooden incense stand.
 
The entrance to the tomb is from the south and the wooden door is elaborately carved. Strangely enough it depicts crosses. The ceiling consists of thin pieces of wood worked into geometrical patterns known as Khatumbandi style of Kashmiri architecture.
 
The surface is decorated with glazed tiles, in vogue before 1526 A.D. The windows are filled with elaborate wooden tapestry work, formed by joining together little pieces of wood in a geometrical pattern. The walls are constructed of bricks and mortar on the decorated wooden pieces projecting externally. The above would show that the original sepulchre, made of stone, is half buried under the ground, above which the present brick, mortar and wooden structure was raised in about the 16th century.193
 
This tomb was built in the Jewish style, with a room underground and having a side door. The shrine is quite distinct from Muslim shrines, which have the Buddhist style of conic domes.
 
Near the grave is a stone slab engraved with footprints bearing traces of crucifixion marks; one foot impression has a small round hole and the other has a raised scar wound. These footprints were carved by some ancient unknown artist. As they represent crucifixion marks, it is possible that whoever carved them might have seen Jesus in person.194
 
Devotees and Pilgrims
 
Devotees and pilgrims to the Tomb of Yuz-Asaph visit it daily in the early morning and evening. They are accustomed to tear off a piece of their clothing or thread, and bind these pieces around the wooden sepulchre, as a token of homage.
 
Tombs and Relics
 
Archaeological excavations have revealed the existence of many Christian tombs and relics in the northwest of the Indian sub-continent. Such relics have been found in Ladakh, Afghanistan, and central Asian regions also. In Ladakh, at Tangste there exist many stone boulders with Aramaic inscriptions with Georgian crosses. On some, the word.Yuzu is also written.
 
In northern India, some crosses and tablets have been found during archaeological excavations at many places. Some remains of tombs have also been located, and it is asserted that these tombs were of the Nestorian Christians, who settled in these regions after their drift away from the Roman Catholic Church, some time around 428 A.D.195
 
Early Christian Tombs
 
It is interesting that early Christian tombs and graves have been located all along the Makran coast from Harmozia to Karachi. These tombs and graves are decorated with slabs bearing Christian symbols. Not only in Baluchistan, such Christian graves and relics have also been located in Kullu, Kangra, Mandi, and other Himalayan tracts. Similar tombs have been noticed in Kalat also. The description of such tombs given by the then Archaeological Survey of India is summarised as follows:
 
Hinidan is situated on the right bank of the river Hab, near Las Bela in Sindh, Pakistan. At this site is an extensive cemetery, containing nearly one hundred sepulchres ornamented with yellowish sandstone slabs.
Constructed with layers of carved slabs, these tombs give the general appearance of slender pyramids. A peculiar feature of the ornamentation is that the top slabs of some of these tombs carry the crude representation of the cross. In some cases, the design shows a human figure with widely outstretched arms, mounted on an ass, with representation of a crucifix. Some slabs show a knight-in-arms riding on a horse, but there is a Latin cross cut out above the head of the horse. Another slab shows a small cross on the face of the horseman. Another un-Islamic feature of these sepulchres is the peculiar form of their burial, which is Syrian, as well as Roman.196
 
The tombs may be divided into two categories; the sepulchres of early Christians, and the tombs of later Muslims. There may be a third category of Hindus also. Representation of the cross on these slabs proves that some of the graves are from the Christian community. Horses, spears and swords symbolise travel, and fighting with the enemies. The tombs with Arabic inscriptions proves that this community adopted Islam at a later stage. The symbol of a lotus on some slabs would indicate Buddhist leanings or a Hindu custom. However, the most important feature of these sepulchres is their Syrian and Roman form of burial, which is locally known as Shami and Rumi. This style of burial is quite unknown in India, and has not been found anywhere except at the above-mentioned sites. This would show that the sepulchres belong to early Syrian or Roman Christians who migrated towards the East in search of Jesus Christ.
 
During archaeological excavations of some ancient sites in Afghanistan and Kashmir, potsherds of crockery of the Celadon type have been found. For this variety, the Jews were the inventors. This would show that Semites did settle in the region during ancient times and established small colonies. It is also astonishing that the base structures of many ancient monuments testify to their Semitic origin. Their main entrances are set in the eastern wall, which means that these monument