On 8th
May 2016, the Gospel Truth Newspaper flaunted the conversion of Hindus in New
Zealand.1 Apparently, the conversion was motivated by Acharya Vikas
Massey’s speech that the Vedas (Sacred Scriptures of Hinduism) pronounces the
Lord Jesus Christ as the one and the only way to heaven.
I was
exposed to this rather stunning detail many years ago, and I was astonished when
I first heard it. The Vedas (written much prior to Christ’s birth) prophesying
Christ! Well, this is indeed a stunning piece of news, isn’t it?
If the
instance of Hindus converting to Christianity because of Acharya Vikas Massey’s
ministry was factual, then those who converted were probably awestruck by the
Vedic endorsement of Christ. So what if the Vedas affirm Christ, why should
anyone be awestruck?
The reason
is rather evident and simple. If the sacred scriptures of Hinduism state that
Christ is the only way to heaven, then, seemingly, Hinduism self-destructs. In
other words, Hinduism would endorse Christianity as the true religion at the
cost if its own credibility. This probably is the reason for the conversion of
Hindus to Christianity in New Zealand.
However, Jesus
in the Vedas is more fascinating than Jesus in the Quran. Why?
The Vedas prophesied
Christ. But the Quran, written much later than Christ’s death and resurrection,
merely narrates the existence of Jesus.
Moreover, Jesus
in the Quran contradicts with the Jesus of the Bible. The Quran considers
Christ as a mere prophet, whereas Christ in the Bible is God incarnate. Hence,
the information that the Quran mentions Christ is not as stunning as the news
that the Vedas prophesies Christ.
When I was
awestruck by the news that Vedas affirm Christ, I did not venture into exploring
the validity of such a claim. I considered my source as infallible and
continued to believe that Christ was indeed mentioned in the Vedas.
But do the
Vedas prophesy the Christ of the Bible?
Two quick
facts are in order. First, Christ is not explicitly mentioned as the only way
to heaven in the Vedas. Second, the Vedas mention the deity, Prajapati, who
according to some Christians is an allusion to the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Christ
of the Bible is not prophesied in the Vedas.
Consider
the attributes of the Lord Jesus Christ from the perspective of Historic
Christianity. The Bible that reveals Christ in all HIS fullness informs us that
Christ is the second person of the blessed Godhead. Christ is God incarnate
(God in the form of man), the savior of the world. In other words, Christ is
not one of the many gods, but God HIMSELF.
Consider
the attributes of Prajapati from the Vedas.
Apparently,
the 10th mandalam of the Rig Veda mentions “Prajapathy” as the son
of God, “Prajapathy, the son of the God
comes to this world at the appropriate time. After coming to this world he
travels around advising mankind, what is sin and what is not sin; what is to be
done and what is not to be done; what is wrong and what is right. To those
human beings, who accept his advises and obey his orders, he offers prosperity
and peace in this worldly life and salvation at the time of their death. And
being the completion of his venture to redeem mankind from sin, he gets
sacrificed at the end his specified period on earth.”2
According
to the Vedas, Prajapati presides over life and procreation.3 But
Prajapati is not the only deity mentioned in the Vedas. In addition to
Prajapati, the Vedas speak about other deities as well.
So the
Prajapati is one of the many deities stated in the Vedas. Whereas, according to
the Bible, Christ is God, not one among the many gods. The Bible does not mention
the existence of other gods. The Bible specifies one God – God in three
persons, the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, the blessed Trinity. This fundamental
difference is sufficient to disregard the claim that Christ was prophesied in
the Vedas.
The
Prajapati of the Vedas and the Christ of the Bible contradict each other.
Studies have exposed the dissimilarities between the Prajapati and the Christ
of the Bible. The website of World Revival Prayer Fellowship offers information
to this theme.4
It is
evident that the Vedas do not prophesy the Christ of the Bible. Therefore, just as how we,
the Christians subscribing to Historic Christianity, disregard the Jesus of the
Quran, we should also ignore and disregard the claim of Jesus in the Vedas.
Endnotes:
1https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilLuiQLkEojhuaCTEwqbVUc1XlD8qtmbEjTjwxhNHQNePqpJJwNckch2nIm8FePnwdhAD5fnLxBP2ZlJvjTLffxm2uuBvftP1aDDYG2wUvxfJH95lDU6itSnJfrq7Q6LQVS8uw4vf58Z_2/s1600/edition129.jpg
2 http://www.haindavakeralam.com/christian-missionary-frauds-hk9554
3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prajapati#Prajapati_in_Vedas
4 http://www.wrpf.org/balan.html
6 comments:
Came across this article -- "In a unique experiment, the Catholic Church is coming out with a version of the Bible with verses from ancient Indian texts like the Upanishads and Vedas to explain the life life and teachings of Jesus Christ." http://m.timesofindia.com/india/Desi-Bible-to-have-verses-from-Vedas-Upanishads/articleshow/3330936.cms
Thank you for sharing this rather intriguing piece of news, Matty.
I would like to hear the Catholic church's response to this rather piercing quote from the article you posted here..."A selective approach is not proper. Accepting Mirabai should mean accepting Krishna and quoting from the Upanishad's should mean backing philosophies like Advaita (non-duality). Is the Church ready," he asks."
Is the Catholic church ready?
I fully agree with your line of thought, Raj. If you accept a portion of a book, and reject the rest of it, it shows you are not sure if the whole is fully reliable.
My Muslim friends often quote the Gospel of John, saying that Jesus had announced the coming of their prophet. And my argument has always been - why then are they are not willing to trust the rest of the Gospel?
I think it is illogical to prove that Jesus has been mentioned in the vedas. And all Christians must avoid it.
What an awesome post, I just read it from start to end your blog post, an informative blog.
https://blog.mindvalley.com/vedas
Am the word, Always existing, Still anonymous.
Love to share
Prajapati's image suits with the entire description of Christ in Bible
Bible describes Christ's way of life as the only way to fufill the wish of the true one God in this world
Bible describes Christ as son of God, incarnation of God
Bible describes Christ as one and the same as God like a pot of water carried away from an Ocean for quiet a period of time till it returns back to source; water being the same but differs in its wholeness as far as it is inside the pot. (Reminds words of Kabhir Das)
Bible mentions about God, Christ praying to father God, Jewish prophecies about birth of Son of God, holy spirit as gift from God for those are willing to sacrifice their life entirely for God.
The picture of Trinity is drawn and defined by the churches not by Christ or Bible.
For humans all super humans and nature's forces on which they do not have any control are gods.
For humans who lived around indus valley and those who wished to follow Vedas, there is only on true God.
And the most purest incarnation of that God is Prajapathi.
All other gods will look into Prajapathi for their enlightenment.
Only faith can give wisdom
"Aham Brahmasmi"
"Tat Tvam Asi"
All incarnations are one, follow the word, the athman, not the body, not the tradition, not the culture.
if these are true than why are you converting poor indians with the help of ricebags. I urge that you follow Christianity but stop destroying a religion which is more than 5000 years old. because we have already found out that earth revolves around sun. So better stop demeaning hindus.
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