The Unknown Life of Jesus Christ Part 13

_Sapta_ (in Sanscrit), signifying seven--_hafta_ (in Persian);

_Sam_ (Sanscrit), signifying equal--_ham_ (Persian);

_Mas_ (Sanscrit), meaning mouth--_mah_ (Persian); _Sur_ (Sanscrit), meaning sun--_hur_ (Persian); _Das_ (Sanscrit), meaning ten--_Dah_ (Persian); _Loco citato_--and those who believed in the G.o.d Djain.

There exists, even yet, on the peninsula of Hindustan, a cult under the name of Djainism, which forms, as it were, a link of union between Buddhism and Brahminism, and its devotees teach the destruction of all other beliefs, which they declare contaminated with falsehood. It dates as far back as the seventh century, B.C. Its name is derived from Djain (conqueror), which it a.s.sumed as the symbol of its triumph over its rivals.

_-- 4_

Each of the eighteen Puranas is divided into five parts, which, besides the canonical laws, the rites and the commentaries upon the creation, destruction and resurrection of the universe, deal with theogony, medicine, and even the trades and professions.

_Chapter VI_

_-- 12_

Owing to the intervention of the British, the human sacrifices, which were princ.i.p.ally offered to Kali, the G.o.ddess of death, have now entirely ceased. The G.o.ddess Kali is represented erect, with one foot upon the dead body of a man, whose head she holds in one of her innumerable hands, while with the other hand she brandishes a b.l.o.o.d.y dagger. Her eyes and mouth, which are wide open, express pa.s.sion and cruelty.

_Chapter VIII_

_---- 3, 4_

Zoroaster lived 550 years before Jesus. He founded the doctrine of the struggle between light and darkness, a doctrine which is fully expounded in the Zend-Avesta (Word of G.o.d), which is written in the Zend language, and, according to tradition, was given to him by an angel from Paradise.

According to Zoroaster we must wors.h.i.+p Mithra (the sun), from whom descend Ormuzd, the G.o.d of good, and Ahriman, the G.o.d of evil. The world will end when Ormuzd has triumphed over his rival, Ahriman, who will then return to his original source, Mithra.

_Chapter X_

_-- 16_

According to the Evangelists, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, which the Buddhistic version confirms, for only from Bethlehem, situated at a distance of about seven kilometres from Jerusalem, could the walls of this latter city be seen.

_Chapter XI_

_-- 15_

The doctrine of the Redemptor is, almost in its entirety, contained in the Gospels. As to the transformation of men into children, it is especially known from the conversation that took place between Jesus and Nicodemus.

_Chapter XII_

_-- 1_

--"Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?" (Matt. xxii, 17.)

_-- 3_

--"Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto G.o.d the things that are G.o.d's." (Matt. xxii, 21; _et al._)

_Chapter XIV_

_-- 3_

According to the Buddhistic belief, the terrestrial buddhas after death, lose consciousness of their independent existence and unite with the eternal Spirit.

_---- 10, 11_

Here, no doubt, reference is made to the activity of the Apostles among the neighboring peoples; an activity which could not have pa.s.sed unnoticed at that epoch, because of the great results which followed the preaching of the new religious doctrine of love among nations whose religions were based upon the cruelty of their G.o.ds.

Without permitting myself indulgence in great dissertations, or too minute a.n.a.lysis upon each verse, I have thought it useful to accompany my work with these few little explanatory notes, leaving it to the reader to take like trouble with the rest.

--_Finis_

[1] The Vaisyas and Sudras castes.

[2] Brahmins and Kshatriyas.

[3] _Sanscrit_:--"He whose essence (sattva) has become intelligence (bhodi)," those who need but one more incarnation to become perfect buddhas, _i.e._, to be ent.i.tled to Nirvana.