Christ in Ancient Vedas

Dr. Roy Abraham Varghese - The Christ Connection: 

How the World Religions Prepared the Way for the Phenomenon of Jesus

Here's an interesting discovery that I came across recently.


So who is this Purusa/Prajapati mentioned in these ancient vedas? Need to find out for yourself.

From http://www.muktimission.org/articles/08_07_Christ_in_Ancient_Vedas.pdf

Christ in Ancient Vedas

When Christ was born in Palestine it was informed the wise men of the east, the non-Jewish world. Not only at His birth even before that, the plan of salvation through the sacrificial death of Christ was revealed in the ancient Vedas, the Hindu religious books. When the ancient sages wrote about the sacrifice of Prajapati (God), quite unknowingly they were portraying the Lord Jesus Christ as the way of salvation.

Prajapati’s Sacrifice as described in the Vedas
The Vedas are a collection of Hindu religious books written before the earthly life of the Lord Jesus Christ. The literal meaning of the word is the Lord of all creation. He is the Creator. Therefore, the Prajapati’s Sacrifice means the Sacrifice of God Himself. There are several verses in the Vedas in connection with this. Let me quote one of them from the Tandyamahabrahmana in its second part, chapter 7:
“Prajapatirddevebhyam Atmanam yajnam krtva prayacchat”
(Having done a self-sacrifice, Prajapati, the Lord of all creation, offered Himself for gods.)

This concept of self-sacrifice is very significant. Normally, God is supposed to receive sacrifices and offerings; but here the victim of sacrifice is God Himself.

The opinions of the Hindu Scholars
Among the Hindu scholars we cannot see any unanimous opinion about the Prajapati-sacrifice. According to some scholars this sacrifice has not yet been done on this earth, yet others hold that it is only a model of a perfect sacrifice, which is already done in heaven. H. Aguilar, one of the Sanskrit scholars of India, writes in his book, The Sacrifice in the Rg Veda, as follows:

“Taken in its totality, the myth of the Purusa/Prajapati is not unworthy of the Christian conception of the redemptive incarnation of the logos (Word = Jesus) by means of ‘kenosis’ (emptying), leaving out the question whether they (Christians) can be homologated (in agreement) or not” (The Sacrifice in the Rg Veda, Page 69. Bharatiya Vidya Prakasam, Delhi. India. 1976).

We can agree to the opinion of the Sanskrit scholar when we understand the sacrificial nature of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ for the remission of the sin of mankind. The Holy Bible always explains the death of Jesus Christ as sacrifice. This concept of sacrifice involves love, self-denial, covenant, bloodshed and burning. It is the greatest manifestation of love. Jesus said: “Greater love has no one than this, that one laid down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

Some Important Features of the Prajapati’s Sacrifice fulfilled in Jesus

(1) The meaning of the word ‘Prajapati’ (the Lord of all creation) is fulfilled only in Jesus.
According to the Holy Bible, Jesus Christ is the creator of the world: “All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being” (John 1: 3). About Him it is also written: “Thou Lord, in the beginning didst lay the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of Thy hands” (Hebrews 1: 10). Jesus is the real Prajapati – the Lord of all creation.

(2) According to the Vedas, Prajapati is called Purusa, the Man of perfection. (Purusasukta, Rg Veda 10: 90: 1-16). Christ refers to Himself ‘Son of Man” (Matt.20:28).

(3) The definitions of ‘Purusa’ in Vedic literature are meaningful only when they applied to Jesus.

                        Definition #1 is quoted from ‘Yajur Veda’ 32:4: “Purvoh jatah Purusah” which means one who is born in the beginning. Well, Jesus has no beginning. He is eternal. Still Jesus is called the first born in the Bible: “He is the image of invisible God, the first born of all creation” (Colossians 2: 15).

                        Definition # 2 “Purnatvad Purusah” means the One who is perfection is Purusah is also fulfilled in Jesus. When all men of the world are imperfect beings, Jesus Christ, the Son of Man is the one and the only perfect Man in this world.

                        Definition #3: “Sa yat purvo asmat sarvasmat sarvan papmana ausat tasmat Purusah (He who burns out sin before all is Purusa” (Brhadaranykoponisad 1.4.1). The Chandogyopanisad 1.6. 6-7 says: This man is above all sin and one who worships Him and follows Him also raise himself above sins.”

Jesus Christ came to this world to save sinners from their sins. At the same time He was above from sins. He is the one and the only sinless Man in this world. According to the Vedas the victim of the Purusa-Prajapati’s sacrifice should be blameless. It is completely fulfilled in Jesus.

(4) The Sacrificial Man should be closely tied to the sacrificial pillar (Sathapathabrahmana 3.7.3.1). Christ was closely nailed to the cross, the sacrificial pillar.

(5) The blood of the Sacrificial Man should be shed, according to the Vedas. Fulfilled in Jesus’ crucifixion.

(6) The Sacrificial Man should return to life after the sacrifice. (Brhadaranykopanisad 3.9.28.4,5). Fulfilled in Jesus’ resurrection

There are many other features of the Prajapat’s sacrifice in the Vedas fulfilled in Jesus. For a detailed study read the book,

                        Christ in Ancient Vedas, written by Dr. Joseph Padinjarekara.

The Katopanisad another Hindu book written around 600 B.C. says, “the one who knows this Purusa becomes free and attains immortality” (ch.6.8).

Dear friends, the Upanisads also say that knowing Him is the one and the only way for your Mukti - salvation.

The Svetasvataropanisad firmly declares that “there is no other way to enter into eternal life.” (ch.3.8).

The same thing was told by Jesus: “I am the way, the truth and life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me” (John 14:6).

The answers to the prayer of the ancient sages in the Upanisads are found only in Jesus
Dear friends, the ancient sages prayed in the Brhadaranykopanisad, (1.3.28):

                        “asatoma satgamaya (from unreal lead me to the truth”
In answer to this Jesus said:

                        “I am the truth” (John 14:6).

The sages prayed:
                        “tamasoma jyotirgama (from darkness lead me to light)”.
Jesus answered:

                        “ I am the light of the world’ (John 8;12).

They prayed:
                        “Mrtyorma amrtam gamaya (From death lead me to immortality)”
Jesus responded:

                        “I am the resurrection and life; he who believes in Me shall never die” (John 11:25).

“Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

John the Baptist introduced Jesus to the world as the victim of the perfect sacrifice of God. In order to communicate the meaning of His sacrifice Jesus Himself said to His disciples: “I am the living bread. . . If any one eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world (John 6:51).

Again Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). If we believe in Him we are His sheep. However, as the Prophet Isaiah has written, “All of us like sheep have gone astray” (53:6). The Bible says: “There is none righteous, not even one”(Romans 3:10). “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3: 23). In order to save us from our sins, Jesus gave His life in sacrifice because

He loved us. Jesus says: “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). If we miss the point – the sacrificial love from the crucifixion – it would be a mere senseless bloodshed. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3: 16).

Friends, the ancient Vedas of India also say that the way of salvation for all mankind is to believe in sacrifice of Almighty God (Prajapati).

This concept God’s sacrifice is completely fulfilled in Jesus’ Crucifixion and resurrection. Would you believe in this sacrifice? Jesus died for your sin. Accept Him as your personal Savior. “We are sanctified through the blood of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10: 10). And this is the covenant of God to them that believe in this perfect sacrifice: “Their sins and iniquities I will remember no more”(Hebrews 10:17). Therefore, there is no more sacrifice needed for the remission of sin and attain immortality.

Thus the Scripture says: “And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin”(Hebrews 10: 18). The Holy Bible says: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus as your Lord, believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you shall be saved; (Romans 10 9). Would you confess with your mouth that Jesus as your Lord today? Would you believe in

His perfect sacrifice and resurrection? If you can say ‘yes’ please pray:
O God, I am sorry about my sin. I need Jesus who died for my sins. I believe in this perfect sacrifice and the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus, come into my heart. Forgive all my sins. I accept you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you Jesus for saving me. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

(Summarized from the book, Christ in Ancient Vedas (220 pages) written by Dr. Joseph Padinjarekara)For the book and more details write to INTERNATIONAL MUKTI MISSION, 283HOMEWOOD AVE, WILLOWDALE, ON. M2R 2N6. Phone: 416 512-1786. Email:muktimission@yahoo.ca

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It seems that only one way to God is what is claimed in

1.The Bible. 

Jesus answered, 

"I am the 

way and the 

truth and the 

life. 

No one comes to the Father 

except through me.

John 14:6

and

2.The Svetasvataropanisad firmly declares that 

“there is no other way to enter into eternal life.” (ch.3.8). 

The Upanisads also say knowing Him is the 

one and the only way for your Mukti - salvation

So if you are truly seeking God, mukti(salvation), eternal life it seems just logical that 

both these texts need to be investigated for their claims and 

also find out if any other texts claim this too and 

if any such claims exist investigate them too 

until you are satisfied with the results in your own mind, instead of just taking these claims for granted.

If they are truths they will stand up to your sincere investigation 
If they are not then they will not.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Christ in Ancient Vedas

From http://www.indiadivine.org/audarya/spiritual-discussions/32990-christ-vedas.html

Christ in Ancient Vedas
By: bro. Alex Abraham

Hinduism's most ancient text, the 3000 to 4000 year old Rg Veda, contains a prophecy about a "Lamb which must be sacrificed for the sins of mankind- a Lamb without blemish"! The Vedic Literature shows us at least ten important features of the Prajapati-sacrifice which was are completely fulfilled in Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. The outstanding results of the vedic sacrifices are also present in the results of Christ's crucufixion.

The Vedas were written in Sanskrit, between the period 2000 and 1200 B.C. To the Hindus the Vedas are the sacred Scriptures and the final authority of their religion and philosophy. It is surprising to encounter the hidden Christ in the Vedas, the Purusa-prajapati (the Son of Man and the Lord of all) who gave Himself in sacrifice for the salvation of mankind. The Prajapati Sacrifice portrayed in the Vedas is literally fulfilled in the real Prajapati Sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, such as sinlessness, the sepatation, the rejection, the silent suffering, trying to the sacrificial pillar, the shed blood, unbroken bones, returning to life. In the Vedas, the birth of our lord and savior Jesus Christ, and the good news of the gospel are revealed in the upanisads.

When the ancients wrote about the sacrifices for attaining Moksa (eternal life) and the sacrifice of Prajapati (Lord of All), they were quire unknowingly portraying the Lord Jesus Christ and His crucifixion as the way of salvation. Pursa or Jesus Christ.

CAME DOWN TO THE PLANET EARTH
A famous verse from the Kathopanisad describes the manifestation of god in a beautiful and powerful image. The Purusa-Prajapati from the Rg Vedic Purusasukta we can easily see the significance of the above verses in relation to the Asvattha tree or Vanaspathi. The tree came down to earth to give mankind eternal shelter through its sacrifice. (John 13:19) - The expresion, 'I am He' is very significant . He was saying that they would understand and believe that Jesus was the Man (the Purusa) about whom the sacred books have spoken. He was the "man of sorrows' who was despised and rejected by men.

THE CROWN OF THORNS
We read about the ceremony of this separation in the thirteenth kandha of the 'Sathapathabrahmana. Somethimes they set apart the sacrificial animal by a crown made out of a creeping plant of the forest. This seperated animal deserves no sympathy. It cannot be used for any other purpose. Once it is separated, it is separated for ever for the offering. This feature is also fulfilled in Jesus' sacrifice. Jesus was completely separated for the eternal sacrifice. John recorded his in John 19:2,5

THE REJECTION
Without the rejection, the third characteristic of the Prajapatisacrifice, the sacrifice would not have been preformed. First of all, this rejection happened in heaven in the Man's Sacrifice. In the Purusasukta when the devas sacrificed the Purusa, God the father was silent. We can find this feature in the animal sacrifice which is the second stage of the sacrifice. G.Suseelan makes referance to htis in the Itareya Brahmana in the context suggested by this translation: "The sacrificial animal should be rejected bt its father, mother, brother, sister and friends." The animal has to be completely abandoned and seperated for the sacrifice. This is exactly fulfilled in Jesus. St. John wrote about this (John1:11) The great Apostle Paul was rejected by his own people in this period of his life time. In this rejection we see one of the important aspects of the Prajapati-Sacrifice as well as its fulfillment. When we are forsaken by our friends and relatives we must not be dismayed. Remember, we are identifying with the Man (Pursa) who was rejected by his own people and who gave himself for us in the perfect sacrifice.

THE SILENT SUFFERER
Here, we see that Purusa-Prajapati silently gives himself in this great offering. The words of the Rg Veda describe so well the attitude of the Man: "like a horse I have yoked myself-well knowing to the pole. I seek neither release nor turning back." In the Vedas, the person who kills the sacrificial animal is called 'samitara which means silencer. His job is to make the animal calm. In order to make him calm he asks the animal to be quiet. We have references in the Taittiriya Samhita and in the Apastamba 'srutasutram. However, it is an important characteristic encountered in the Prajapati-Sacrificial. This is fulfilled in Jesus in its strictest sense. About 700 years before the Lord Jesus Christ, the Prophet isaiah predicted it.

CLOSE TO THE CROSS
In the sacrifice of the Man in the Purusasukta we see the Purusa is also tied to the sacrificial post. "Deva Yadyajnam tanvana abadnan purusam pasum" (The davas who performed this sacrifice tied Purusa, the sacrificial animal.) "yajnam yajnasadhanabhtan tan Purusam pasutvabhavanaya yupe baddham" Here the Purusa is pictured as the victim of sacrifice who is tied to the sacrificial post like an animal. In the Rg Veda, He yoked Himself to the pole like a horse. He sought neither release nor turning back. The cross was the sacrificial post of Jesus Christ.