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.