Indian Connection of Christmas

Paul Rai, KalimNews, Bangalore, 24 December 2015: When Romans conquered Egypt around 30 BC, and for the first time the whole Mediterranean region came under the ambit of Roman Empire as one political unit. At one point Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world, which could have been for the tax purpose. Mary and Joseph had to go to Bethlehem for this census and before their names were registered in census - Jesus was born to them.

World celebrates Christmas on 25^th December. It’s a universal festival now and people celebrate in their own ways. Sometimes Christmas simply means lavish bashes, decorations, variety of cuisines and exchange of gifts. Commercially this season is considered most profitable for many businesses. Just imagine the volumes of bells, stars, Christmas trees, poinsettias and cakes sold all over the world. Not to mention uncountable Christmas cards (now it’s been taken over by Watsapp & twitter). Billions of Christmas updates on Social Medias (after all - it’s money somewhere). So this is the contemporary picture of how we celebrate Christmas.  

However, it was a stable where Mary and Joseph had stayed at the time of census when Jesus was born (not because they had no money – but there was no room available in the entire town) and it was a manger where the new born baby was kept. As we traditionally exchange gifts on Christmas – in real it had happened on the birth of Jesus Christ. Shepherds had brought gifts to Jesus, likewise, later the three wise men from the East brought gifts to Him.

India had commercial and cultural links with Middle East long before Jesus’ birth. We even find India mentioned in the book of Ester (chapter 1) in Bible. As per the book authored by Sadhu Sunder Selvaraj, ‘The Maharishi of Mt Kailash’ which is based on the true life history of Sadhu Sunder Singh – writes, one of the Magi (three wise man) was from Benaras, India. His name was Vishwamitra. He was a Vedic scholar and skilled in Sanskrit language.  Magi were guided by a star. Journeying from India to Jerusalem at that point was a great challenge.  However, he was determined and journeyed all the way following the star and probably met the other two wise men on the way. When they reached Israel, they met King Herod, told him about the birth of Jesus Christ and how they had been guided by a star to the kingdom of Israel. The book says - after meeting child Jesus, they offered  gifts like Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh to Jesus. After that he returned to India. He began to tell people that Christ, giver of Salvation called ‘Nishkalank’ in Vedas has been born in Israel. Vishwamitra started telling about Jesus’ birth to many people in India. He must have used Sanskrit to convey the message of birth of Jesus as it was the common language of Vedic scholars.

 Vishwamitra was a Sadhu (person who has given up worldly pleasure in pursuit of spiritual enlightenment) travelled around in Indian soil. After many years, he wished to see Lord Jesus Christ again and travelled to Israel. By this time Jesus was a grown up young man and ministering in Israel. Vishwamitra meets Jesus at a place called Bethsaida. The author narrates an instance where Vishwamitra fell down and kissed Jesus’ feet in worship. And Jesus was marvelled at the devotion of His Indian devotee and allow him to minister in the name of Jesus for healing the sick, cleansing the leper and casting out demons – just like He commanded the twelve disciples (Matthew 10:7,8). With this commandment Vishwamitra started his ministry in Israel. He started healing the sick and casting out demons in the name of Jesus Christ. However, one fine day when other Jew disciples of Jesus Christ came across a man from different ethnicity and culture driving away demons in the name of Jesus, they were astonished, and they complained it to Jesus that they saw someone who is not one of them (meaning not Jew) casting out demons in Jesus’ name (Mark 9:38). But Jesus said to them – ‘that he who is not against us is on our side’. He was the secret disciple of Jesus. After sometime Vishwamitra returned to India and started sharing his new joy with other people.

Christmas is about spreading the message of joy, peace and love – apparently, that was shared 2000 years ago in India by Vishwamitra but very few people know about it.