Hinduism
Was Krishna the prototype for Christ?
Many people may not realise that after Christianity and Islam, Hinduism is the world’s third largest religion with its followers comprising the equivalent of 13% of the globe’s population. Unlike many other religions Hinduism does not have a single founder. Christians have Jesus, Muslims have Mohammed and the Buddhists have Buddha who interestingly enough, is actually a Hindu god. Hinduism, however, differs from most religions in that it does not have a central religious organisation but rather countless groups that have evolved over three and half thousand years.
Beliefs about the early development of Hinduism are currently in a state of flux as the classical theory of Aryan invaders mingling their religious philosophies (Vedism) with the native inhabitants of the Indus valley is now being challenged by new archaeological evidence. However whatever its origins there is no escaping the fact that Hinduism is the world’s oldest organised religion and as such has much to teach us.
Hinduism has generally been regarded by westerners as a polytheistic religion when in reality it has a supreme deity (Brahma) but recognises other gods and goddesses as aspects of the supreme God. Some see Hinduism as Trinitarian because Brahman can be represented as a triad: Brahma the Creator; Vishnu, (Krishna) the Preserver; and Shiva, the Destroyer.
Hindus believe in the transfer of one’s soul after death into another body, a continuous cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth through their many lifetimes, a belief that also appears in Celtic philosophy. This cycle is called samsara. Karma is the accumulated sum of one's deeds and determines how you will live your next life. Through pure acts, thoughts and devotion, one can be reborn at a higher level. Eventually, one can escape samsara and achieve enlightenment. Bad deeds can cause a person to be reborn at a lower level, or even as an animal. The unequal distribution of material wealth, and human suffering are thus seen as natural consequences for one’s acts, both in this life and in past lives.
Any individual who is prepared to keep an open mind regarding the Christian Bible can spend an illuminating time discovering parallels between the Old and New Testaments and the ancient stories and philosophies of other cultures. Many early Christian theologians noted the extreme similarity between Christianity and ancient religions such as Hinduism. Eusebius of Caesarea (circa 283-371 CE) wrote: “The religion of Jesus Christ is neither new nor strange.” In the spirit of comparison and at the risk of being controversial I would like to look at the similarities to be found between Jesus and Krishna. The word Krishna often conjures up images of his modern day followers, gentlemen in orange robes sporting shaved scalps. Krishna is actually an incarnation of the Lord Vishnu who, whenever dharma (eternal order) is threatened, travels from heaven to earth in one of ten incarnations.
Some skeptics have suggested that Yeshua of Nazareth (Jesus Christ) and Krishna, the second person of the Hindu trinity, are the same person. Obviously they are not as Krishna hails from India and is dated many millennia earlier than Jesus who was born in Palestine during the last decade BCE. Some liberal religious historians have raised the possibility that stories of Jesus’ birth, ministry, execution, and resurrection were copied, at least in part, from Krishna’s life and from the myths of other god-men.
Many liberal Christians feel that a Hindu source for many of the events in Jesus’ life is a topic is worth studying. They suggest that the authors of the gospels may have poached themes from other sources and added them to their writings in order to make Christianity more credible in a Pagan world filled with various male heroes whose role was to be saviours to humanity -- much like Jesus.
If we were to eliminate the events in Jesus’ life that appear to come from Krishna then most of the key Christian beliefs about Jesus would have to be abandoned: his virgin birth, incarnation, sinless life, crucifixion, descent into Hell, resurrection, and ascension to heaven. One would end up with a story of a very mortal, itinerant, Jewish, rabbi-healer a theory often espoused by liberal theologians in their quest for the historical Jesus.
Most Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God, the second personality in the Trinity. Muslims believe that Jesus was one of the greatest of prophets. He was neither crucified nor resurrected; he died at an advanced age. Jewish Christians circa 30CE appear to have believed that he was a Jewish reformer, teacher, prophet, and native healer, but not a deity.
Krishna was born, lived and died at least 14 centuries before Yeshua. Estimates of his birth date vary from 1477 to 5771 BCE. Hindus believe that whenever profound evil spreads widely throughout the earth, the Supreme Being comes to earth in the form of a human person to counteract it. Lord Krishna was just such an incarnation. Krishna is listed by most Hindu sources as the eighth incarnation of Vishnu with Buddha being the ninth. Of all the Vishnu avatars he is the most popular, and perhaps of all the Hindu gods the one closest to the hearts of the people.
An American called Kersey Graves wrote a book in 1875 that lists 346 similarities between Krishna and Jesus Christ. Many of Graves’ points of similarity are not credible but he did detail some amazing parallels such as the fact that both were called a God and the Son of God. According to Graves they were both also sent to earth in human form and were the second member of a Trinity. Both were called Saviour; had a spirit for a father; were of royal descent and visited at birth by wise men and shepherds guided by a star. In both their cases angels warned that the local dictator planned to kill the baby and the parents fled, Mary and Joseph stayed in Muturea while Krishna’s parents stayed in Mathura. The similarity of these place names cannot be overlooked. Both Jesus and Krishna withdrew to the wilderness as adults, and fasted. Both claimed: “I am the Resurrection.” Both performed many miracles, including the healing of disease. One of the first miracles that both performed was to make a leper whole. Both selected disciples to spread his teachings. Both celebrated a last supper, and both were resurrected. Many people witnessed their ascensions into heaven.
In addition, there are other points of similarity between Krishna and Jesus. For instance Krishna's purpose in descending to earth was to cleanse the sins of humanity. Another significant coincidence is that Krishna was born while his foster-father Nanda was in the city to pay his tax to the king just as Jesus was born while his foster-father, Joseph, was in the city for a census that was called so that all people could be taxed.
Whether we believe that these correlations are pure coincidence or evidence that our religions have the power to unite rather than divide us, there is no escaping the fact that strong parallels exist in the religious beliefs of Hindus and Christians. Both religions believe in a day of judgement, a general resurrection, and a future reward in heaven or punishment in hell. The idea of repenting one’s sins through faith in the Saviour is present in both religions as is the concept of being born again. Further similarities include belief in free will, angels, evil spirits and the notion of free will.
The main lesson to be learnt from Hinduism, especially in this day and age, is that of tolerance. Hindus believe that religious tolerance is important and that there is but one truth and god and that different people call it by different names. Perhaps it is time to celebrate our similarities rather than decry our differences. As the bard once asked, what is in a name? If our faith inspires us to lead a virtuous life does it matter if we call on Krishna instead of Christ?