Part 49 (1/2)

”The death of Crishna is very differently related. One remarkable and convincing tradition makes him perish on a _tree_, to which he was _nailed_ by the stroke of an arrow.”[184:8]

Rev. J. P. Lundy alludes to this pa.s.sage of Guigniaut's in his ”Monumental Christianity,” and translates the pa.s.sage ”un bois fatal”

(see note below) ”_a cross_.” Although we do not think he is justified in doing this, as M. Guigniaut has distinctly stated that this ”bois fatal” (which is applied to a gibbet, a cross, a scaffold, etc.) was ”un arbre” (a _tree_), yet, he is justified in doing so on other accounts, for we find that _Crishna_ is represented _hanging on a cross_, and we know that a _cross_ was frequently called the ”accursed _tree_.” It was an ancient custom to use trees as gibbets for crucifixion, or, if artificial, to call the cross a tree.[185:1]

A writer in _Deuteronomy_[185:2] speaks of hanging criminals upon a _tree_, as though it was a general custom, and says:

”He that is hanged (on a tree) is accursed of G.o.d.”

And _Paul_ undoubtedly refers to this text when he says:

”Christ hath redeemed us from the _curse_ of the law, being made a curse for us; for it is written, 'Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.'”[185:3]

It is evident, then, that to be hung on a cross was anciently called hanging on a _tree_, and to be hung on a tree was called crucifixion. We may therefore conclude from this, and from what we shall now see, that Crishna was said to have been _crucified_.

In the earlier copies of Moor's ”_Hindu Pantheon_,” is to be seen representations of Crishna (as _Wittoba_),[185:4] with marks of holes in both feet, and in others, of holes in the hands. In Figures 4 and 5 of Plate 11 (Moor's work), the figures have _nail-holes in both feet_.

Figure 6 has a _round hole in the side_; to his collar or s.h.i.+rt hangs the emblem of a _heart_ (which we often see in pictures of Christ Jesus) and on his head he has a _Yoni-Linga_ (which we _do not_ see in pictures of Christ Jesus.)

Our Figure No. 7 (next page), is a pre-Christian crucifix of _Asiatic_ origin,[185:5] evidently intended to represent Crishna crucified. Figure No. 8 we can speak more positively of, it is surely Crishna crucified.

It is unlike any Christian crucifix ever made, and, with that described above with the _Yoni-Linga_ attached to the head, would probably not be claimed as such. Instead of the _crown of thorns_ usually put on the head of the Christian Saviour, it has the turreted coronet of the Ephesian Diana, the ankles are tied together by a cord, _and the dress about the loins is exactly the style with which Crishna is almost always represented_.[185:6]

Rev. J. P. Lundy, speaking of the Christian crucifix, says:

”I object to the crucifix because it is an _image_, and liable to gross abuse, _just as the old Hindoo crucifix was an idol_.”[186:1]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. No. 7]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. No. 8]

And Dr. Inman says:

”Crishna, whose history so closely resembles our Lord's, was also like him in his being crucified.”[186:2]

The Evangelist[186:3] relates that when Jesus was crucified two others (malefactors) were crucified with him, one of whom, through his favor, went to heaven. One of the malefactors reviled him, but the other said to Jesus: ”Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” And Jesus said unto him: ”Verily I say unto thee, to-day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” According to the _Vishnu Purana_, the hunter who shot the arrow at Crishna afterwards said unto him: ”Have pity upon me, who am consumed by my crime, for thou art able to consume me!” Crishna replied: ”Fear not thou in the least. _Go, hunter, through my favor, to heaven, the abode of the G.o.ds._” As soon as he had thus spoken, a celestial car appeared, and the hunter, ascending it, forthwith proceeded to heaven. Then the ill.u.s.trious Crishna, having united himself with his own pure, spiritual, inexhaustible, inconceivable, unborn, undecaying, imperishable and universal spirit, which is one with _Vasudeva_ (G.o.d),[186:4] abandoned his mortal body, and the condition of the threefold equalities.[186:5] One of the t.i.tles of Crishna is ”_Pardoner of sins_,” another is ”_Liberator from the Serpent of death_.”[187:1]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. No. 9]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. No. 10]

The monk Georgius, in his _Tibetinum Alphabetum_ (p. 203), has given plates of _a crucified G.o.d_ who was wors.h.i.+ped in _Nepal_. These crucifixes were to be seen at the corners of roads and on eminences. He calls it the G.o.d _Indra_. Figures No. 9 and No. 10 are taken from this work. They are also different from any Christian crucifix yet produced.

Georgius says:

”If the matter stands as Beausobre thinks, then the inhabitants of India, and the Buddhists, whose religion is the same as that of the inhabitants of Thibet, have received these new portents of fanatics nowhere else than from the Manicheans. For those nations, especially in the city of Nepal, in the month of August, being about to celebrate the festival days of the G.o.d _Indra_, erect crosses, wreathed with _Abrotono_, to his memory, everywhere. You have the description of these in letter B, the picture following after; for A is the representation of _Indra_ himself _crucified_, bearing on his forehead, hands and feet the signs _Telech_.”[187:2]

P. Andrada la Crozius, one of the first Europeans who went to Nepal and Thibet, in speaking of the G.o.d whom they wors.h.i.+ped there--_Indra_--tells us that they said _he spilt his blood for the salvation of the human race_, and that he was pierced through the body with nails. He further says that, although they do not say he suffered the penalty of the cross, yet they find, nevertheless, figures of it in their books.[188:1]

In regard to Beausobre's ideas that the religion of India is corrupted Christianity, obtained from the Manicheans, little need be said, as all scholars of the present day know that the religion of India is many centuries older than Mani or the Manicheans.[188:2]

In the promontory of India, in the South, at Tanjore, and in the North, at Oude or Ayoudia, was found the wors.h.i.+p of the _crucified G.o.d Bal-li_.