3 Wise Men of Bible were from India...

[Guest guest]

Dear Jagbir,

 

Here is another article i leave for your choice whether to upload to HSS

(HolySpiritShekinah site) or not.

 

violet

 

 

3 Wise Men of Bible were from India

 

The native land of the three saints has frequently been placed in the Arabian

area or, as the attribute of origin 'from the East' rather leads one to expect,

in the Indo-Iranian region. The Indian thesis of their origin is nowadays

steadily gaining adherents. Helmut Mogge, among others, has upheld this view:

 

" In the writings of the seventh and eighth centuries the Wise Men are still

called Bithisarca, Melchior and Gathaspa; in the ninth century appeared the

names of Gaspar, Balthasar and Melchior.

 

But where did the Magi come from? What is East, seen from Jerusalem? The word

'magoi' caused many to believe that they were of ancient Persian lineage. Others

thought that Chaldea in Mesopotamia was the home of the Magi. Others still, as

for instance Tertullian, were inclined to accept Arabia as the Wise Men's

homeland inasmuch as gold and incense would have been most easily found there.

The learned friar, Bovar, rejects Arabia, though, because of the 'inadequate

interpretation of the 72nd Psalm'. The church fathers' tradition on the country

of origin of the Magi is contradictory.

 

Nothing is known to substantiate that the ancient Arabs, nomadic tribes, were

considered especially wise. At the time of Christ's birth, the wisdom of the

Chaldeans was no longer lauded. Yet Indian wisdom was proverbial. Persian

historians praised that wisdom. They went to India 'in search of the tree of

wisdom'. India was the country where wisdom had been of a high order since

earliest times. The sages of India, called 'rishis', have always and into our

days formed a 'social cast superior to all others in the land'.

 

India was also a country where astronomy was being cultivated. The Indian epic

Mahabharata announces the coming of a divine redeemer who was to absolve mankind

from its misfortune and misery. He would enjoy great power and be a commanding

ruler; he would restore order and harmony in this world; he would destroy all

evil and create a new era.

 

The Indian prophecy also speaks of a phenomenon in the sky upon the birth of the

reformer or redeemer. The modern Indian astronomer, Shri Swamikannu Pillai, has

traced the studies of Kepler and Karl Adams and come to the conclusion that the

star which guided the Wise Men from the East was Brhaspati in conjunction with

the Sun and the Moon, when they entered the constellation Tisya [aka Pusya;

" When the moon, sun and the planet Brihaspati, Jupiter, enters simultaneously

into one constellation and conjoin in the lunar mansion Pusya, Satya-yuga

begins. " - SB 12.2.24].

 

Father Antonius, priest from Ceylon, reconstructed the journey of the Magi from

that and innumerable other evidence in this way.

 

They offered the child 'gifts of gold, incense and myrrh'. Those were gifts

usually offered according to Oriental etiquette; by presenting them, they

honored the new-born babe as king. [Gold stands for king, myrrh for God and

incense for 'dead, mortal' as well as for cure, healing.]

 

Gold existed in India. Incense and myrrh, it is true, originally came from

'lucky Arabia', yet they were doubtless imported also to India. It was perfectly

natural for the rishis from India offer the traditional gifts of gold, incense

and myrrh. "

 

[Vedic custom is to offer presents to a newly born child. See SB 10.5.10, etc.

Later, during anna-prasana samskara (rite of passage, " first grains " ) at six

months of age, children are offered various items like rice, gold, coins and

books to choose from and thus show their inclinations in future life.]

 

http://www.veda.harekrsna.cz/connections/Christianity.php#6