Bible Myths and their Parallels in other Religions Part 75

4. When Jesus was born, the angels of heaven sang with joy, and from the clouds there came pleasing sounds.[279:2]

5. Crishna, though royally descended, was actually born in a state the most abject and humiliating, having been brought into the world in a _cave_.[279:3]

5. "The birth of Jesus, the King of Israel, took place under circ.u.mstances of extreme indigence; and the place of his nativity, according to the united voice of the ancients, and of oriental travelers, was in a _cave_."[279:4]

6. "The moment Crishna was born, the whole cave was splendidly illuminated, and the countenances of his father and his mother emitted rays of glory."[279:5]

6. The moment Jesus was born, "there was a great light in the cave, so that the eyes of Joseph and the midwife could not bear it.[279:6]"

7. "Soon after Crishna's mother was delivered of him, and while she was weeping over him _and lamenting his unhappy destiny_, the compa.s.sionate infant a.s.sumed the power of speech, and soothed and comforted his afflicted parent."[279:7]

7. "Jesus spake even when he was in his cradle, and said to his mother: 'Mary, I am Jesus, the Son of G.o.d, that _Word_ which thou didst bring forth according to the declaration of the Angel Gabriel unto thee, and my Father hath sent me for the salvation of the world.'"[279:8]

8. The divine child--Crishna--was recognized, and adored by cowherds, who prostrated themselves before the heaven-born child.[279:9]

8. The divine child--Jesus--was recognized, and adored by shepherds, who prostrated themselves before the heaven-born child.[279:10]

9. Crishna was received with divine honors, and presented with gifts of sandal-wood and perfumes.[279:11]

9. Jesus was received with divine honors, and presented with gifts of frankincense and myrrh.[279:12]

10. "Soon after the birth of Crishna, the holy Indian prophet Nared, hearing of the fame of the infant Crishna, pays him a visit at Gokul, examines the _stars_, and declares him to be of celestial descent."[279:13]

10. "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, behold, there came wise men from the East, saying: Where is he that is born King of the Jews, for we have seen his _star_ in the East and have come to wors.h.i.+p him."[279:14]

11. Crishna was born at a time when Nanda--his foster-father--was away from home, having come to the city to pay his tax or yearly tribute, to the king.[279:15]

11. Jesus was born at a time when Joseph--his foster-father--was away from home, having come to the city to pay his tax or tribute to the governor.[279:16]

12. Crishna, although born in a state the most abject and humiliating, was of royal descent.[280:1]

12. Jesus, although born in a state the most abject and humiliating, was of royal descent.[280:2]

13. Crishna's father was warned by a "heavenly voice," to "fly with the child to Gacool, across the river Jumna," as the reigning monarch sought his life.[280:3]

13. Jesus' father was warned "in a dream" to "take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt," as the reigning monarch sought his life.[280:4]

14. The ruler of the country in which Crishna was born, having been informed of the birth of the divine child, sought to destroy him. For this purpose, he ordered "the ma.s.sacre in all his states, of all the children of the male s.e.x, born during the night of the birth of Crishna."[280:5]

14. The ruler of the country in which Jesus was born, having been informed of the birth of the divine child, sought to destroy him. For this purpose, he ordered "all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof," to be slain.[280:6]

15. "Mathura (p.r.o.nounced Mattra), was the city in which Crishna was born, where his most extraordinary miracles were performed, and which continues at this day the place where his name and _Avatar_ are held in the most sacred veneration of any province in Hindostan."[280:7]

15. Matarea, near Hermopolis, in Egypt, is said to have been the place where Jesus resided during his absence from the land of Judea. At this place he is reported to have wrought many miracles.[280:8]

16. Crishna was preceded by _Rama_, who was born a short time before him, and whose life was sought by Kansa, the ruling monarch, at the time he attempted to destroy the infant Crishna.[280:9]

16. Jesus was preceded by _John_ the "divine herald," who was born a short time before him, and whose life was sought by Herod, the ruling monarch, at the time he attempted to destroy the infant Jesus.[280:10]

17. Crishna, being brought up among shepherds, wanted the advantage of a preceptor to teach him the sciences. Afterwards, when he went to Mathura, a tutor, profoundly learned, was obtained for him; but, in a very short time, he became such a scholar as utterly to astonish and perplex his master with a variety of the most intricate questions in Sanscrit science.[280:11]

17. Jesus was sent to Zaccheus the schoolmaster, who wrote out an alphabet for him, and bade him say _Aleph_. "Then the Lord Jesus said to him, Tell me first the meaning of the letter Aleph, and then I will p.r.o.nounce Beth, and when the master threatened to whip him, the Lord Jesus explained to _him_ the meaning of the letters Aleph and Beth; also which where the straight figures of the letters, which the oblique, and what letters had double figures; which had points, and which had none; why one letter went before another; and many other things he began to tell him and explain, of which the master himself had never heard, nor read in any book."[281:1]

18. "At a certain time, Crishna, taking a walk with the other cowherds, they chose him their _King_, and every one had his place a.s.signed him under the new King."[281:2]

18. "In the month Adar, Jesus gathered together the boys, and ranked them as though he had been a KING. . . . And if any one happened to pa.s.s by, they took him by force, and said, Come hither, and wors.h.i.+p the King."[281:3]

19. Some of Crishna's play-fellows were stung by a serpent, and he, filled with compa.s.sion at their untimely fate, "and casting upon them an eye of divine mercy, they immediately rose," and were restored.[281:4]

19. When Jesus was at play, a boy was stung by a serpent, "and he (Jesus) touched the boy with his hand," and he was restored to his former health.[281:5]

20. Crishna's companions, with some calves, were stolen, and hid in a cave, whereupon Crishna, "by his power, created other calves and boys, in all things, perfect resemblances of the others."[281:6]

20. Jesus' companions, who had hid themselves in a furnace, were turned into kids, whereupon Jesus said: "Come hither, O boys, that we may go and play; and immediately the kids were changed into the shape of boys."[281:7]

21. "One of the first miracles performed by Crishna, when mature, was the curing of a leper."[281:8]

21. One of the first miracles performed by Jesus, when mature, was the curing of a leper.[281:9]

22. A poor cripple, or lame woman, came, with "a vessel filled with spices, sweet-scented oils, sandal-wood, saffron, civet, and other perfumes, and made a certain sign on his (Crishna's) forehead, _casting the rest upon his head_."[281:10]

22. "Now, when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, there came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, _and poured it on his head_, as he sat at meat."[281:11]

23. Crishna was crucified, and he is represented with arms extended, hanging on a cross.[281:12]

23. Jesus was crucified, and he is represented with arms extended, hanging on a cross.

24. At the time of the death of Crishna, there came calamities and bad omens of every kind. A black circle surrounded the moon, and the sun was darkened at noon-day; the sky rained fire and ashes; flames burned dusky and livid; demons committed depredations on earth; at sunrise and sunset, thousands of figures were seen skirmis.h.i.+ng in the air; spirits were to be seen on all sides.[282:1]

24. At the time of the death of Jesus, there came calamities of many kinds. The veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom, the sun was darkened from the sixth to the ninth hour, and the graves were opened, and many bodies of the saints which slept arose and came out of their graves.[282:2]

25. Crishna was pierced with an arrow.[282:3]

25. Jesus was pierced with a spear.[282:4]

26. Crishna said to the hunter who shot him: "Go, hunter, through my favor, to heaven, the abode of the G.o.ds."[282:5]

26. Jesus said to one of the malefactors who was crucified with him: "Verily I say unto thee, this day shalt thou be with me in paradise."[282:6]

27. Crishna descended into h.e.l.l.[282:7]

27. Jesus descended into h.e.l.l.[282:8]

28. Crishna, after being put to death, rose again from the dead.[282:9]

28. Jesus, after being put to death, rose again from the dead.[282:10]

29. Crishna ascended bodily into heaven, and many persons witnessed his ascent.[282:11]