I am very much aware that what I am presenting is something that
is diametrically opposite to most of the traditional understanding. I
was pleasantly surprised when I discovered that I am not the only
one that came to this conclusion. This realization led to the First
International Conference on Early Christianity in India in New York
last year, where this was the central theme of discussion. The
sequel to that comes in the Second International Conference on
Early Christianity in India at Chennai, India next year.
This book is an attempt to present the reasoning in simple terms for
lay men and for easy reading. Since it is not an academic study,
some rigor will be missing and references and links will be missed.
The major reasoning is given in the body of the text while details
and alternate views are given in boxes so that those who want to
skip them can do so.
This book will set before you facts based on objective scientific
researches in history, archaeology, architecture, linguistics, and
written documentations about the facts of Indian History during the
period immediately after the Mission of St.Thomas in India. While
in the ongoing research in sciences, and correlating the scientific
data with history there is always room for alternatives. However all
alternatives must be able to explain all known facts. There are
obvious immovable markers in history. This obvious markers are
ignored or simply masked by arbitrary definitions and assertions,
which has little or no truth.
One of the ways in which truth is masked and perverted, is to mix it
with untruth and transmit it through the powerful use of myths,
legends and sheer repetition and exaggeration. These are
essentially the tools of memorization used widely in Education. As
generations go by the lies are transmitted as truth.
In every
generation, this attempt to pervert truth goes on, and we have come
to a point where we no longer know what exactly happened in
history even a few centuries ago.
Here are a few statements which everyone has come across and
have come to accept as truth. These are statements taken directly
from the World Wide Web.
1. The Vedic religion is the oldest religion in the world, dating
back to at least 1.7 million years.
2. Hinduism is 50,000 years old
3. The Vedic scriptures are the oldest known to man, dating
back to at least 1.7 million years.
4. Sanskrit is at least 3,500 years old.
5. Rama lived over twenty thousand years ago.
The fact is that, none of these claims can, even remotely,
supported by any objective evidence. It is one thing to claim
big, and altogether different to substantiate with evidences.
I do make several claims which seem outrageous. But they
are all based on sound verifiable facts of history, archealogy,
architecture, linguistics and clear written documentations.
These conclusions are inevitable results of the evidences.
Myths and legends are interpreted in terms of these available
data. The following are essentially the facts:
1. Hinduism did not exist before the second century, A D.
2. Sanskrit did not exist before the second century AD,
3. There were no “Hindu Temples” before the second century
AD.
4. The name Krishna did not even exist before the third
century AD.
5. Idols (Vigrahas) did not appear in India before the third
century AD and in Kerala until the eighth century AD.
6. St. Thomas, - Judas Thomas – one of the disciples of
Jesus known commonly as the doubting Thomas came down
to India and had a successful ministy all over India and China.
My gratitudes are to the Institute of Asian Studies, Chennai, which
encouraged me, especially its director Dr. John Samuel. I must
mention six names whose research stands as firm grounds on
which I could build: Prof. M.Witzel of Cambridge University, Dr.
Alexander Harris (on Sanskrit), Dr. Deva Kala, (Savism
&Vaishnavism) Dr. Deva Nayakam, Prof. George Menacheri
(Kerala Christians) and my cousin brother Late Dr. T. V. Phillip. I
am indebted to them.
