Unknown Life of Jesus Christ New Edition 2009 Publication

Author(s): Nicholas Notovitch, Virchand R Gandhi, Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: World Jain Confederation

Page 148

Summary possessions, and also because a very brisk commercial exchange with India had circulated throughout Judea stories concerning the majestic character and the unheard-of richness of the arts and sciences in this marvelous country, whither even now all the aspirations of the civilized world turn.
Here the Evangelists lose the thread of the terrestrial life of Jesus. Luke says : "He remained in the desert until the time of showing unto Israel," which is a conclusive proof that no one knew where the young man had disappeared to, or whence he returned suddenly after sixteen years of absence.
On his arrival in India the country or marvels, Jesus began to frequent the temples of the Jains. There has existed, and still exists, in the peninsula of Hindustan, a sect which bears the name of Jains; it forms, as it were, a bond of union between Buddhism and Brahmanism, and preaches the destruction of all other beliefs, which it declares are in error. It arose in the seventh century B.C. Its name is derived from the word “Jina," (conqueror) which is given as a symbol of triumph over its rivals."
Astonished at the genius of the young man the Jainas requested him to remain in their midst; but Jesus left them to establish himself in Jagannath, where he devoted himself to the study of treatises of religion, philosophy, etc. Jagannath is one of
*
in regard to the Jains of India, M. Notovitch seems to have followed the groundless assumption of some European scholars, that Jainism is a bond of union between Buddhism and Brahmanism; nay, some of the scholars maintained some years ago, that Jainism was a branch of Buddhism. But careful investigations have exploded that theory, and even the European scholars now hold that Jainism is older than Buddhism. In truth, accepting the general opinion that the Brahmins first came to India from the northwestern passes, the Jains are the descendants of the original owners of India, whom the Brahmins in their Vedas give all sorts of names, and who often disturbed them in their animal sacrifices. For further information on this subject, I refer the reader to my work on India.---Translator.
143