Unknown Life of Jesus Christ Old Edition 1894 Publication

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

Page 26

INTRODUCTION.
XXV
from the hicilen recesses of the sky: he was created for Indra and was extollce. * In that realm where there is perennial light, and whicre thic heaven is placed, O Soma, send me to that scathless and immortal realm! Flow thou for Indra."*
These facts prove the pre-liistoric antiquity of the trade of India with the IV'est; it originated through Persia, Media, Mesopotamia, Syria and Asia Minor with the exodus of the Aryan race from Central Asia, as the philologists inser, from thic names of various spices, drugs, vegetables, stones, ctc. We also know that the ship captains of Solomon and Iliram not only brought Indian apos, peacocks and sandal-wood to l'alestine, tlicy also brought thcir Sanskrit names. This was about 1000 B. C. The Assyrian monuments show that the rhinoceros and clephant were among the tribute offered to Shalmancser II. (859-823 B. C.) The Greek historian Ilckataios, of Milctos, (549-486 B. C.) speaks clearly of India. Ilcroclotos, too, (450 B.C.) had some knowledge of India; and since Alexander's invasion ( 327 B. C.) the knowledge of the Western nations about India has become a matter of history. After Alexander's death his empire was partitioned, and Bactria an! India fell eventually to Selcukos Nikator, the founder of the Assyrian monarchy, (,323 B. C.) While Seleukos reigneel in Syria from 312 to 280 1. C., Chudra Guptil reigned in the Gangetic valley from 316 to 292 B. C. In 312 B. C., Seleukos laving recovered Babylon, proceeded to re-establish his authority in Bactria aud the l'unjab. After it war with Chandra Gupta, Seleukos code the Greek settlements to the Indian king and left Megasthenes as an ambassador at the Gangetic court. lle also gave his claughter to Chandra Guptil in marriigre.
Sir George Ilindersll:100mmik.