India's Zoroastrians and the Three Kings for Jesus

PBS ^ | December 24, 2004

[CarrotAndStick]

"Persia was the home of the Magi, the biblical Three Kings who greeted the infant Jesus but who, Parsis say, actually came in search of a Zoroastrian Messiah. "

[jocon307]

Very interesting post!

[GVnana]

Thanks for the story. Wish we knew more of our shared history with the ME. Maybe if we succeed in getting rid of the facsists that now rule that part of the world, a new era of exchange and understanding can come about. I pray it's true.

I understand there is an ancient "cult of Mary" existing in Afghanistan and India. Anyone know something about that?

[Machkas]

They didn't come with bombs, either. Guess that came a couple of thousand years later. (Sigh.)

Very interesting post.

[Cool Guy]

BUMP!

[livius]

St. Thomas (the Apostle) supposedly evangelized India, so there is definitely a cult of the Virgin that has existed there since very early on. I don't know about Afghanistan, though.

[Kurt_D]

Actually I know this guy whose father is from Afghanistan and he grew up as a Zorostrian. The entire family converted to Christianity when they came to the USA.

[blam]

Cool post, thanks.

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[VOA]

DE SAM LAZARO: Persia was the home of the Magi, the biblical Three Kings who
greeted the infant Jesus but who, Parsis say, actually came in search of a
Zoroastrian Messiah.

Maybe, maybe not.
There is also speculation that the Magi were influenced by the Jews in Babylon
(e.g., Daniel) and thus were pre-loaded with the idea of a great figure to be born
in Israel...only awaiting some astrological sign to send them on their trip.

[Alberta's Child]

What's quite interesting is that their is no basis in scripture for the notion that there were THREE wise men. There is no mention of just how many there were . . . I guess it was always assumed that there were three simply on the basis of the number of gifts they brought (gold, frankincense, and myrhh).

[GVnana]

Thanks. I'll look into it.

[VOA]

no basis in scripture for the notion that there were THREE wise men.

Shhh...you don't want freerepublic to get blamed for creating all sorts of confusion
for next years Christmas pageants and nativity scenes!

Cheers, and Merry Christmas

[Netizen]

DE SAM LAZARO: Temporary until the day of resurrection and judgment. Heaven can be attained if one's good thoughts and deeds outnumber the bad.

This is similar to the ancient Egyptians and the feather of Maat (truth). After death your heart is placed on a scale and the feather is placed on the other side of the scale. If your heart weighs more than the feather then your bad deeds outweighed your good.

[Netizen]

I understand there is an ancient "cult of Mary" existing in Afghanistan and India. Anyone know something about that?

IIRC there is also a group out there that are adherents of John the Baptist.

[Netizen]

I understand there is an ancient "cult of Mary" existing in Afghanistan and India. Anyone know something about that?

Shoot, meant to ask if you mean Mary Magdalene?

[Gengis Khan]

I am from India. Although I have not heard much about "cult of Mary" but form whatever I know, Christianity came to India much before it came to Europe. So the early Christianity to have come to India came in its very pristine form and remained preserved that way for centuries. They are not all recognised as Christians by the Roman Church. U might be interested in a southern Indian state called Kerela where Christianity was the first to come anywhere in India. In fact one of the Jewish tribe comming to India came first to kerala. In fact this was also the place where Vasco DaGama first landed anywhere in India.

[GVnana]

I'll bet not many passed THAT test!

[GVnana]

No. I meant Mary, mother of Jesus. I have only heard snippets of this, but I understand there is a legend that Mary is actually buried in India!

[GVnana]

one of the Jewish tribe comming to India came first to kerala

I have heard of this. I understand they created a thriving community in complete safety.