Christ and Krishna: Sacred Revelations - Christ and Krishna

By C D VERMA

Sacred Revelations: Christ and Krishna

Both Krishna and Christ appeared on earth to help us evolve spiritually. The Supreme, though unborn and undying, reveals itself in human form to help us overcome the illusions of ignorance and self-centredness, of hatred and cruelty, through love and compassion. There are interesting similarities in the life and precepts of Krishna and Christ. Kansa and Herod - one the king of Mathura, the other, of Palestine - were forewarned that they would die at the hands of a child yet to be born. So, they went about slaughtering newborns.

But both avatars were miraculously saved. The circumstances of their birth were unusual. Christ was born in a manger, Krishna, in captivity. Vasudeva used a basket to transport Krishna to Gokul, and Christ was taken to Goshel in Egypt. The favourite bird of Christ is the dove, while that of Krishna is the garuda. Yahudah in Hebrew is similar to Yadu (Vansha) in Sanskrit. Similarly, Vasudev could be the equivalent of Yusef. ÔChrist' is often spelt as ÔKrist', or ÔChris', and Krishna is also spelt as ÔCrisna'.

Christ means the anointed one. Jesus signifies the saviour. Jesus Christ came into the world to save mankind as did Krishna. Krishna preached Ôloksangraha' or universal brotherhood. He said "sarva bhuta hite ratah'', indulge yourself in the welfare of all creatures (Gita 3.25). Christ said: "Love thy neighbour as thyself''.

Krishna and Christ were basically pacifists. But they also used violence to destroy sin and evil. In the Mahabharata Krishna makes all effort to avoid war. He even asks for five villages for the Pandavas. But Duryodhana refuses. Krishna then advocates and also participates in the great war. Christ, in the Sermon on the Mount preaches humility, peace and non-violence. But the same Christ in the war in heaven, pursues Satan down to Hell (called "harrowing of hell'') and destroys him.

Krishna is the teacher and Arjuna, the taught. Krishna as an apostle-teacher and universal father, resolved Arjuna's crisis, as liberator to those who follows His precepts. The idea of God as father becomes the central concept in the teachings of Jesus.

Krishna reveals his cosmic roop to Arjuna and the vision symbolises a spiritual experience: "Behold, O Partha, My forms, a hundred-fold, a thousand-fold, various in kind, divine, of various colours and shapes'' (11.5). "I behold thee as one without beginning, middle or end, of infinite power... with the moon and the sun as thine eyes, with thy face as a flaming fire, whose radiance burns up this universe'' (11.20). Only Arjuna can see the vision as he has been blessed with the divine eye.

Reminiscent of Krishna's divine revelation is the transfiguration of Jesus in the New Testament (Mark: 2-8): "Six days later Jesus took with him Peter, James and John, and led them up a high mountain, where they were alone. As they looked on, a change came over Jesus, and his clothes became shining white... Peter spoke up and said to Jesus, "Teacher, how good it is that we are here!''... He and others were so frightened that he did not know what to say''.

Again in Revelation 4 we have a glimpse of the cosmic vision: "There in heaven was a throne with someone sitting on it. His face gleamed like such precious stones as jasper and carnelian, and all round the throne was a rainbow, the colour of an emerald... From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder... Surrounding the throne on each of its sides, were four living creatures... Day and night they never stopped singing.''