INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIAN THEOLOGIES IN INDIA

Topic : Christ as prajapati

Submitted to : Rev. Dr. Laldingluaia

Submitted by : Lalhruaizela BD- III Roll No. 26

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Introduction

Since many centuries ago, the case of Christ has been a hotly debated subject in
theology, and as a result, even in our nation; Famous academics and philosophical thinkers
have attempted to interpret Jesus Christ in a variety of ways. To illustrate the true nature of
who Christ was, many compared him to other figures from various religious perspectives and
pointed out their parallels. Knowing this, we shall attempt to analyse the Traditional
Approach to Christology in our article by focusing on "Christ as prajapati."

Krishna Mohan Banerjee (1813- 1885)

K.M. Banerjee was the foremost Indian Christian apologist of the nineteenth century.
In his earlier works, his attempt was to expose the errors and weakness of Hindu Philosophy
and doctrines, to answer Hindu criticism of Christianity and to set forth the Christian claims.
But from 1865 we see a remarked change in his attitude and approach to Hinduism and Hindu
Philosophy.1
He was born in 1813 in Calcutta. His parents were orthodox Brahmins of Kulin class.
He started his study of Sanskrit along with English in 1824 at the Hindu College. He was one
of the Alexander Duff’s early converts and baptised in 1831.2 He was originally a member of
the free church of Scotland and was ordained as an Anglican priest and in 1852 he was
appointed at Bishop’s college.3 It was here that he developed his theological scholarship and
produced his works on Hindu philosophy. His evaluation of Hinduism got refined and he
used Hindu understanding to proclaim Christian message.4 K.M. Banerjea was a recognized
leader of the Indian Christian community in Bengal, and was made the first president of the
Bengal Christian Association in 1870. The main purpose of this association was to establish a
national church of India, ministered by Indians and supported by Indian money.5
Till 1864 his approach to Hinduism was negative and wrote books and articles on
apologies of Christian religion, but after his retirement from Bishop’s college he became
sympathetic to Hinduism. His theological articulation are found in Dialogues on Hindu

1
Philip, Krishna Mohan Banerjea: Christian Apologist (Bangalore: CISRS, 1982) 94. Hereafter cited
as Philip, Krishna Mohan Banerjea: Christian Apologist…,
2
M.M. Thomas and P.T. Thomas, Towards an Indian Christian Theology (Bangalore: CISRS, 1970),
23. Hereafter cited as Thomas, Towards an Indian Christian Theology…,
3
Kaj Baago, Pioneers of Indigenous Christianity (Bangalore: CISRS, 1969), 13
4
Thomas, Towards an Indian Christian Theology…, 23.
5
Thomas, Towards an Indian Christian Theology…, 24.
Philosophy (1861), The Arian Witness(1875 )and Two Essays as Supplements to the Arian
Witness (1880), The Relation Between Christianity and Hinduism (1881) etc.6
In his works, he deals with establishing a positive relationship between Vedic religion
and Christianity, shows the striking parallels between the Old Testament and the Vedas.
Moreover Christianity doesn’t merely displace Vedic religion but in some essential elements
fulfils it; especially the element of sacrifice is common to both. So Krishna Mohan proposed
Christ as Prajapati7.

Who is Prajapathi/ti?

The word Prajapati comes from Sanskrit, Praja means "offspring" and Pati means
"master" or "lord." In a simple way Prajapati is used to describe as the creator of all
living beings. 8 Prajapati is viewed as “the ultimate creator and preservation of life”. In
Rigveda 10:121:10 it says “Prajapathe na thwadethanyanyah” which means Prajapathi is the
creator, protector and sustainer of all his subjects on this earth.9
In Rigveda 10:90:2 says Prajapathi was both human and divine. The invisible Divine
turns up as fully visible human i.e the creator takes up the creature’s state to perform the
sacrifice of redemption to save the human race from the bondage of sin. It is simultaneously
prophesied in the Arya Veda and the Bible that the first born, creator and protector, He which
is, was and was to come, took birth on earth in the likeness of man. The invisible becomes
visible.10

Concerning the many gods and deities, it states,"gods came later, after the creation of
this universe." Nasadiya Sukta (Rig Veda 10.129.6) consequently the Lord of all creation,
who created the universe, the Purush Prajapati, should be worshipped first above all other
gods." God has no image and His name is Holy."Nathasya prathima asityasya nammahastha
(Yajurveda 32.3) Seeing God has no image we should worship Him in spirit and truth.11

Relation between the Bible and the Vedas

1. In examining the relationship between Christianity and Hinduism, Krishna Mohan
undertakes a historical study find out the original home of the Hindu Aryans. By an
analysis of the Rig Veda, Zend Avesta and Assyrian texts, he comes to the conclusion
that the word “Arian” was Semitic in origin and that the original home of the Indo-
Arians was in Media (which was also called Aria) from where also Abraham came.
Historical investigation had taught that the narratives in the Vedas were not after all
totally myth and fiction.12
6
Sunand Sumithra, Christian Theologies from an Indian Perspectives (Bangalore: Theological Book
Trust, 2002), 151. Here after cited as Sumithra, Christian Theologies from an Indian Perspectives…
7
Thomas, Towards an Indian Christian Theology…, 25-26
8
What is Prajapati? - Definition from Yogapedia, (Accessed on 23rd January 2023)
9
Koshy Abraham, Prajapathi the cosmic Christ (Delhi: ISPCK, 1997), 12. Hereafter cited as Abraham,
Prajapathi the cosmic Christ…,
10
Abraham, Prajapathi the cosmic Christ…,20
11
Gluii, Christ The Purush Prajapati. (Accessed on 23rd January 2023) Christ The Purush Prajapati |
Theology Amino (aminoapps.com)
12
Philip, Krishna Mohan Banerjea: Christian Apologist…, 113
 2. He finds several parallels between the biblical records of the fall and the flood and the
Vedic accounts of them. He points out that etymologically Manu and Noah have the
same root. In both traditions, the act of the surviving man (Noah and Manu) after the
flood, was to offer sacrifice.13
3. The Aryan Rishis’ vision of the first born Prajapathi (Rigveda 10:121:1) and offering
this Nishkalanka Purusha (sinless man) in a sacrifice (Rigveda 10:90:7) correspond
with the views of the Prophets in the Old Testament and Apostles in the Gospels.

Sacrifice as described in the Vedas

In Rig, Yajus and Saman, sacrifice is the good passing boat and the authorised means
both for remission and annulment of sin. The animal which the worshipper offered was his
own ransom. While offering each limb of the animal to the fire, the worshipper prayed,
whatever sins they have committed by annulled the sins of the departed and of the living.
While the ancestors offered animal sacrifices, they seemed to have nursed a suspicion that it
would not be possible for the blood of the bulls and of goats to remove their sins.
According to Krishna Mohan the offering of sacrifice for redemption from sin was an
ancient practice and is a survival of the primitive revelation given by God to all mankind. It
was an institution ordained by God to represent the future sacrifice of Christ. This primitive
practice is religiously maintained in the Vedas, though the Vedic writers could not give an
explanation of what it typified. A proper explanation of the sacrificial rite enjoined in the
Vedas can only be found from the Bible, where the sacrifice of Christ is represented as the
atonement for the sins of all men.14

Jesus Christ: The True Prajapathi/ti

As discussed earlier the notion “Christ as prajapati” was proposed by Krishna Mohan
Banerjee. The main idea common to both the Bible and to the Vedas is the idea of sacrifice.
At the beginning of his article ‘On the Relation between Christianity and Hinduism’ Krishna
Mohan states two propositions which he later elaborates, the two propositions are:

Proposition 1: First, that the fundamental principles of Christian doctrine in relation to the
salvation of the world find a remarkable counterpart in the Vedic principles of Primitive
Hinduism in relation to the destruction of sin, and the redemption of the sinner by the
efficacy of sacrifice, itself a figure of Prajapati, the Lord and the Savior of the Creation, who
had given himself up as an offering for that purpose. He points out that certain passages in the
Vedas speak of the self- sacrifice of Prajapati or Purusha as a sacrifice made for all. He
quotes Yajus where Purusha says “Let me offer myself in all creations, and all creatures in
myself”. The idea is found in all the three Vedas- Rig, Yajus and saman – in Samhitas,
Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads.

Here, Krishna Mohan emphasizes the fact that the idea of the sacrifice of a Divine
Person is found in various passages in different Vedas, the idea expressed is that “the world
13
Philip, Krishna Mohan Banerjea: Christian Apologist…, 114
14
Philip, Krishna Mohan Banerjea: Christian Apologist…,110-111
was condemned, and offered for sacrifice, that is to say, was devoted to destruction, for sin;
and the Divine Savior then offered himself for its deliverance. The Veda claims that since
everyone was committed to destruction, one person died in place of everyone. Thus, Krishna
Mohan concluded that the biblical doctrine of salvation by the sacrifice of Christ finds a
remarkable counterpart in the Vedic understanding of salvation by the self-sacrifice of
Prajapati.15

Proposition 2: Secondly, that the meaning of “Prajapati” an appellative, variously described

as a purusha begotten in the beginning, as Viswakarma the creator of all, singularly coincides
with the meaning of the name and offices of the historical reality of Jesus Christ, and that no
other person than Jesus of Nazareth has ever appeared in the world claiming the character and
position of the self-sacrificing Prajapati, at the same time mortal and immortal.16

The name Prajapati not only means “the Lord of the creatures” but also supporter,
feeder and deliverer of his creatures. The name “Jesus” in means the same. The root meaning
of the word stands for help, deliverance and salvation, and the name was given to him
because he would save his people from their sins.17

Similarities

Prajapati Jesus

1. The sacrifice should be blameless, free
from all sins. (Chantokia Upanishad 1.6-6.7)
2. He seeks no release (Rigveda 5.46.1)
3. Its bones should not be broken (Itareya
Brahmana 2.6)
4. After the sacrifice it should return back to
life (Brhad Aranyaka Upanishad) The last
part translates, "Remember this man is dead.
But this man comes alive on his own"
1. “He was in all points tempted like as we
are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)
2. “His judge said, Why do you not speak to
me? Don't you know that I have power to
crucify you, or to release you?” (John 19:10)
3. “He keeps all his bones: not one of them is
broken.”(Psalms 34:20) ”when they saw he
was dead already, they break not his legs.”
(John 19:33)
4. “The angel answered, 'I know that ye seek
Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for
he is risen, as he said. . . go quickly, and tell
his disciples that he is risen from the dead;‘”
(John 19:28-30; Mark 16:6

Lord Jesus fulfilled the characteristics for the sacrifice of the Purush Prajapati from
the Vedas and Upanishads. Hence, only in Him is Moksha or Mukti. He is freedom from the
Samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth. Lord Jesus is Purush Prajapati: “the Lord of all
creation who became man”.18

15
Laji Chacko, Introduction to Christian Theologies in India (Kolkata: SCEPTRE, 2014), 57. Here
after cited as Chacko, Introduction to Christian Theologies in India…
16
Philip, Krishna Mohan Banerjea: Christian Apologist…,116
17
Philip, Krishna Mohan Banerjea: Christian Apologist…119
Aryan creed and Nicea creed

In the Prajapathi of Aryan creed we can find all the qualities of the Eternal Christ that
are visualised in the Christian Creed of Nicea.

In the Christian Creed of Nicea, we see the eternal Christ as the True light born of the
Real light, the first born, and the only begotten Son as self- formed. In the same way,
Rigveda 10:121:1 declares that “Prajapathi is born in the same glorious form as first born
(self -formed) before all the creatures of the universe. He is the protector of all the visible and
invisible on earth and in the rest of the universe. That is to say, he is appointed as HEIR of all
things” (This statement is exactly as stated about Eternal Christ in Hebrew 1:2 God’s Son
whom he has appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.)19

The opinions of the some Scholars

Robin Boyd calls the theology of Banerjee ‘Vedic theology’. What he means by this
is that since the beginning of time there was a universal cosmic religion in existence, whose
basic principle was that there is no salvation without the shedding of blood. Already sacrifice
is practiced by Abel. Some corrupted forms of this sacrifice have been forwarded to different
religious traditions, whereas among the Jews, by God’s special care, it was kept intact, and so
he finds a commonalty between the Jewish and the Hindu systems.20

H. Aguilar, one of the Sanskrit scholars of India, writes in his book, The Sacrifice in
the Rig Veda, as follows: “Taken in its totality, the myth of the Purusa/Prajapati is not
unworthy of the Christian conception of the redemptive incarnation of the logos (Word =
Jesus) by means of ‘kenosis’ (emptying), leaving out the question whether they (Christians)
can be homologated (in agreement) or not.”

We can agree to the opinion of the Sanskrit scholar when we understand the sacrificial
nature of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ for the remission of the sin of mankind. The Holy
Bible always explains the death of Jesus Christ as sacrifice. This concept of sacrifice involves
love, self-denial, covenant, bloodshed and burning. It is the greatest manifestation of love.
Jesus said: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John
15:13).21

Conclusion

According to Banerjee, Christ is the real Prajapati-the Lord and Creator who offered
himself as a sacrifice-as well as the real Purusha, who is both divine and human. Hinduism
has a number of Prajapati, but Banerjee only focuses on the ones found in the Rig Vedic
Purusha Sukta. While there are various ways to distinguish Jesus Christ, we must cling to the
18
Gluii, Christ The Purush Prajapati. (Accessed on 23rd January 2023) Christ The Purush Prajapati |
Theology Amino (aminoapps.com)
19
Abraham, Prajapathi the cosmic Christ…,13-15
20
Sumithra, Christian Theologies from an Indian Perspectives…153.
21
https://www.scribd.com/document/23669129/08-07-Christ-in-Ancient-Veda
idea that we can only do so by looking at everything else through the lens of our faith in Him.
Every religion, without a doubt, has its own foundation for truth, but for those of us who
follow Christ, Christ is our final touchstone.

It is clear (seems to be clear) the early Christian theologians were convinced that the
most effective way to proclaim the gospel in India is by applying Indian philosophy and thus
they shaped their theology in Indian philosophical categories. However, inter-relating a thing
with other can be harmful in understanding the true meaning of a particular topic as to be
implemented to other faiths in order to explain who/what the topic is/was. So, Jesus Christ
maybe prajapati, avatara, sat-guru, etc., in the process of discerning, however, our Jesus
Christ for us is the Son of God, the pioneer and the perfector of our faith

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Abraham, Koshy. Prajapathi the cosmic Christ. Delhi: ISPCK, 1997.

Baago, Kaj. Pioneers of Indigenous Christianity. Bangalore: CISRS, 1969.

Chacko, Laji. Introduction to Christian Theologies in India. Kolkata: SCEPTRE, 2014.

Philip, T.V. Krishna Mohan Banerjea: Christian Apologist. Bangalore: CISRS, 1982.

Sumithra, Sunand. Christian Theologies from an Indian Perspectives. Bangalore: Theological Book
Trust, 2002.

Thomas, M.M. and P.T. Thomas. Towards an Indian Christian Theology. Bangalore: CISRS, 1970.

INTERNET SOURCE

https://www.scribd.com/document/23669129/08-07-Christ-in-Ancient-Veda

Brendan McGuigan, Who is Prajapati?

What is Prajapati? - Definition from Yogapedia,

Gluii, Christ The Purush Prajapati. Christ The Purush Prajapati | Theology Amino (aminoapps.com)