The Tomb featured at this site is in the Kan Yar District of Shrinagar, Kashmir, India. There is evidence to support the thesis put forward upon this site that Jesus Christ journeyed here after surviving the Crucifixion. There are historical records talking of his presence in India under the name of "Yus Asaph".

Question 2

How could anyone survive Crucifixion?

Crucifixion is often thought of as to mean death. People associate Crucifixion firstly with Jesus Christ and secondly with death. What can we find out about the practices of Crucifixion, and where there any peculiarities with Jesus' Crucifixion?

The famous Jewish Historian, Josephus narrates the following story set in 1st century Palestine:

“I was sent by Titus Caesar with Ceralius and a thousand riders to a certain town by the name of Thecoa to find out whether a camp could be set up at this place. On my return I saw many prisoners who had been crucified, and recognized three of them as my former companions. I was inwardly very sad about this and went with tears in my eyes to Titus and told him about them. He at once gave the order that they should be taken down and given the best treatment so they could get better. However two of them died while being attended to by the doctor; the third recovered.”

Thus it was indeed possible for people to survive Crucifixion given treatment. There were also some features of Jesus' ordeal that would make survival from likely an outcome.

For a detailed look at this issue click here

Question 3

Why did Jesus go to India?

Is there any reason why Jesus Christ would journey to India? Here are a few reasons why:

I. Jesus was sent to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 15:24) and there is substantial evidence, including DNA tests, suggesting that people of India and Persia and Parthia are of Jewish descent. Thus he went there to continue his mission. This evidence can be viewed here.

II. Jesus may have been fulfilment of a prophecy in the Buddhist tradition, indeed many have suggested an even strong link between Jesus and Buddhism. This can be explored here.

III. More contemporary research, particularly by Susanne Olsson, seems to be uncovering more and more evidence that India was the burial place of many of the Israelite Prophets; Moses, Abraham and others.

IV. If Jesus had survived the Crucifixion he would be a wanted man with a price on his head. He would want to escape the Roman jurisdiction as quickly as he could.

Question 4

When did Jesus go to India?

Regards timing there is a difference of opinion.

There appear to be three divergent viewpoints among the scholars that have written about Jesus in India.

I. Jesus travelled to India in his Youth only.

This view is supported by authors such as Elizabeth Claire Prophet, and stems largely from a scroll found by Nicholas Notovitch in a monastery at Hemmis. The Bible does not detail the events of Jesus' life between the ages of 12 and 30, and these years have become known as the "missing years" of Jesus. Proponents of this view believe it was during these years Jesus travelled to India, and later returned to Palestine.

II. Jesus did not travel to India in his youth, but in fact travelled there after the Crucifixion.

This viewpoint rejects the view that Jesus grew up and learnt as a Buddhist during his youth. It is put forward by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad and outlined in his treatise, "Jesus in India", written in the early 1900s.

III. Jesus travelled to India during his youth, and returned there after the Crucifixion.

This appear to be the consensus now among the scholars. This viewpoint is that Jesus, having travelled to India in his youth, returned there after the Crucifixion. He spent most of his life there, and passed away there, and is burred in Shrinagar, Kashmir. This viewpoint is supported by people such as Holger Kersten, Dr Fida Hussnain and Andreas Faber-Kaiser, all who have written on the subject.

Question 5

What evidence is there that Jesus went to India?

A list of documents containing information about Jesus' travels to the East and also his ministry in Kashmir can he seen here.

There is local legend and evidence that the man in the tomb is the same person as Jesus Christ. This evidence is also presented at the Ancient Documents page. The Jewish origin of the people of Afghanistan and India is explored here and also forms part of the documented evidence about Jesus' travels by providing a motive.

A list of authors and books on the subject can be explored at the Books Section

Question 6

What route did Jesus take?

The probable route that Jesus took toward Kashmir after the crucifixion can be viewed here.

Jesus started his journey from Jerusalem toward the eastern part of Damascus, Jesus then travelled to Eastern Turkey, Nisibis.

Iran was the next point of call for Jesus followed by Afghanistan to the small town of Herat and the toward Taxila in what is today Pakistan.

Jesus finally came to Srinagar, Kashmir, India.

Question 7

How could Jesus have travelled so far without transport?

It is an accepted fact that St Thomas journeyed to India in the 1st century from Palestine thus there should be no problem with Jesus partaking a similar journey.

An interesting question is how he would undertake the journey, and also if such journeys were common. Narration during the BBC's documentary - "Did Jesus Die?" - states that:

"The Journey East from Israel in the 1st century was surprisingly easy by land or by sea, on the Silk Route, or the spice route."

This statement is then qualified as Friar Jerome Murphy O'Connor adds whilst talking about St Thomas' journey to India:

"To travel to India would be no problem. He (St Thomas) just had to go down to Gaza and link up with one of the spice trains returning, and then from Yemen get a boat to India. It would have been a very easy simple procedure that was done regularly."

Question 8

Has anyone written in support of this theory?

There are an increasing number of scholars writing about Jesus in India.

The theory has come to surface is modern day popular mainstream writings. It is mentioned in Yann Martel's best seller "The Life of Pi", and also covered by a UK based magazine called "The Fortean Times".

In the summer of 2003 the BBC showed a documetnary entilted "Did Jesus Die?" in which the theory put forward by this website was covered extensively and presented as the most viable answer to the Jesus story.

Numerous scholars have written about the theory specifically, but the topic has not been brought in to the public spotlight. The BBC documentary was the most public sharing of the Jesus in India treatise.

A review of literature mentioning Jesus in India can be accessed here.

Question 9

Which religion or group believe Jesus went to India?

The thesis of Jesus having travelled to India transcends religious, cultural and geographical boundaries. Often the theory is thought to be an invention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, or it is seen the theory has been hijacked by the movement.

In reality the research and documentation predates this movement.

One of the most significant documents is the "The Bhavishya Mahapurana" - which is of Hindu origin. Notovitch's findings were of scrolls found in a Buddhist monastery. The subject is not just limited to people from the east, with scholars of the west such as Kersten, Faber-Kaiser and Gene Matlock (a Christian) all writing in support of the theory.

The "Tomb of Jesus Forum" is very good in showing how this theory brings together people from all backgrounds.

Question 10

Why is there no evidence about this theory in the Holy Bible or Quran?

There may not be explicit referneces to Jesus in India in the Quran and the Bible, but there are verses that certainly open the possibility.

The verses in quesiton and subsequent interpretation and inference are presented below:

I. A closer look at Jesus in the Quran.

II. An examination of Christian texts.

Question 11

How does this relate to the so-called "Shroud of Turin"?

The link between Jesus' survival from the cross and the Shroud of Turin is a fascinating one.

Some research has suggested that from the blood marks on the shroud and the way the image was formed proves that the man in the shroud was still alive when placed in it.

The dating and confirmation of the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin has become a very controversial area with strong opponents and proponents of the authenticity of the shroud as the burial cloth of Jesus.

This area can be examined here.

Question 12

What is meant by Jesus was a Buddhist?

There has been lots of interesting research in the area of Buddhism and Jesus. Jesus' teachings seem to show a strong similarity with some Buddhist teaching. What is the reason for this?

Was Jesus a Buddhist or was Buddhist teaching influenced by Jesus' teaching? Or were they both of Israelite origin?

This fascinating area can be examined here.

Question 13

Are the 'Ancient Documents' on this website reliable?

Often the reliability and authenticity of the documents mentioned upon this website are questioned. The documents have not been radio carbon dated, but their authenticity is supported by the number of differing sources that provide the same information.

One interesting aspect is that not much would be gained from fabricating the information. It has been said that no single religion supports the theory and the orthodox beliefs of both Islam and Christianity do not support the theory. Finding Hindu material supporting it is perhaps the most significant of all, as the Hindus do not claim Jesus to be one of their followers in any way. Indeed when he is mentioned in the Bhavishya Mahapurana he is referred to as "the teacher of the non-believers". Thus what he said and did is of little significance to the Hindus, yet we find mention of his presence in Kashmir.

More and more documents are being brought to light, and just a selection are placed upon this website. There is room for research to be done in to the authenticity of these documents, but the gut reaction of many seems to be "They must be fakes" and this seems to be unwarranted.

Question 14

What do we know about the man who is said to be in Srinagar, Kashmir Tomb?

Clearly there is someone buried in Roza Bol. The name of the person buried there according to the sign post and local records is Yus Asaph. The Bhavishya Mahapurana details a holy man in Kashmir at the time who refered to himself as "Isa-masih" and said he was born of a virgin, and some referred to him as "a Son of God".

Local information about Yus Asaph is that he was a prophet who journeyed to Kashmir from a foreign land. The direction of his grave indicates that he was of Israelite origin. The carved footprints next to the tomb suggest that he once survived crucifixion or some other punishment leading to visible scaring of the feet.

More information about this can be examined here.

Question 15

Who are the living experts on this theory?

There are scholars who have written in support of the theory and most of them are still alive. More information upon the various books is here with a list of the Major Players.

The theory covers so many vast areas of research that there are many experts each in their own field.

The Shroud of Turin has its own experts and proponents. The Jesus in India theory has its own list of supporters, and the scholars writing in support of Jesus having survived the Crucifixion form their own group. There is often overlap between these authors, but not that much of it.

Thus there are many experts, but not too many put together the pieces of the puzzle and reach the conclusions reached at this site. The current living authority is most likely Dr Fida Hussnain, Aziz Kashmiri is also a prominent expert, with Holger Kersten being an active worker, as is Suzanne Olsson.

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