[Author’s Note: In the Old Testament of the Bible, there is no information about the life of Jesus for 19 years. There are some contemporary texts where eyewitnesses have stated that he traveled extensively in the Middle East and crossed the Sindhu region to enter India. Through this novel, I have tried to portray the diary of a profound spiritual journey of his life in the initial and final chapters. Foreign powers have tried to erase the history of our continent, Asia. That is why, when Notovitch returned from Hemis in Ladakh and mentioned that ancient text over 2000 years old, Max Müller sent people to Hemis to destroy that ancient manuscript. The mysterious manuscript is also mentioned in the book by Swami Abhedananda about Kashmir and Tibet. What was it that caused Max Müller so much concern over this manuscript? It is noteworthy that love cannot come into the life of the son of God, and he cannot have any children. Even the Gospels attributed to him have been confined to the secret, dark chambers of the Pope’s city, with words implanted into his mouth according to their wishes. In his name, imperialistic aggression is being carried out across the world. His only daughter, Sara, has not been recognized. His entire existence has been imprisoned. There lies an unknown chapter of his life hidden throughout the Middle East, the Sindhu region, and India. I have brought forth this history through this novel. “An Unknown Life” is in no way a novel imitating “Jesus lived in India.” This novel provides detailed descriptions of his presence across the vast land from Israel to India, not just his own, but also the mysterious narratives of many people associated with him. Was Jesus truly the founder of Christianity? If not, why must he still bear the burden of the “Roman Cross”? Is there ever to be a possibility of his release? All answers are coming. Debashree Chakraborty]

An Unknown Life

(Location: Alexandria, Time: 2022)

The car sped through the barren terrain, returning to the same place again; it was clear that they were nearing the end of this long search, the destination not far away. But Robert seemed very unwell today; his body seemed to have withered, and his eyes had sunk into their sockets. It was truly hard to look at him. Robert said he had been poisoned, and he wouldn’t live much longer, but that just couldn’t be believed. How could this be possible! How could he accept the permanent separation from the one who had started this journey with him, Omkari? How many separations would he have to endure like this? He truly never understood the mystery of life. So many lives had passed by! Each life seemed interconnected with another. Robert, Ali, Ratul, Sannidhi—all had somehow come to the present from previous births, with whom Omkari was bound by karmic ties. But each of them was merely a fellow traveler on his path, nothing more. Was there anyone with whom he could walk a long journey? When would that person arrive? Would he have to keep moving forward, relying on characters from the past throughout his life? His whole life might pass in search of that person.

Today, Ali was taking them again, and today also, Ali wasn’t speaking. In the days when Ali traveled with Omkari in France or Portugal, how much he used to talk, sharing so many secrets with her. Now, he seemed to have created a circle of silence around himself. Within this circle, he wouldn’t speak, nor would he let anyone else enter. Human character is so diverse; it’s hard to understand. Nowadays, he was even afraid to establish a deeper mental connection with anyone because it was incredibly painful when one suddenly fell silent in the middle of conversation. While the car continued to drive, it stopped at a petrol pump. This petrol pump was very familiar to Omkari. On the day she first arrived in Alexandria, Ali had stopped the car at this very petrol pump on the way to Aurora’s house. Today, she was heading to meet the descendants of Sara, the daughter of Isha. After a short stop at the petrol pump, the car continued. As they drove, the road started to feel very familiar again, with that ancient architecture, which Aurora had called the library of ancient Alexandria, over two thousand years old. Amidst the barren terrain, this library— behind them was Aurora’s house, where Aurora and her adopted daughter Ara lived. Omkari had spent a few days in the household of the father and daughter. Again, Ali stopped the car in front of Aurora’s house. Robert looked very unwell. Ali got out of the car, opened the back door, and helped Robert get out. Robert had a heavy bag on his shoulder, which Ali took onto his own shoulder as he supported Robert to walk toward Aurora’s house. As they got closer, Aurora opened the door and came out, then she stepped forward to help Robert inside.

They sat in the living room. Today, Ali, Robert, and Aurora were all wearing white cotton garments up to their feet, tied with a white rope around their waists. Robert kept the bag next to him while Aurora held onto Robert’s hand tightly, kissing it, with tears streaming down her face. She was crying as she said, “Robert, you cannot leave like this. I will personally treat you and make you well. Today is a great turning point in history; today, his two bloodlines are merging with each other. You cannot leave now! You still have to live for a long time; you must tie him in the bonds of marriage with your own hands. This is your responsibility.”

Listening to Aurora, Robert smiled softly and said very slowly, “I have been undergoing treatment for the past few days, but this poison that has spread through my body is beyond any medicine to destroy. This poison was created by mixing the venom of Egyptian cobras with several other poisons in ancient times. If it were only the cobra’s venom, I would have died immediately, but its effect is very slow. Now it’s time for me to complete my work. Call him; I wish to pass on his wealth into his hands and be free. Aurora, how did you come to find him?”

“She was only four years old then. At that time, two people came from Italy to finish her and her parents. Her father had been watching these two for a long time. One day, they were crossing the road to attend a prayer meeting when suddenly a car hit them. The little girl was flung from her father’s arms and fell to the side of the road, while her parents were run over by the car as it sped away. Her mother and father died on the road. The car then lost control and crashed into an oncoming truck, resulting in the death of the two attackers as well. Our members rescued Ara from the side of the road and handed her to me. I raised her with the affection of my own daughter. As I nurtured her, I also lost the desire to enter into marriage again. I didn’t know how someone new in my life would accept Ara from the bottom of their heart, and I also didn’t know how safe Ara would be with whoever became my wife. Thinking about all this, I decided not to start a household. My main duty was to protect the holy blood of Isha and Lady Mary Magdalene.

Omkari could not believe her ears. What she was hearing couldn’t be true—this must be a figment of her imagination! The day she arrived in Alexandria and reached this house, it was the first time she met Ara. Such a young girl had clung to her foster father’s household so beautifully. From the very first day, Ara had carved out a special place in Omkari’s heart. There was a strange attraction in the girl. She liked the girl at first sight, and she had told Aurora about it. But she never imagined that Lady Mary Magdalene’s and Isha’s blood flowed through this girl. The search that had begun so far away was now coming to an end here. The one she had traveled to Europe to find was right here in Alexandria. However, this journey had enriched her with many experiences. As she thought about all this, Robert said to her, ‘Omkari, be careful of Nora. Your friend Nora is a member of our adversaries; they are trying to erase us from the face of the Earth. They attempted to use Nora to manipulate you. One of them has died an unusual death in Kashmir. We have to…’”

“They had been sent to eliminate another branch of the family.” Robert’s words began to intertwine as he spoke. Just then, Ara entered the room, holding a golden cup. With that cup, Ara’s arrival seemed to Omkari to be extremely symbolic; the golden glow of the cup reflected on Ara’s face. She sat down next to Robert with the cup, which contained water, and she personally fed Robert the water. Then she wiped Robert’s face with her scarf. Robert’s body was gradually becoming limp. He made an attempt to lift the bag with great difficulty. Ali and Aurora helped him. As he handed the bag to Ara, Robert’s head fell onto Ara’s lap. Ara gently stroked Robert’s head with one hand while pressing her scarf against her mouth with the other, beginning to cry. As the evening light slowly faded, night fell within the room. Ara continued to stroke Robert’s head. Omkari placed a bag next to Ara, touched her head, wishing her well, and then stepped out of the room.

Tonight the darkness in nature was intense; her flight to San Francisco from Alexandria Airport was about to depart, and if she didn’t leave immediately, she would miss the flight. Her heart ached for Robert; she had never imagined she would have to witness his death right in front of her eyes. But it didn’t suit her to grieve. The Srimad Bhagavad Gita states that one should not suffer from separations because you brought nothing with you. Everything you have lost, you received from here so what is the point of sorrow? Nothing is ours. We came empty-handed and will leave empty-handed. Omkari walked toward the car, with Ali following behind her. She didn’t want to look back anymore. She didn’t want to be bound by any more attachments. As Ali opened the car lock, a sound was made, and Omkari looked back to see Ali standing there. He looked much more composed now.

As Omkari got into the car, Ali sat down in the driver’s seat and then turned around to say, “Ma’am, Nora, the professor from San Francisco University, passed away from a heart attack last night. Please return to your workplace without worry; the Knight Templars will always be around you.” Leaving Aurora’s house and the Alexandria Library behind, the car sped towards the airport. The canvas was enveloped in darkness, marking the end of a chapter in history. (Concludes)

Click here for Part-1, Part 2, Part-3, Part-4, Part-5, Part-6, Part-7, Part-8, Part-9, Part-10, Part-11, Part-12, Part-13, Part-14, Part-15, Part-16, Part-17, Part-18, Part-19, Part-20, Part-21, Part-22, Part-23, Part-24, Part-25, Part-26, Part-27, Part-28, Part-29. 

_________________

Debasree Chakraborti is a renowned novel writer of Bengali language. Based in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, she has done Master’s in Modern History from the Kolkata University, and authored some thirty books, mostly the novels, with historical perspective and themes. Her novel is ‘Maharaja Dahir’ that covers the history of Sindh from 662, the year of first attack on Sindh by the Arab armies till date, was published last year and translated by Nasir Aijaz into Sindhi language.

The post Novel: An Unknown Life (Part-30) first appeared on Sindh Courier.

[Author’s Note: In the Old Testament of the Bible, there is no information about the life of Jesus for 19 years. There are some contemporary texts where eyewitnesses have stated that he traveled extensively in the Middle East and crossed the Sindhu region to enter India. Through this novel, I have tried to portray the diary of a profound spiritual journey of his life in the initial and final chapters. Foreign powers have tried to erase the history of our continent, Asia. That is why, when Notovitch returned from Hemis in Ladakh and mentioned that ancient text over 2000 years old, Max Müller sent people to Hemis to destroy that ancient manuscript. The mysterious manuscript is also mentioned in the book by Swami Abhedananda about Kashmir and Tibet. What was it that caused Max Müller so much concern over this manuscript? It is noteworthy that love cannot come into the life of the son of God, and he cannot have any children. Even the Gospels attributed to him have been confined to the secret, dark chambers of the Pope’s city, with words implanted into his mouth according to their wishes. In his name, imperialistic aggression is being carried out across the world. His only daughter, Sara, has not been recognized. His entire existence has been imprisoned. There lies an unknown chapter of his life hidden throughout the Middle East, the Sindhu region, and India. I have brought forth this history through this novel. “An Unknown Life” is in no way a novel imitating “Jesus lived in India.” This novel provides detailed descriptions of his presence across the vast land from Israel to India, not just his own, but also the mysterious narratives of many people associated with him. Was Jesus truly the founder of Christianity? If not, why must he still bear the burden of the “Roman Cross”? Is there ever to be a possibility of his release? All answers are coming. Debashree Chakraborty]

An Unknown Life

(Location: Kashmir, Time: 2022)

In the bustling neighborhood of Srinagar city, Ratul is currently sitting in a shop where pink tea is being prepared. This tea is made in a special kind of pot, which is covered at the top, with steam rising through a pipe at one end. Ratul is gazing at the steam.

Amid all the noise, he remains calm and indifferent. Nothing seems to affect him. He is simply thinking about the various branches of a river—the river mentioned in the Bible, along whose banks a civilization grew, its tributaries flowing through a region described as a green valley. This valley contains mountains covered in snow and lakes. This is the land of Moses’s ancestors. Ratul believes that the Indus River is that river, the one along whose banks a great civilization had developed in the past. We cannot now say that this civilization’s age is five thousand years; its age is even older than seven thousand years. This civilization, known to us as the Indus Valley Civilization, saw its origins in Mehrgarh, which was established along the Bolan River in Balochistan. The ancient philosophies that developed along the banks of this Indus River have spread out far and wide. Today, those philosophies are known by different names in various countries.

Yet, it is the allure of that river that has attracted pilgrims and ascetics here for generations. This river originates at the northeastern edge of Mount Kailash, flowing through Kashmir, crossing the Naga Mountains, and entering Pakistan, where it meets the Arabian Sea near Karachi. Deep within this vast region, those philosophies continue to flow like a sacred current. If we speak of Shiva Tantra, its origins lie in Kashmir. The ancient yogi whose form was found at Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro is indeed Shiva. Therefore, this Indus-infused region was a center for the practice of Shiva Tantra. While he muses about all these thoughts, beautiful silver-colored cups are filled with pink tea, topped with cashews, pistachios, and almonds, and handed to Ratul, Julius, and Javed. This is Ratul’s first time tasting this tea, paired with Kashmiri kulcha, and he finds the flavor of the tea and the kulcha to be extraordinary.

While sipping his tea, Ratul said, “Julius, life is so diverse, so vast. We often judge life through a narrow lens, but it changes its colors every moment.”

“Absolutely, Ratul,” Julius replied. “In the name of religion, we fight with one another; we use religion as a weapon to seize land. But just think about it: the river’s flow changes with the contours of the land, and in the same way, the stream of ancient spiritual practice has transformed itself over time, adopting different names in various places. Should we then hate these variations? They are all part of that original current. To hate them is to hate our primordial mother. The waters of the tributaries flow from the same Indus River. Here we sit today, and with the naked eye, this place may appear to be a bustling market, but it is an extremely sacred site where all spiritual currents converge, mingling together in a stream of transformation. This land has witnessed that transformation multiple times. After finishing our tea, I will take you to that place.”

“Julius, I want to know your true identity. I feel that the persona you present isn’t your real self; there’s another person hidden within that facade. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have shown such interest in the ancient spiritual practices of Isha and the Asian continent.”

Caught off guard by Ratul’s question, Julius seemed to fall into a trance, pondering while sipping his tea. The three of them sat around, drinking tea, as the current of time flowed frighteningly around them. Amidst all the commotion, a terrible silence prevailed. After a while, Julius said, “Many years ago, when I was in college, I lived far away from my family. My family is Roman Catholic, but I never had any faith or trust in religion from the beginning. There was a boy in my college hostel. He had come from Russia to Italy to become a doctor. We both…”

“I studied together with him. One day, I fell seriously ill. No medicine seemed to help me recover. Nearly a week passed in this condition, and I was nearly bedridden, utterly devoid of energy. In this state, my friend—my roommate—brought a plant. He placed the plant beside my bed and would gaze at it each night. After three days of this, I completely recovered, and all my weakness seemed to vanish. I had returned to health, but that plant my friend had brought had completely wilted during those three days. At that moment, I felt that I had regained my life in exchange for the life of that plant.

After this experience, I spoke with my friend and learned that he believed in shamanism. For a long time, he had been following this particular religious belief in the Siberian region of Russia. This belief is said to be a special form of ancient paganism. The term shaman refers to someone who, in a particular altered state of consciousness, is believed to communicate with special kinds of spirits, that is, extraterrestrial or supernatural forces. Through this communication, shamans are said to perform various tasks, such as healing illnesses, ensuring safety, and promoting crop growth, among other things. Additionally, they can also gather various ‘divine directives’ and ‘supernatural messages’ as a result of this communication. Shamans can be found across many countries in the world, from Greenland to Africa, Russia, the Andaman Islands, Korea, or Mexico. What we have here—or elsewhere—regarding possession by deities or spirits is essentially a form of this primitive shamanic practice.”

At the very dawn of human thought, it has been previously mentioned that humans imagined the existence of a mysterious force at the root of all things in nature. This particular aspect of human imagination is known as animatism; in this imaginative process, the essence of human life, animal life, and all natural events is believed to stem from a formless, intangible power or spirit. Primitive people sought to communicate with this power. The process of this attempt, with its unique behaviors, beliefs, and so on, is identified separately as a religion, specifically shamanism.

Later on, humans began to envision this power or ‘spirit’ in more concrete forms—leading to the creation of deities. However, many indigenous groups around the world still have a deep belief in this intangible, supernatural spirit and assign the responsibility of communicating with it to specific individuals within their groups. These individuals, who are tasked with such communication, are known as shamans, thought to be endowed with miraculous powers and manifestations of extraterrestrial forces. They can connect with the various powers present in nature, including plants, animals, and humans, and are said to be able to tap into energies from other worlds outside the universe. Through such connections, they can benefit others by utilizing a particular power, like the spirit of that plant that helped restore my health.

Listening to him, I began to feel deeply drawn to shamanism. During our college breaks, we would visit places like Denmark, Scotland, and Iceland to research ancient pagan religions and their connections with shamans. Among the surviving indigenous people, such as the Eskimos, indigenous Africans, Andaman Nicobarese, Koreans, and others, this shamanistic tradition exists in its primitive form.

For example, the Eskimos believe that the spirit of a grandfather or some ancestor enters a grandchild’s body. The shaman can “determine” whose spirits have entered that child. As the child grows, their own ‘soul’ is created. Until then, the Eskimos do not punish their child for any wrongdoing, because punishing the child would essentially mean punishing some revered ancestor.

In the arid areas of central Australia, shamans are tasked with bringing rain, while in the jungles of Africa or among the Vedda tribe of Sri Lanka, their role is to ensure successful hunting. The shamans of California’s Red Indians primarily focus on healing. They attempt to utilize that otherworldly power or spirit alongside their use of herbs and plants.

Subsequently, other religions that emerged have been influenced by shamanism. For instance, Muslim dervishes claim to communicate with God and, in reality, imitate shamans. Taoists in China also follow shamanistic practices, entering trances and dancing wildly while shouting to connect with supernatural forces and perform miraculous deeds. Through my research with my friend, I’ve come to understand that this belief system is a transformed version of ancient paganism, which contains primitive tantra that originated in Kashmir. It is said that Isha (Jesus) came to Kashmir in search of this tantra and returned there even after the crucifixion, where he eventually died. It is believed that around two thousand years ago, this particular religion was practiced across all of Central and Southeast Asia as well as in Europe. Later, it spread to the Americas. My friend would often mockingly say that we Romans completely eradicated shamanism just as we did with Isha and his history.

We all know that Isha possessed a unique ability to heal people, and he was said to perform many miraculous acts. Things were going well until one day my friend informed me that a terrible disaster was about to befall my family. At first, I didn’t believe him. My parents were on vacation in Alexandria, Egypt, and I received news that they had supposedly died in a car accident. Just a week after this event, my friend suddenly died as well. There seemed to be nothing wrong with him—he had asthma, and shrimp was forbidden for him. He had gone to Switzerland for some work and allegedly ate shrimp, which caused a severe allergic reaction leading to his death. After that, I began to feel a change in myself, and I have been searching for my ancient roots in this somewhat detached state ever since.

Javed was listening to him attentively; it had been a while since he had finished his tea. Now, Javed stood up from the bench and said, “We’ve talked enough; there isn’t much time left. They don’t keep this place open for long. Many tourists have already left, and they’ve kept it open at my request. Let’s go now, or it will close.” Javed led the way, with the two of them following behind. As they walked, they arrived in front of a white house with a green roof. The house was surrounded by green railings, and there was a sign inside that read “Rozabal.” This place seemed very familiar to Ratul. During his stay in Ladakh, this was the very place he had seen in his dreams.

There was a wooden door, and they entered through it. A green carpet was laid out, and the walls inside were all painted green, encasing a glass room that housed a tomb. This was indeed the tomb he had seen. In this room, he had also seen a tall man. Now, Javed stood on one side of the room and said, “Listen carefully to what I have to say. No one can predict what will happen in life; death is a certainty for everyone. So it’s essential to know some truths before death, or else you’ll remain in regret your entire life.”

During the reign of Raja Gopadatta, Uj Asaf came to Kashmir from Israel. The people of Kashmir were drawn to his miraculous powers and spiritual sayings. Uj Asaf lived in Kashmir until his death. After he died, his body was buried in Anjumane. This tomb is what gave this place the name “Rozabal.” It means the place of a distinguished saint of high status. Look at what is written on the tomb: “Uj Asaf was present in Kashmir many centuries ago, and he died here.”

You can see that we are looking at two tombs covered with heavy shrouds. One of these tombs belongs to Uj Asaf, and the other belongs to Syed Nasir ud Din, who was buried in the 15th century. These two tombs face north and south, but these are not the original tombs. The actual tombs are kept below. If you look through that hole, you will see. First, Julius looked, and then Ratul looked. After seeing, Ratul said, “One of the corpses is placed north-south, and the other east-west. Why is that?”

“It’s because that is Uj Asaf’s tomb, and according to Jewish religious customs, it is oriented east-west. This means that when he died, he was not a follower of Islam. Uj Asaf is actually God Isha, and he traveled many paths from the Far East to come to Kashmir.”

As Ratul looked around this place, he felt that the words written on the tomb were things he had dreamed of during his time in Ladakh. After they finished viewing the tomb, Julius suddenly said, “You’re a descendant of Uj Asaf, aren’t you?”

Javed replied, “Now we need to lock up; our time is up.”

After Javed locked the place and came outside, they started walking down the road where a car was parked a little distance away. Just as they were heading towards the car, suddenly Julius fell in the middle of the street. Ratul was taken aback by the sight of Julius falling like that. Julius was the strongest among them; he had seemed completely fine until now. What happened all of a sudden?

Javed called over a few people and had them help Julius into the car. He told Ratul to go back to the hotel while he took Julius to the hospital. That night, after returning from the hospital, Javed informed Ratul that Julius had died of a heart attack. After delivering the news, Javed very matter-of-factly said, “Ratul, you should leave here first thing in the morning; I will also return to my village. And if you have any pictures of Julius on your phone, delete them.”

At that moment, Ratul’s sixth sense was very active; he felt like he understood everything. He said, “Julius had taken pictures on his phone.”

“I’ve destroyed the phone; no one will find that phone now. It will lie there as an unclaimed body in the hospital morgue.”

Ratul sat next to Javed and placed his hand on Javed’s shoulder, saying, “Javed, I am a renunciant; you can trust me. I’ve been feeling for a few days now that you came to Kashmir with some ill intentions. It was during our tea time before going to Rozabal that I felt it the most.”

“At that moment, I had poured the medication into the tea among the dry fruits. When he contacted me, I became suspicious.”

“How did he recognize you?”

“My father named our travel business ‘Uj Asaf Travel.’ Our logo is a fish. As far as I know, everyone from Isha’s lineage uses this fish as their symbol. He had come to kill me. A few days ago, he was talking to someone on the phone and said that he had achieved what his parents could not. He had managed to find a descendant of Uj Asaf. He intended to finish me off right there in Rozabal and then eliminate my entire family. I was stunned to hear this. Our lineage has been protected by some invisible hands for ages. They are part of a special organization, similar to the Knights Templar of the Middle-Ages. We have very strong connections with them.

About fourteen years ago, two members of Isha’s family died in an accident in Alexandria. After that incident, their only daughter was moved to a safe place. This daughter is the current representative of Isha and Lady Magdalena’s lineage.”

“And what about you?”

“Me? After Isha came to Kashmir, he remarried here, and we are the heirs of his lineage. Even now, attempts are being made to eradicate our lineage. From what I understand, Julius had also killed his friend because he had learned something about Julius and his family.”

Javed pulled out a few pictures from his bag and handed them to Ratul. “These contain images of the footprints of Uj Asaf. From these pictures, you will understand that a person lies here who was crucified. There were holes in both feet. Here are some pictures of Rozabal and his tomb that I am giving you. I will return to the village tonight, and you should leave Kashmir as well.”

Ratul could no longer think about anything. It is truly unimaginable how life can take a person from one place to another. That very night, Ratul rented a car and set off towards Jammu. He did not know where his destiny would take him from there. Along the way, he deleted Javed’s and Julius’s phone numbers from his mobile. Throughout life, one meets many people. Although they may touch our hearts, they do not remain with us forever; they completely fade away from life. In that way, Javed and Julius were also erased. What Javed did might have been the right thing. Because if Julius had lived, he would have ended both Javed and Ratul along with his family. Isn’t it written in the Gita that everything happens for the good? So let life continue as it is. While sitting in the car, Ratul captured pictures of Rozabal and the footprints of Uj Asaf with his mobile camera and sent them to Omkari. There was thick fog on the road, in which Ratul’s car disappeared. (Continues) 

Click here for Part-1, Part 2, Part-3, Part-4, Part-5, Part-6, Part-7, Part-8, Part-9, Part-10, Part-11, Part-12, Part-13, Part-14, Part-15, Part-16, Part-17, Part-18, Part-19, Part-20, Part-21, Part-22, Part-23, Part-24, Part-25, Part-26, Part-27, Part-28, 

_____________

Debasree Chakraborti is a renowned novel writer of Bengali language. Based in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, she has done Master’s in Modern History from the Kolkata University, and authored some thirty books, mostly the novels, with historical perspective and themes. Her novel is ‘Maharaja Dahir’ that covers the history of Sindh from 662, the year of first attack on Sindh by the Arab armies till date, was published last year and translated by Nasir Aijaz into Sindhi language.

The post Novel: An Unknown Life (Part-29) first appeared on Sindh Courier.

[Author’s Note: In the Old Testament of the Bible, there is no information about the life of Jesus for 19 years. There are some contemporary texts where eyewitnesses have stated that he traveled extensively in the Middle East and crossed the Sindhu region to enter India. Through this novel, I have tried to portray the diary of a profound spiritual journey of his life in the initial and final chapters. Foreign powers have tried to erase the history of our continent, Asia. That is why, when Notovitch returned from Hemis in Ladakh and mentioned that ancient text over 2000 years old, Max Müller sent people to Hemis to destroy that ancient manuscript. The mysterious manuscript is also mentioned in the book by Swami Abhedananda about Kashmir and Tibet. What was it that caused Max Müller so much concern over this manuscript? It is noteworthy that love cannot come into the life of the son of God, and he cannot have any children. Even the Gospels attributed to him have been confined to the secret, dark chambers of the Pope’s city, with words implanted into his mouth according to their wishes. In his name, imperialistic aggression is being carried out across the world. His only daughter, Sara, has not been recognized. His entire existence has been imprisoned. There lies an unknown chapter of his life hidden throughout the Middle East, the Sindhu region, and India. I have brought forth this history through this novel. “An Unknown Life” is in no way a novel imitating “Jesus lived in India.” This novel provides detailed descriptions of his presence across the vast land from Israel to India, not just his own, but also the mysterious narratives of many people associated with him. Was Jesus truly the founder of Christianity? If not, why must he still bear the burden of the “Roman Cross”? Is there ever to be a possibility of his release? All answers are coming. Debashree Chakraborty]

An Unknown Life

(Location: Kashmir, Time: 2022)

If there is heaven on earth, it is here in Kashmir. Sitting in front of this cave, gazing from such a height across the vast green valleys, Ratul is lost in a strange spiritual contemplation. Even without seeing it with his eyes, one can feel an unusual spiritual flow that continues to run over this land. This land of the sage Kashyapa has attracted seekers from all over the world for ages, and perhaps this is why Ishananath came here. Along with Julius and Javed, he is now searching for the ancient sage in various parts of Kashmir. Nearly two thousand years have passed; after such a long time, is it possible to find him and his true existence? Because even the complete existence of the great master Sri Chaitanya from just five hundred years ago has nearly been erased. The way the great master is presented in contemporary times is certainly not his true essence. How many great figures have fallen victim to political conspiracies on the journey of time; there’s no telling!

Ratul is deeply engrossed in looking at the scenery in front of him when Javed and Julius start talking.

Javed says to Julius, “The people of the surrounding villages hold great reverence for this cave. When there is an epidemic or a natural disaster in the village, or when a villager is facing a problem, they come here to pray. Most importantly, if you pray sincerely, you will receive results. Not a single person has returned empty-handed from this cave.”

“Have you received results for yourself?”

“Yes, I have. Half of my father’s salivary gland had rotted away. The doctor said there was no way left to save him. I sat here praying all day, and the next day was my father’s operation. They removed only the rotten part. My father gradually recuperated. Now, he is completely healthy. He makes carpets by hand and then takes them to the red square shop to sell.”

Julius lets out a long sigh and says, “Ratul, listen carefully to me. You too have come here in search of him. This place is deeply intertwined with the history of his life.”

Ratul turned his mind toward Julius and listened intently. In this place called Bijbihara in Kashmir, the cave on the mountain named Aish Mukam is the meditation ground of a Sufi Muslim saint named Jainuddin Wali. The most valuable object associated with Saint Jainuddin Wali is the staff we saw a little while ago inside the cave. He received it from Sheikh Nur-Din-Wali. We just saw that the staff is covered with green cloth, as the devotees consider it very sacred.

Javed interjected, “The thick brown staff is made of olive wood. It is about 2.3 meters long and has a thickness of 25 millimeters. I had collected a lot of information about this place at one time. Some local people refer to it as ‘Moses’ staff,’ while others call it ‘Jesus’ staff.’ The locals believe that this staff was originally used as a holy staff by Moses and later by Jesus.”

Julius agreed, “That’s absolutely correct. The event of Jesus’ arrival in Kashmir is linked to Aish Mukam. The word ‘Aish’ is a variation of the word ‘Isha,’ and ‘Mukam’ means a resting place. This suggests that this cave was once a resting place for Jesus.”

Ratul, quite excited, asked, “Is there any other evidence that he came to Kashmir?”

“Look, Ratul, there are numerous pieces of evidence that firmly establish his presence in Kashmir. We can also emphasize local folklore in this case. An ancient archaeological artifact still exists in Kashmir that bears the inscription ‘Takht-i-Sulaiman,’ which means ‘Throne of Solomon.’ It is inscribed on this architecture that during the reign of King Gopadatta, son of King Akher, a Persian architect renovated this structure on the orders of the king. During the renovation, some phrases were engraved in Persian language near the stairs leading up to the main entrance of the temple. I had translated these into English.”

“Maimar een satoon raj bihishti zargar, sal panjah wa chahar.”

(The constructor of these columns is the most humble Bihishti Zagar, in the year fifty and four.)

“Een satoon bardast khwajar rukun bin murjan.”

(Khwaja Rukun, Son of Murjan, had these columns built.)

“Dar een Wagat yuz asaf dawa i paighambar imikunad, sal panjah wa chahar.”

(At this time, Yuz Asaf announced his prophetic mission. In the year fifty and four.)

“AISHAN YUZU PAIGHAMBER I BANI ISRAIL AST.”

(He is Jesus, prophet of the Sons of Israel.)

This architecture clearly states that Jesus, the son of God from Israel, came here. You will find many such pieces of evidence if you look.

Javed said, “I have heard a piece of information that might be useful to you.”

Julius replied, “Javed, tell us everything you know, because you are a Kashmiri. We don’t know Kashmir like you do. Share with us how you have felt his presence in Kashmir from your perspective.”

“My father is very interested in these matters. I have heard from him that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was the founder of the reformist Ahmadiyya movement in Islam. He was born in 1835 in Qadian, undivided Punjab. Abdus Salam, the first Nobel Prize winner from Pakistan and the father of the atomic bomb, was a member of this community. According to Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, Jesus did not die on the cross. He returned alive, which is mentioned in the Holy Quran. My father found this quotation in the English Quran. I have taken a picture of it on my mobile, in case it helps you.”

“They denied the truth, and uttered a monstrous falsehood against Mary. They declared, ‘We have put to death the Messiah Jesus the son of Mary, the messenger of God.’ They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but he was made to appear (as one crucified) to them. Those that disagreed about him were in doubt about his death; what they knew about it was sheer conjecture. In reality, God lifted him up to his presence; He is mighty and wise.” (Quran 4:156-157).

The Holy Quran also provides the answer to the question of where Jesus went after he returned from being crucified:

“We made the son of Mary and his mother a sign to mankind and gave them a shelter on a peaceful hillside watered by a fresh spring.” (Quran 23:51).

My father says that this description of a spring and a beautiful, peaceful valley in the Holy Quran actually refers to Kashmir.

Julius has been researching this subject for a long time, so his experience in this matter is much greater than others’. He has also studied Hindu scriptures very well. He mentioned that in the 18th purana, in verses 17 to 32 of the latest future purana, there is a detailed description of a foreigner who is alluded to as Jesus. It states:

“After the grandson of Vikramaditya, Shalibahana came to power, he marked a boundary between Indians and foreigners and ordered those foreigners to move across the Indus River. On one side, the Shaka tribe’s supreme ruler, the mighty Shalibahana, came near a snow-covered mountain and saw a handsome man sitting on a peak in a place under the Huns. His appearance was radiant and he was dressed in white.”

The king asked this person for his identity. In response, he said, “I am the son of Jesus, born of a virgin. I preach the message of education for the reformation of barbaric nations, and this message is the foundation of eternal truth.”

So you can understand that everything cannot be erased, even with effort. His existence continues to shine brightly through folklore, literature, and architecture. Modern research suggests that the Hebrew patriarch Abraham was indeed a historical figure who was born in the 18th century BCE. According to the Old Testament, Jehovah commanded him, “Go to a land that I will show you from your country, your relatives, and your father’s house.”

Now, one may wonder, where was Abraham’s original homeland? Their scriptures reveal that the ancestors of the Israelites primarily came from the east. Several passages in Genesis indicate that Abraham’s first home was in the region of Haran. According to Genesis 12:4, when Abraham was living in Haran, God commanded him to leave his homeland. The group eventually progressed to Canaan from Haran, where Abraham assisted his son Isaac, and where Jacob and Esau were born. In later times, Jacob had twelve sons, who became the patriarchs of the Jewish tribes. Among Jacob’s twelve sons, the second youngest was Joseph. Joseph was envied by his brothers. The jealous brothers sold Joseph as a slave in Egypt, where the Hyksos were in power at the time.

Under the Pharaoh of Egypt, Joseph was promoted to the position of second-in-command. After Joseph was sold into Egypt, a curse seemed to fall upon Canaan. Shortly after he was sold into Egypt, when there was a famine in Canaan, Joseph’s eleven brothers were forced to head toward Egypt. However, Joseph forgot all past grievances…

He had provided shelter to his brothers. After arriving in Egypt, Joseph’s brothers settled in the land of Goshen. Within a short time, they accumulated wealth, influence, and power. Now the question is, who was Musa (Moses)?

The person in ancient India known for framing social and religious laws was named Manu. The lawgiver of the Egyptians was referred to as Manes. This Manes compiled the laws of the ancient Greeks known as the Cretans, which were called Minos. It is said that daughters-in-law from Joseph’s family were brought from the region of Haran. There is a village named Haran a few kilometers from the capital of Kashmir, Srinagar, and this event is mentioned in many archaeological artifacts found in this village. Additionally, there are links between this region and Egypt. According to the Egyptian priest and historian Manetho, a group of people came from the east to settle here. The leader of the Hebrew tribes and the initiator of the Ten Commandments was known as Moses.

Manu, Manes, Minos, and Moses—all of whom contributed to the advancement of humanity in the world—belong to the same archaeological pattern. These four are significant figures of the ancient world. They had a strange similarity; they created laws and established a theocratic priesthood.

In Sanskrit, Manu signifies a superior person, a lawgiver. In the development of any civilization and in shaping its structure, several individuals make important contributions; these individuals become very close to the people through their knowledge and competency. The common people then begin to believe that the power of these cultural and spiritual leaders is derived from a Supreme Being or deity; they are not ordinary people.

Yet, even regarding the roles of such spiritual leaders, the common people had no shortage of questions. There is much debate regarding the historical existence of such figures as well.

Javed had been listening attentively to the conversation. When Julius paused for a moment, Javed spoke, “I have heard that a group of people arrived in Kashmir under the leadership of Musa (Moses). The dictionary meaning is ‘the place that opens up.’ The river Jhelum, located to the north of Kashmir, is called Behaat in Persian, and on the banks of this river lies the small town of Bandipora, where the valley of Jhelum merges into the extensive plain of Lake Wular. The place where the valleys of Jhelum and Wular meet is called Beth-Peor. Beth-Peor’s name has since been changed to Bandipora, located about 70 kilometers north of Kashmir’s capital, Srinagar, in the Sopore district. Approximately 20 kilometers northeast of Bandipora is a small village named Hasba or Hasbal. This village is noted to be the biblical Heshbon (Deuteronomy 4:46), which mentions Beth-Peor and Pisgah.

To the north of Bandipora, Pisgah (now known as Pishnag) is located on the slope of a hill. It is said that Musa’s grave is here. One can reach the village of Ahmad-Sharif, located about 12 kilometers from Bandipora, by car. From there, at the foot of Mount Nebo, there is a small village called Booth. The only way to reach this village is by walking, as there is no paved road leading there. One must head west along this path. The terrain here is incredibly rugged, with a fast-flowing river and a rocky trail surrounded by pine forests. Even during the daytime, light does not penetrate this path. The shape of the mountains and their luxurious vegetation strongly remind one of the mountains of Europe. The path crosses several fields and finally leads directly to the small village of Booth, located at the foot of Mount Nebo. In this village lives a person named Wali, who has been entrusted by the government with the responsibility of maintaining this grave.

If someone comes to this village wanting to see the grave, they are taken to a garden located a bit higher on the mountainside. In this garden, there is a small temple-like structure, which is said to contain the grave of a Muslim saint. Here, there is a stone pillar that rises about one meter above the ground, with the rest of it almost completely covered in grass; engraved on it is the name of Moses. Many say this is the gravestone of Moses.

I spoke with Wali, who mentioned that his family has been respectfully caring for this grave for over 27,000 years. You would be surprised to know that several places around the same village are named Mukam-i-Musa or ‘Place of Moses’, along with one or two sites mentioned in the Bible. For instance, there is a small village to the north of Pisgah known today as Hasbal, which is referred to as Heshbon in biblical texts. Additionally, near Bijbihara, south of Srinagar, there is a place also referred to as ‘Moses’ Bathing Place’, where there is a magic stone known as Ka-Ka-Bal or Sang-i-Musa (‘Moses’ Stone’).

According to legend, this stone—weighing about 70 kilograms—is said to be able to lift itself and hang about one meter in the air, known as the ‘Stone of Moses’ or Ka-Ka-Bal, which Moses is said to have used to demonstrate his magical abilities. When pronouncing the magical spell ‘Ka-Ka, Ka-Ka,’ if eleven people touch it with one finger, the number eleven represents the tribes of Israel.

There is another place named after Moses near Auth Wattu (‘Eight paths’) in the Handwara district. The stones at the confluence of the Jhelum and Sindhu rivers north of Srinagar, near Shadipur, are called Kohna-i-Musa, ‘Moses’ Foundation Stone’. It is believed that Moses leaned against this stone. He is also said to have rested at a place known as Ayat-i-Moula (or Aitamoul, ‘Sign of God’), located three kilometers north of Bandipora.

I’m not claiming these things; the names of these places exist, and the local people still share these stories orally to this day.

“Yes, that is why I rushed here from Rome. I know that his true roots are hidden right here. King Solomon sent his navy to Tarshish, from where it returned after three years with ‘gold and silver, ivory, and monkeys and peacocks.’ Now, the Hebrew word used for peacock is ‘tukki,’ and since the Israelites naturally had no name for these fine birds, this ‘tukki’ is an ancient Tamil word for peacock. Similarly, the word for monkey or ape in Hebrew is ‘kafiko,’ which is derived from an Indian term. A significant amount of ivory was found in South India. Many such Indian regional words are mentioned. Additionally, it can be gratefully acknowledged that besides ‘gold and silver, ivory, and monkeys and peacocks,’ King Solomon and his friend King Hiram brought along many other things from India, which included the ‘magic’ and ‘knowledge’ of the Indians. Notable experts from India, such as Max Müller and other historians, have identified the Hebrew names for peacock and monkey as being of Indian origin.

It is said that Solomon gifted twenty cities to King Hiram of Tyre, one of which was a place named Kabul. However, Kabul is the name of the capital of Afghanistan, previously part of India.”

Javed interjected, “Kashmir is still known among the local Muslim population as Bagh-i-Sulaiman, or ‘Solomon’s Garden.'”

“Yes, and in addition, the clothing of Kashmir, the way women tie their headscarves, and the dances all share similarities with those of the people of Israel. After giving birth, a woman in Kashmir observes a period of forty days of seclusion for purification; this is also a Jewish custom. Many old graves in Kashmir are aligned in the east-west direction, whereas Islamic graves generally face north-south. I will take you to a place tomorrow. Now, let’s get up, as it is evening, and it will be difficult to come down afterward.” (Continues)

Click here for Part-1, Part 2, Part-3, Part-4, Part-5, Part-6, Part-7, Part-8, Part-9, Part-10, Part-11, Part-12, Part-13, Part-14, Part-15, Part-16, Part-17, Part-18, Part-19, Part-20, Part-21, Part-22, Part-23, Part-24, Part-25, Part-26, Part-27, 

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Debasree Chakraborti is a renowned novel writer of Bengali language. Based in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, she has done Master’s in Modern History from the Kolkata University, and authored some thirty books, mostly the novels, with historical perspective and themes. Her novel is ‘Maharaja Dahir’ that covers the history of Sindh from 662, the year of first attack on Sindh by the Arab armies till date, was published last year and translated by Nasir Aijaz into Sindhi language.

The post Novel: An Unknown Life (Part-28) first appeared on Sindh Courier.

[Author’s Note: In the Old Testament of the Bible, there is no information about the life of Jesus for 19 years. There are some contemporary texts where eyewitnesses have stated that he traveled extensively in the Middle East and crossed the Sindhu region to enter India. Through this novel, I have tried to portray the diary of a profound spiritual journey of his life in the initial and final chapters. Foreign powers have tried to erase the history of our continent, Asia. That is why, when Notovitch returned from Hemis in Ladakh and mentioned that ancient text over 2000 years old, Max Müller sent people to Hemis to destroy that ancient manuscript. The mysterious manuscript is also mentioned in the book by Swami Abhedananda about Kashmir and Tibet. What was it that caused Max Müller so much concern over this manuscript? It is noteworthy that love cannot come into the life of the son of God, and he cannot have any children. Even the Gospels attributed to him have been confined to the secret, dark chambers of the Pope’s city, with words implanted into his mouth according to their wishes. In his name, imperialistic aggression is being carried out across the world. His only daughter, Sara, has not been recognized. His entire existence has been imprisoned. There lies an unknown chapter of his life hidden throughout the Middle East, the Sindhu region, and India. I have brought forth this history through this novel. “An Unknown Life” is in no way a novel imitating “Jesus lived in India.” This novel provides detailed descriptions of his presence across the vast land from Israel to India, not just his own, but also the mysterious narratives of many people associated with him. Was Jesus truly the founder of Christianity? If not, why must he still bear the burden of the “Roman Cross”? Is there ever to be a possibility of his release? All answers are coming. Debashree Chakraborty]

An Unknown Life

(Location: Alexandria, Egypt, Time: 2022)

(Gospel of Mary, Akhmim Codex)

Surrounded by barren land on one side and the blue sea on the other, an extraordinary canvas has been created with the blend of yellow and blue. The waves of the sea crash against the yellow land. Simple marine birds are coming there, seemingly lost in thought as they catch fish. Their strange presence is also in the sky. It is evening, and soon, changes will begin in this nature as well. Robert is sitting on a bench by the sea; it has been two weeks since he arrived in Egypt. He has taken refuge in Heather’s home. However, for the past week, his health has not been good. He has vomited blood several times. Heather has taken him to the doctor, who has prescribed medication, but no matter what, he is not getting better; his physical condition is deteriorating day by day. The last time he went to see the doctor, he met an elderly Russian woman there. She looked at him and said that a certain poison had been administered to Robert, which is gradually killing him. Death does not come in a day; this was how the woman’s husband was killed too. No medicine can eliminate this poison. However, Robert has no fear of death; he has nothing left to lose. Everything he has now is just up for giving away. Today, Omkari is coming to see him; it is very important for him to meet her at this moment; otherwise, all his efforts so far will be in vain. As Robert contemplates various thoughts while listening to the crashing waves, the chirping of birds, and the sounds of the breeze, Omkari arrives. She has a bag slung over her shoulder and is wearing a white sari today. In the last rays of the evening light, Omkari looks very beautiful, and her long, open hair is blowing in the sea breeze. The color of Omkari’s hair is light red; Robert hadn’t noticed it on the first day, but today she looks like that goddess from two thousand years ago, for whom he has spent his life searching. However, she has arrived a bit late; at this late hour when everything is about to end, the dream of building a new home seems futile. Omkari looks extraordinarily beautiful today. He wants to tell her a lot, but it’s not always right to express every thought. Some things are better left hidden. Now, the main goal is to judge some people in history, which must be done.

Omkari had been sitting across from Robert for a long time, observing him. Robert today looks like Jesus. With hair that reaches his shoulders and blue eyes, everything about his physical appearance seems to suggest that Jesus has returned after thousands of years. As she walks the path in search of him, she has unknowingly become one with the character of Lady Magdalene, learning about her at every moment. Somewhere, without her realizing it, Omkari has turned into Lady Magdalene. With all her heart, she loves Jesus. She does not know if she will ever meet that longed-for person in real life. She doesn’t know if she will ever become a mother. Yet, she feels a deep connection to the next generation of Lady Magdalene. The bloodline of Jesus’s daughter, Sarah, is said to still be hidden in Egypt, and she must find her and return her wealth to her; otherwise, Omkari’s long journey will be in vain. But today, Robert is feeling really good to her, and such feelings should not arise. The human mind is incredibly complex, and it is hard to know when affection for someone will develop; the reasons behind it cannot be determined either. This is their second day of meeting, but since the first day, she has been walking this path with Robert at every moment. This path was defined by Robert. After looking at him for a while, Omkari said, “Robert, you said you couldn’t leave America because you were safeguarding some invaluable assets in your home. If you left, they would destroy everything. So, why have you changed your decision?”

“Omkari, if I had stayed in America, they would have killed me too because they had found my trail.”

“But how? They haven’t found it all this time!”

Your friend Nora works for them. They knew that the book on crucifixion had been published on behalf of Jesus’s family. If they could identify the current generation of this publisher, their long-standing efforts would be successful. They know everything about you, which is why they utilized you. You used your sharp intellect to find me as well. But it’s not just them; there’s also attention on us from Professor Omkari Panigrahi at San Francisco University. If I hadn’t known everything about you, I would never have met you. After just a few days of meeting you, mysterious movements of various people started appearing around my house. I was informed by our organization that I had to escape from here at all costs. I knew such events could happen. There’s a secret tunnel inside my house that leads down to a red maple tree. Not far from my house, there’s a water basin, and next to it stands that maple tree. Under this tree, I had a chamber constructed. Our people built it, so no one else knows about it. I started keeping all my important documents there. As soon as my visa was approved, I left my house. A week after I left, that house was set on fire. I only managed to bring along the original copy of the crucifixion. There’s also a remote; when you click on the cross mark under the red maple tree with it, a secret door will open, leading down a wooden staircase. That staircase leads to a chamber where an infinite truth of history is hidden.”

“Charles, you called me to talk about all this! I have to find someone; I won’t have peace until I do.”

“I will take you with me to see him. Omkari, I have very little time as well. Before meeting that special person, I want to share some information with you. Some parts of the Gospel of Mary were hidden with a person in the black market in Cairo. I learned this when I went to Israel. Following that lead, I arrived in Cairo. Hida acted as my guide here. She loves wandering in such dark worlds and has provided us with much information over a long time. Then our people went and bought it at a high price. Now, I enter that black market myself, holding Hida’s hand, because it’s better to handle some tasks personally. There, we found the “Akhmim Codex” with one person, which is actually a lost part of the Gospel of Mary. After its discovery in 1896, 19 sections went missing, which I have managed to find. I am informing you about this because if this document is lost again for some reason, it can at least be rewritten through someone. Among these nineteen sections, there are three small parts: the Gospel of John, the Sophia of Jesus Christ, and the Acts of Peter. Additionally, I have discovered two more fragments that are part of the Gospel of Mary. These two fragments are named Papyrus Oxyrhynchus El 3525 and Papyrus Rylands 463. We had the carbon dating tests done on these two fragments and found that they were written 500 years before the Gospel of Mary. This document was written in Greek, just like the Gospel of Mary. This Gospel sheds a new light on Jesus’s life, disrupting our conventional perceptions. It is also referred to as the “Gnostic Gospel.” However, the Catholic Church does not recognize this Gospel. The Gnostic Gospel narrates the reasons for Lady Magdalene’s disappearance. These two fragments were preserved in a wooden box, wrapped in bird feathers.”

“Then, when it became clear that it could no longer be preserved, it was buried. However, it was placed in a location where future generations could discover it and learn about the true teachings of Jesus. Now the question is, what were his original teachings? The Gospel of Mary stated, ‘Mary said, I saw the Lord in a vision and I said to him, Lord, I see you in a vision. He answered and said to me, Blessed are you, that you did not waver at the sight of me. For where the mind is, there is the treasure of knowledge.’ This means, ‘She saw Jesus in her mind’s eye. Jesus is telling her that not only did you see me in your mind’s eye, but you have seen the greatest treasure of the world. And that treasure is knowledge.’ And this is where the real debate begins. In the Gospel of Mary, when Mary of Magdalene tells her followers these things, Andrew says that he cannot believe what Mary Magdalene is saying. They cannot accept her. Here, another debate arises. In the third statement, Peter vehemently opposes Mary. He says, ‘Did Jesus then choose a woman to be the heir of his treasure of knowledge, disregarding them? This is such a ridiculous claim. Jesus believed in Mary Magdalene more than all of them and loved her!’

Omkari believes that all these controversial parts of the Gospel of Mary give rise to the ‘Gnostic Gospel.’ The statements ‘knowledge, other ideas’ form the very foundation of the ‘Gnostic Gospel.’ The first statement of Jesus’s teaching was faith and complete surrender. With these two, He will protect you. The Catholic Church has wielded this principle as a weapon for thousands of years. The second is His knowledge. The Gnostic Gospel states that He gave this knowledge to Mary Magdalene. The term ‘gnostic’ means ‘knowledgeable.’ The Bible we read was written several years before this Gospel. The Bible contains knowledge of cosmology, through which the description of God and the origin of this great universe is given. Up until now, seventy-eight such ancient documents have been found, out of which only twenty-six have been recognized by the Church as Gospel, while the remaining fifty-two have been discarded as Gnostic Gospels.

‘Robert, I am very curious to know how the present Christian religion was born!'”

“Mary did not have a good relationship with Andrew. At one time, due to the fear of the Roman Emperor, Mary Magdalene had to go into hiding, making it impossible for Jesus to maintain contact with her. During this time, Peter began to reveal his true nature. He first started to bring Jesus’s main disciples under his control and then began to convince other followers that Mary was trying to create a space for herself through deception. One of the key objectives of Jesus’s movement was to establish an important place for women in Hebrew society. However, instigated by Peter, the followers began to try to push Mary aside. How could a woman be their teacher? Peter labeled Mary a prostitute. Consequently, Mary Magdalene was forced to withdraw from the movement. Peter became the successor of Jesus’s movement. In this way, that institution was born, which later controlled the advanced nations of the world. Its name is the Church. Saint Peter is the founder of this Church and the first pope in history. The Gospel of Judas mentions Mary Magdalene, stating, ‘Mary was the apostle of all apostles.’ The apostles were Jesus’s main twelve disciples who received direct teachings from Him. The Gospel of Judas claims that Mary Magdalene was the teacher of those teachers, sitting beside Jesus. However, to erase Mary Magdalene’s history, the Orthodox Christian Church has not placed any woman in a prominent role for nearly two thousand years. Yet we have found many historical artifacts that tell us women held positions of responsibility in many churches in Israel. They had made Mary Magdalene their ideal. I myself visited an ancient church in Israel called Tel Madiggo, which was completely run by women. There, I learned from a guide that around 590 AD, the pope of Rome was Gregory I. On an Easter morning during this time, he slandered Mary Magdalene while giving a speech to Christians around the world.”

“Whose burden he still has to carry today. He said that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. Citing Luke 10:39, he stated that Mary Magdalene was a sinful woman who came to Jesus for the healing of some ailment in her body. Thus, the Gospel of Luke referred to her as a sinner. In reality, this sinful Mary was Mary of Bethany, and the Pope conflated her with Mary Magdalene. There is much evidence in history that Pope Gregory was fundamentally misogynistic. However, this notion gradually began to change. After 1959, a directive was issued. Pope Paul VI announced in this directive that Mary of Bethany and Mary Magdalene are not the same woman; therefore, Magdalene is not a sinner. This is also written in the New Testament. In 1982, Mary Magdalene was given the title of Saint. On July 22, 2016, Pope Francis proclaimed her as the “Apostle of All the Apostles.” Since then, all Protestant churches have referred to her as the “Heroine of the Faith.”

I have recorded everything I just told you, and I also possess the Gospel of Mary along with various pieces of information, including those concerning the crucifixion. You, too, have brought information from Europe; all of this must be handed over to our descendant.

Omkari let out a long sigh and said, ‘now you will answer one question for me: why was I chosen for this task?’

‘Because your family possesses a very important heritage; in the past, your family was indirectly associated with the movement of Jesus. He stayed in Puri’s Jagannath temple for about six years, during which he spent some time in Jajpur, one of the centers for Tantra practices. There, the powerful goddess Ma Birja resides, and later, this place became a major center for Vajrayana practices. When he was visiting Jajpur in search of this special spiritual philosophy, an ancestor of your family came into contact with him and wrote a manuscript about him, which your family has continued to carry as their property to this day. Do you know anything about this?'”

“Upon hearing this, the long-standing fog in Omkari’s mind began to lift. Many questions found their way to the forefront of her thoughts. She said, ‘My family practiced Shaivite Tantra during that time, and there was a stream of Shaivite Tantra flowing through Jajpur centered around Ma Birja, which gradually transformed into Buddhist Tantra and later into Radhatantra. It was this same current of Tantra that attracted Shri Chaitanya Deva to Jajpur. Yes, we have a manuscript written by our ancestors that still exists, which was composed in ancient Utkali language. This manuscript mentions that a Shaivite from the distant Middle East came to Jajpur and practiced in the forest land for a long time; afterwards, he moved toward the meditation grounds of Rishya Shring, and after spending some time in Rajgir, he supposedly went to Varanasi. He was a practitioner highly experienced in Bhairava Tantra. My father, Professor Panigrahi, used to say that his physical build was similar to that of Mahaprabhu Sri Chaitanya, being tall and robust with a fair complexion. Now I understand who he was!

‘Do you have a copy of this manuscript?’

‘Yes, we do. I have scanned each ancient manuscript stored in our house, reduced their size, and kept them in my Google Drive. You may take it.’

Omkari said, ‘I have very little time. For the safety of ancient manuscripts, a type of poison was often used on them in the past. If someone accidentally touches their mouth while reading the manuscript, that poison would spread through their body and gradually finish them off. Something like this was attached to the Gospel of Mary. My habit of cutting my nails with my teeth made me so engrossed in reading that I forgot all about it. Tonight, Ali will take us to the current generation of Jesus’s daughter Sara, to whom we must hand over his legacy, or else this liberation will remain unattainable.'” (Continues)

Click here for Part-1, Part 2, Part-3, Part-4, Part-5, Part-6, Part-7, Part-8, Part-9, Part-10, Part-11, Part-12, Part-13, Part-14, Part-15, Part-16, Part-17, Part-18, Part-19, Part-20, Part-21, Part-22, Part-23, Part-24, Part-25, Part-26, 

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Debasree Chakraborti is a renowned novel writer of Bengali language. Based in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, she has done Master’s in Modern History from the Kolkata University, and authored some thirty books, mostly the novels, with historical perspective and themes. Her novel is ‘Maharaja Dahir’ that covers the history of Sindh from 662, the year of first attack on Sindh by the Arab armies till date, was published last year and translated by Nasir Aijaz into Sindhi language.

The post Novel: An Unknown Life (Part-27) first appeared on Sindh Courier.

[Author’s Note: In the Old Testament of the Bible, there is no information about the life of Jesus for 19 years. There are some contemporary texts where eyewitnesses have stated that he traveled extensively in the Middle East and crossed the Sindhu region to enter India. Through this novel, I have tried to portray the diary of a profound spiritual journey of his life in the initial and final chapters. Foreign powers have tried to erase the history of our continent, Asia. That is why, when Notovitch returned from Hemis in Ladakh and mentioned that ancient text over 2000 years old, Max Müller sent people to Hemis to destroy that ancient manuscript. The mysterious manuscript is also mentioned in the book by Swami Abhedananda about Kashmir and Tibet. What was it that caused Max Müller so much concern over this manuscript? It is noteworthy that love cannot come into the life of the son of God, and he cannot have any children. Even the Gospels attributed to him have been confined to the secret, dark chambers of the Pope’s city, with words implanted into his mouth according to their wishes. In his name, imperialistic aggression is being carried out across the world. His only daughter, Sara, has not been recognized. His entire existence has been imprisoned. There lies an unknown chapter of his life hidden throughout the Middle East, the Sindhu region, and India. I have brought forth this history through this novel. “An Unknown Life” is in no way a novel imitating “Jesus lived in India.” This novel provides detailed descriptions of his presence across the vast land from Israel to India, not just his own, but also the mysterious narratives of many people associated with him. Was Jesus truly the founder of Christianity? If not, why must he still bear the burden of the “Roman Cross”? Is there ever to be a possibility of his release? All answers are coming. Debashree Chakraborty]

An Unknown Life

Omkari never imagined that she would have to return to France like this. Before leaving France the last time, her work had remained unfinished. Perhaps that’s why she had to come back again. On one hand, it’s a relief; as a child, she had heard from her mother that if a task is left incomplete from any birth, one has to return to that place. All work must be completed as soon as possible; otherwise, one has to come back again. This constant returning is truly becoming tiresome. After spending almost a week at Dr. David’s home in Portugal, Ali sets off again towards Egypt. However, it seems that from there, Omkari and Ali’s paths diverge to some extent. On the day of Ali’s midnight flight to Cairo, in the afternoon, Dr. David took Omkari along and set off towards Southern France. That evening, at a particular spot within Portugal’s borders, dusk began to fall. Amidst dense forests and lush nature, an ancient structure stands tall. Professor David stopped the car there and said, “Omkari, I have been waiting for this moment. Come with me, it’s not safe for Ali to carry so much alone. So, I asked you to stay. Come with me.” They got out of the car, and Dr. David started walking toward the ancient structure, with Omkari following him closely. Upon getting closer to the structure, Omkari saw a large star embedded in the stone wall. Dr. David stood in front of the star and said, “The Star of David,” meaning Jesus. After the crucifixion, several groups spread from Israel to various parts of the world. Their task was to protect the next generations of Jesus and to safeguard his philosophy and teachings. They had placed Lady Magdalene in the position of their goddess. They had been protecting their existence very secretly. Along with Southern France, they had formed an empire in these regions. However, when the Crusades began under the leadership of the Church, they started to be eradicated. The place where we are standing now was the secret hideout of this particular community. Now, come with me. Behind the wall where the “Star of David” was drawn, a staircase leads down. As the twilight enveloped the environment, they started descending the stone stairs. At the end of the staircase, there was another star drawn. And that star in the center, four paths extend in different directions. Dr. David stood at the center of the star and said, “These four tunnels lead in different directions; this is where they would meet very secretly. Once they finished their work, they would depart from here. You see this design? There is a mystery hidden within this design, and now I will pass that mystery into your hands. This place is called Quinta da Regaleira. The long, winding staircase you descended has a deep mystery hidden in every notch of these stairs. After coming here, you passed through a vast garden, and in that garden, every corner of the ancient architecture you saw conveys that mystery. The responsibility for preserving that mystery was entrusted to the Knights Templar. Omkari, no one knows how many years ago the Knights Templar built this place. However, my grandfather purchased this land. From then on, he spent the rest of his life here. He used to say we are the heirs of this place. The bloodline of the “Star of David,” which has flowed for two thousand years from the past, is a part of that lineage. Lady Magdalene brought that bloodline here. Mysteriously, my grandfather died in this place in 1920. I never had the chance to marry because I was so busy searching for my family’s existence that I couldn’t establish a household. Therefore, my grandfather’s bloodline ends here.”

“—So you are a descendant of Jesus?”

Dr. David nodded in agreement, and by then, darkness had fallen in nature. The professor said, “Take a good look at this place; you’ve taken some good pictures with your mobile camera. Now, let’s go back upstairs.” As they climbed the stairs, the professor stopped at one point. In the winding path of the stairs, there were several niches in the right wall resembling windows. Suddenly, he reached in and turned something, then started moving again.

They continued up and entered into the garden. It was quite dark around the garden, so the professor lit a torch. As he walked, he began shining the light on various architectural structures. Each structure had a design resembling a pitcher. The professor told Omkari, “These are all symbols of the Holy Grail. The Holy Grail, meaning the womb, which Lady Magdalene brought here.”

As Dr. David continued walking, he stopped in front of a white stone structure. When he shone the torchlight on it, Omkari saw a woman carrying a pitcher on her head. Dr. David said, “This is Lady Magdalene. The pitcher, meaning the Grail, signifies her womb, in which she bore the Holy Blood. An empire was built around here centered on that.”

When the Pope learned that the next generation of Jesus was hidden here, he resorted to the Crusades to eradicate the community of Templars that had been formed to protect that bloodline. Saying this, he inserted something like a key into the white stone structure, then turned it as if unlocking a latch, and from above, a square tray with a fish symbol emerged. Dr. David handed that file to Omkari and said, “I will let you know in due time where this needs to be delivered. Now we must leave; enemies are lurking around.”

That day, Dr. David drove from Portugal to the Var region. They rented two rooms in a hotel in Aix-en-Provence. Dr. David told Omkari that this town is part of Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume. In ancient times, it was said that the Knights Templar ruled here. Today, there is a special festival, and people from all over the world come to witness it. In this town, there is a basilica dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene. Within this basilica, the skull of Mary Magdalene is preserved. Today is July 22nd, and on this day, supporters of Lady Magdalene will ride through the town dressed in colorful outfits, playing flutes, drums, and carrying rifles. Dr. David and Omkari enjoyed the strange beauty of the festival for the entire day, sitting by the window of their hotel. They stayed there for two days because the professor had some work to attend to. On the third day, they witnessed another procession, during which the skull of Lady Magdalene was carried. The skull was wrapped in a casing made of metal and glass as it was paraded through the streets.

After spending nearly three days there, Dr. David and Omkari departed for a place where Lady Magdalene spent the last thirty years of her life. This location is about twenty-five kilometers away from Saint-Maximin in Aix-en-Provence and is extremely remote. The area is surrounded by dense forest, and it is not possible to drive a vehicle over the mountainous terrain. Therefore, they left the car at a distance and began their ascent into the mountains through the deep forest. There is a profound mystery hidden within this environment. Every stone, plant, and creature on this mountain seems to guard a special moment in history that spans thousands of years. The fallen leaves and bird feathers on the rocky path are like letters and a moving tableau chronicling history.

They continued onward, struggling to climb the rocky path. They had to watch their steps very carefully. As they walked, Dr. David said, “After coming from Israel, Lady Magdalene lived in the caves of this forested Saint Baume Mountain. If Mary had been caught, she might have been killed. Now, this area seems like this, but just imagine what it was like two thousand years ago. There would have been even deeper forests all around. So, in such an environment, Mary was the safest in the caves. Giving birth to her child, raising him, and establishing the Merovingian dynasty against the Roman Empire was not an easy task. Here we are; we’ve arrived.”

In the wilderness, there stands a temple known to the locals as the Sanctuary of Mary Magdalene. “Omkari, the trees you see around this temple are several thousand years old. This temple is situated atop a high cliff named Mountain Cliff. For a long time, this cave was somewhat neglected. However, those who believe in Mary Magdalene and know her true identity were the only ones who used to come here for pilgrimage. Then, in 1295, Dominican monks came to this place for pilgrimage and took responsibility for the region.

Now, this staircase begins. There are a total of 150 steps, and by climbing these, we will reach the cave.”

They began to climb, determined, and eventually reached the entrance of the sacred cave. At the entrance, there is a wooden door, which seems to signal the existence of two different times. The characters of the present want to connect with the past. Upon entering, they saw a statue of Lady Magdalene. Beneath this statue, drops of water were coming from the ceiling of the cave into a small pool. Just above this water, beneath the statue of Mary Magdalene, there was a glass box containing some bones. They stood there for a while before exiting the cave.

A little lower down from there is a resort that has been established by two sisters. Pilgrims spend a night here before continuing their journey. Dr. David and Omkari stayed at this resort, taking two adjoining rooms in the forest. After the long journey, both of them felt extremely tired and quickly fell asleep. Omkari woke up, and the clock read nine o’clock at night. Dinner is served in a room surrounded by glass. There’s a special joy in eating in this room because of the dense forest surrounding it. At this time, they were the only ones in the entire resort; no one else was there.

Once they finished dinner, they sat facing each other in the dimly lit atmosphere of the resort. Through the glass, the outdoor nature was visible. A cold and gusty wind was blowing at night. The trees seemed to be engaged in a battle with one another. The environment felt incredibly silent, and despite the cold outside, a room heater was running inside the resort, creating a comfortable atmosphere. A beautiful fragrance was emanating from a room freshener in the corner. This scent provided a strange sense of security. Time seemed to have stood still all around; only the two of them were awake, and there were many secret matters to discuss in this moment. If this time passes, it would not be possible to have such discussions again.

Dr. David said, “Tonight, I will hand you a document. Omkari, you have been observed for a long time, and then our organization…”

“You have been chosen. You possess the mental capacity and intelligence that are necessary for this task, which cannot be accomplished without them. Previously, you worked on the disappearance of Mahaprabhu Shree Chaitanya, where the members of our organization became acquainted with your intellectual abilities. You know very well how to maintain composure and control a situation even in the face of life’s terrifying circumstances. Unknowingly, you have embraced a forgotten moment in history that you must convey to its rightful heir.

Omkari knows very well that this is not the time for speaking; it is a time for listening attentively. The more questions asked of the speaker, the more the continuity of their thoughts will get disrupted. So let this flow continue.”

Dr. David said, “Mary Magdalene first arrived in Egypt from Israel. She took refuge in the city of Alexandria, where she gave birth to a daughter named Sara. The father of this child was Isha (Jesus). She stayed in Alexandria for a long time, and you would be surprised to know that during this period, she maintained regular contact with Isha. This connection was not severed. Within a few years of giving birth to Sara, she became pregnant again. This child was also Isha’s. However, at that time, the Roman rulers learned of Mary Magdalene’s presence in Egypt, and thus danger loomed. Mary was pregnant at this time, and Sara was still very young; she had to be kept safe at all costs, along with the child in her womb.

During this time, a group from our organization hid Sara in an unknown location, while another group set out with Mary towards Europe. On European soil, she gave birth to her second child and took refuge in this cave for her lifetime. There has been some debate about whether she actually resided here or not. According to the information in my possession, she came to Renes-le-Chateau and was buried there. However, when the Crusades began, the Knights Templar took parts of her body and hid them here. Later, her skull was taken, and a church was established. Thus, the body was divided into two parts. We are the branch of her second child, but another “bloodline” from the daughter of Isha, Sara, still runs in Egypt today. You must present this valuable evidence to the current generation of that branch, as it needs to be safeguarded for the future.

In our branch, besides Robert and me, the rest are gone. I do not know if anyone else from my side is still alive. Therefore, Omkari, it is now your responsibility to protect the assets of Sara’s heirs.”

It felt as if the sky had collapsed on Omkari’s head. She said, “Robert? His bloodline flows within him? He never mentioned this.”

“No, this is not something to be told to anyone. Because once it becomes known, it is all over. When documents of the crucifixion arrived in our family, published by our own publishing house, one member after another was killed following its release. Robert’s grandfather went into hiding on one side, while my grandfather remained in hiding in Portugal. Because of this land, we have a deep connection. I do not know how long we can remain out of their sight. Nowadays, I fear death at every moment.”

Finishing his words, he handed a leather-bound document to Omkari.

She accepted it and said, “But I don’t know Sara’s heir.”

“It is your job to take this. When you reach Alexandria, you will be taken to him. Then you will recognize him.” (Continues)

Click here for Part-1, Part 2, Part-3, Part-4, Part-5, Part-6, Part-7, Part-8, Part-9, Part-10, Part-11, Part-12, Part-13, Part-14, Part-15, Part-16, Part-17, Part-18, Part-19, Part-20, Part-21, Part-22, Part-23, Part-24, Part-25, 

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Debasree Chakraborti is a renowned novel writer of Bengali language. Based in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, she has done Master’s in Modern History from the Kolkata University, and authored some thirty books, mostly the novels, with historical perspective and themes. Her novel is ‘Maharaja Dahir’ that covers the history of Sindh from 662, the year of first attack on Sindh by the Arab armies till date, was published last year and translated by Nasir Aijaz into Sindhi language.

The post Novel: An Unknown Life (Part-26) first appeared on Sindh Courier.

[Author’s Note: In the Old Testament of the Bible, there is no information about the life of Jesus for 19 years. There are some contemporary texts where eyewitnesses have stated that he traveled extensively in the Middle East and crossed the Sindhu region to enter India. Through this novel, I have tried to portray the diary of a profound spiritual journey of his life in the initial and final chapters. Foreign powers have tried to erase the history of our continent, Asia. That is why, when Notovitch returned from Hemis in Ladakh and mentioned that ancient text over 2000 years old, Max Müller sent people to Hemis to destroy that ancient manuscript. The mysterious manuscript is also mentioned in the book by Swami Abhedananda about Kashmir and Tibet. What was it that caused Max Müller so much concern over this manuscript? It is noteworthy that love cannot come into the life of the son of God, and he cannot have any children. Even the Gospels attributed to him have been confined to the secret, dark chambers of the Pope’s city, with words implanted into his mouth according to their wishes. In his name, imperialistic aggression is being carried out across the world. His only daughter, Sara, has not been recognized. His entire existence has been imprisoned. There lies an unknown chapter of his life hidden throughout the Middle East, the Sindhu region, and India. I have brought forth this history through this novel. “An Unknown Life” is in no way a novel imitating “Jesus lived in India.” This novel provides detailed descriptions of his presence across the vast land from Israel to India, not just his own, but also the mysterious narratives of many people associated with him. Was Jesus truly the founder of Christianity? If not, why must he still bear the burden of the “Roman Cross”? Is there ever to be a possibility of his release? All answers are coming. Debashree Chakraborty]

An Unknown Life

(“Berlin Codex” “Gospel of Mary Magdalene”)

(Location: Israel, Time: 2022)

The car is speeding through the rugged terrain, where a revolution of greening has begun amidst such harsh nature. One learns to fight for survival from these people, who have been battling against all odds for thousands of years. Even as an American citizen, a myriad of questions arises in his mind, a profound mixture of hatred and sorrow. How can the world’s greatest power cultivate enmity in this particular nation in the name of religion for the rights to this land? The eradication is ongoing in the name of rights over Jerusalem due to arms trading. If this continues, one day this nation will cease to exist. For ages, there has been a conspiracy to eradicate them. Yet, they survive. This land gave birth to the Son of God, whom Christians revere as their divine figure, Hindus see as their sage, Buddhists regard as their spiritual teacher, and on the other hand, the Muslims of Kashmir perceive him as a Sufi saint.

Though everyone accepts him as their deity, why such hatred, why such division? Yesterday dawn, Robert Nathbag arrived at the airport. From there, he rented a car and proceeded to Jerusalem. The route from the airport to Jerusalem was long, and by evening, he finally reached there. In Jerusalem, he has stayed at a house. Dr. Abe has been researching Lady Magdalene for a long time. Robert came to know about him through someone. Through that person, their correspondence has been happening via letters, and today they will meet. As he got out of the car, he saw Abe standing in front of the house. Abe was dressed in white. When the two stood face to face, Abe placed a small, slender device on Robert’s wrist, and a few numbers lit up on the device’s glass. As soon as he saw the numbers, a smile blossomed on his face, and he embraced Robert. The day Robert arrived in Jerusalem, after settling down and having a meal, he and Abe set out to explore the city.

Abe believes that every moment of life should be savored with full passion. Robert knows that he may never have the chance to return to Jerusalem again. Therefore, he’s attentive to ensure that Robert can fully feel the spirit of this city tonight. The next morning, after having breakfast, Abe drives Robert towards the Convent of Saint Mary Magdalene. Robert has come here on a tourist visa from America; he had long thought that he wouldn’t go anywhere outside of America, but America no longer feels safe for him. And it’s not just him; a significant man and woman of history who have been the victims of deception for thousands of years are also not safe. He has devoted his life to collecting information to bring justice to these two individuals and their families, but staying in America would mean that Western powers would kill him and erase all evidence.

As he approaches the Mount of Olives, the orchards of olive trees begin to appear amid the rugged terrain. The green gardens among the yellowed landscape seem to carry messages of hope. Their presence in such harshness lifts one’s spirits.

Both Abe and Robert are very quiet. One is focused on driving the car while the other gazes out at the surrounding nature, lost in thought. After a while, Abe slowly asks, “Robert, how do you feel about our country?”

Robert smiles and shakes his head, replying, “In one word, extraordinary. The chapter of history I have come here to discover seems to echo in the nature of this land, carrying messages of the times and lives of those who lived then.”

“Yes, exactly. We’ll be crossing over the Kidron Valley soon. On one side of the road will be the Temple Mount, and the Olive Garden will start along one side of the Temple Mountain, through which Roman soldiers took Jesus away.”

“Ah, the Garden of Gethsemane. But do those trees from two thousand years ago still exist? Or is that just a story?”

Ha ha ha! There is some truth to the story. A few years ago, we examined the trees in this garden and found that they are not two thousand years old. However, not far from this garden, we discovered the fossils of two-thousand-year-old trees in the soil. So, we believe that the Garden of Gethsemane was located there. Robert, the place I’m taking you to today will answer many of your questions.

“Is there anything about Mary Magdalene? Something that isn’t found anywhere else?”

Ha ha ha, there is! That’s exactly why I’m taking you there. This is why the Pope’s realm has not recognized this church.

“Will they show me those secret details?”

The church is overseen by Mother Catherine. I’ve already spoken to her. She is getting older, and given the state of the church, it could collapse at any moment. Therefore, she wishes to impart some significant information to like-minded individuals like us. Robert, knowing you, she has been very pleased. Look, you can see Mount Olive ahead. When this road curves around the back of Mount Olive, the Church of Mary Magdalene has been standing somewhat precariously at the southern edge of Mount Olive for several centuries. This church has kept itself free from the control of the Catholic Church from the very beginning. When this church was established, Russia held influence over Israel.

“Who was the Tsar of Russia then?”

The Tsar of Russia at that time was Alexander III. During that period, his power was very strong not only over Israel but also over various European nations. He personally established this church. This church was controlled by the Russian Orthodox Church. They were opposed to the Roman Catholic Church. The Russians dedicated this church to Mary Magdalene. The church’s dome was made of gold. When the sunlight reflected off this dome, its golden glow spread all the way to the Temple Mountain.

As they were talking, they arrived at the church. All around were massive olive trees in vibrant green, with the white church and its golden domes standing majestically amid them. The beauty of this church was astounding. Mother Catherine seemed to have been waiting for them; she stepped forward and led Robert and Abe inside. On one side of the large white stone terrace, various paintings were hung on the wall, all depicting Lady Magdalene. The woman shown in these paintings had red hair, so it was not difficult to understand who she was.

In this long corridor, there were several closed doors. They passed through these closed rooms and entered the main sanctuary. A large statue of Lady Magdalene was there, along with various paintings. The worship room was adorned with artificial flowers of many colors and fragrant candles.

Upon arriving at this place, Robert felt as if he could deeply sense Lady Magdalene. He had never felt her presence this way anywhere else. However, it struck him as very strange that such a beautiful church had no worshippers. He looked at Mother Catherine and said, “Mother, I don’t see any worshippers here. Does no one come here?”

“Actually, we keep the sanctuary open for the general public from ten to twelve in the morning. After that, no one is allowed to enter the church. Our church is not like other churches. All the other churches belong to one group, and our church belongs to another, so it is our responsibility to ensure the security of this church.”

“Yes, I thought the same when entering the worship room. There are so many rooms aligned with the corridor, yet all the doors to those rooms are closed. Since coming here, I feel as if some deep historical mystery is hidden within this church.”

Mother replied, “For centuries, the Russian royal family has gathered much information about the unknown chapters of Mary Magdalene and Jesus’s life. They established this church to conceal that information.”

In this worship room, there was no electrical lighting. However, natural white light was streaming in from somewhere in the room. But it wasn’t clear where this light was coming from. Around the room, many hand-painted pictures were hanging, among which one painting was particularly vivid. Jesus was seated, with Lady Magdalene sitting at his feet. A radiant light was emanating from Jesus’s body, illuminating Lady Magdalene. Mother Catherine stepped in front of this painting and looked at Robert, saying, “Robert, look at this. The painting you see—does it hide any deep meaning? What do you think?”

Robert examined the painting closely and thought for a moment before replying, “Looking at this painting, it seems to me that Jesus is imparting all his inner knowledge to Mary Magdalene. That’s why she is shining in the light of Jesus’s wisdom.”

“Good, very good answer. Do you think anything else about this painting?”

Robert gripped his hair as if in deep thought. At that moment, the tattoo on his wrist seemed to glow in the natural light, catching Mother Catherine’s attention. Then Robert said, “I have another thought that is very strong at this moment.”

“What do you think, Robert?”

“I feel that this light is the light of Jesus’s love, in which Mary Magdalene is shining. Mary seems to be the Holy Grail, embodying Jesus’s love. It signifies bearing a child. This light speaks of bearing Jesus’s bloodline.”

Mother Catherine’s eyes lit up. She said, “I knew that this answer was within you. When did you get that fish tattoo on your hand?”

Robert glanced at the tattoo on his hand and replied, “This tattoo is drawn on the hands of all our family members. On a special day after birth, this tattoo is inscribed on the body.”

“Do you know where the other members of your family are?”

“I came to you precisely because I’m searching for them. I don’t know how much longer I can stay alive. There are some matters I must resolve before I die.”

“Come with me.” Robert and Abe followed the Mother. They stopped in front of a closed door on the far right side of the worship room. Mother opened the door to that room and entered. The inside of this room was very dark. There was no electrical lighting in this room either. Mother had brought a flashlight with her; she turned it on and cast the light onto a wall in the darkness. The painting of Jesus and Mary Magdalene that was in the worship room was also here, and it looked much older. Mother said, “This is the original painting. The one in the worship room is a copy of this one.” She lifted the painting slightly from the wall and pulled out a leather file from behind it. “At first, I had a little suspicion when I saw your face. Then I became sure seeing the fish tattoo on your hand and the black stone locket hanging from your neck along with the stone earrings. Inside this leather file, there are parts taken from an ancient manuscript. I’ve given Abe a copy of this before. Now, I’m giving you one as well. We need to leave this room now; we can talk about the rest outside.”

Mother took Robert and Abe to a bench located at a corner of the church, overlooking the garden. Surrounded by green olive trees and bathing in sunlight, the nature here felt heavenly. Birds sang among the trees. In such rough natural surroundings of Israel, Lady Mary Magdalene seemed to embody all her beauty and fragrance here. They remained in silence for a long time, absorbing the beauty of nature. Then Robert spoke up, “Mother, what you handed me today feels like an incredibly valuable treasure. But Mother, I wish to hear from you what mystery is written in the leather cover that you want to share among a few like-minded people before your death.”

After a moment of silence, Mother said, “To answer this question, we need to go back nearly one hundred and thirty years to Egypt. It is October, 1896. At this time, pyramids are being discovered one after another. And hidden within these pyramids are immense treasures. Mysterious figures keep arriving in Egypt at the invitation of Western robbers. The Western bandits sell Egypt’s own history and heritage at high prices to these individuals. However, the Western bandits do not directly engage in these activities; they employ the local people for this purpose. They looted Egypt’s wealth through local bandits, who would then bring the treasure to the black market. From there, it would be bought cheaply by the Western looters. You would be amazed to hear that Cairo’s markets are filled with these historical treasures that rightly belong in museums. Instead, they have found their place in these black markets.

During this time, a German adviser named Karl Reinhardt arrived in Cairo. He had a passion for collecting ancient manuscripts, which is why he hurried there. From the Cairo black market, he obtained several papyri written in ancient Sahidic Coptic. These papyri were wrapped in the skins of ancient animals. Since he loved collecting such ancient texts, he had profound knowledge of many ancient languages. Therefore, he realized while reading these manuscripts that they had been translated from some ancient document. These papyri were translated from Greek in the fifth century. Karl Reinhardt discovered that the original Greek manuscript was written between 25 and 35 AD. The names inscribed on these papyri were such that he quickly understood their value and bought them without wasting any time. However, he did not yet realize that purchasing these papyri would become a curse for him.”

Robert expressed his astonishment and said, “A curse? Why? What was written in these papyri?”

“This papyrus contains the names of Jesus, Mary, Judas, Peter, Andrew, and others. He named this papyrus the Berlin Codex. Its Egyptian name is the Akhmim Codex. After obtaining this papyrus, he died from an unknown illness. However, through our own investigation, we learned that he had mentioned these papyri to a few individuals who never wanted this information to come to light. Because if this information were revealed, it would embarrass the current Christian religion and the Pope. Thus, any threat to what has been historically upheld for centuries was swiftly removed. Something was mixed into his food that gradually made him ill and ultimately led to his death.

Now, before we delve into this further, I want to share that we have titled the information written in these papyri as the “Gospel of Mary.” It stated, “Teacher Mary shall carry the peace, I leave with you; you shall have faith in her, which you had in me.” This is a portion of a conversation between Jesus and his disciples during the Last Supper. During that meal, Jesus pointed to Mary Magdalene and told his followers that Mary would carry the ultimate peace throughout her life—the peace that Jesus had carried within himself until then. He told his followers that the faith they had placed in Jesus should now be placed in Mary. He addressed her as “Teacher” because he had imparted his entire spiritual wisdom to her, so that she could pass on that knowledge to the people after him. Jesus fought for the independence of the state, but before that, he wanted the spiritual development of the people. Because for a nation that has remained in darkness for a long time, without its spiritual growth, no matter how much freedom is gained, that freedom is meaningless. That’s why we have referred to Mary Magdalene as “the Apostle of the Apostles.”

Dr. Esther De Boer, the author of the book “The Mary Magdalene Cover-Up,” came here while writing this book. She collected much information from us to write this work.”

Mother had been speaking for a while when Abe said, “I was involved in a project that sought the Gospel of Lady Magdalene for a long time. I was sent to Russia for this purpose. I arrived at Spree Island, located to the north of Berlin, from Brandenburg Airport. Spree Island, situated by the Havel River, is known as the heart of Berlin. This city had been severely bloodied during World War I. When I got there, I learned from someone that Karl Reinhardt had brought the papyrus from Egypt to his uncle on this island. The uncle, Wilhelm von Humboldt, was then on his deathbed. No one else would understand the value of these papyri apart from his uncle. The uncle read the papyri carefully and asked if he had shared this with anyone else because a great danger was hidden within them. These papyri are located in the Berlin Museum, but some parts were reportedly damaged. I managed to recover those damaged parts and handed them over to Mother. Later, Mother made copies from there and distributed the “Gospel of Mary” to individuals so that future generations would have evidence to conduct research if they wished. Somewhere, at least among some individuals, it should remain.

Robert had been listening intently to everything. Then he asked, “Why did Russia suddenly choose this remote area of Israel to establish the Lady Magdalene Church? And why did the Tsar keep amassed information from all over the world here? How safe can these things be?”

Mother replied, “There is a strong security perimeter around this church. There is no country in the world that can sneak in here and steal the property of Lady Mary Magdalene. Your presence here has been monitored for a long time. We received the green signal, which is why you were able to come here.” (Continues)

Click here for Part-1, Part 2, Part-3, Part-4, Part-5, Part-6, Part-7, Part-8, Part-9, Part-10, Part-11, Part-12, Part-13, Part-14, Part-15, Part-16, Part-17, Part-18, Part-19, Part-20, Part-21, Part-22, Part-23, Part-24, 

________________

Debasree Chakraborti is a renowned novel writer of Bengali language. Based in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, she has done Master’s in Modern History from the Kolkata University, and authored some thirty books, mostly the novels, with historical perspective and themes. Her novel is ‘Maharaja Dahir’ that covers the history of Sindh from 662, the year of first attack on Sindh by the Arab armies till date, was published last year and translated by Nasir Aijaz into Sindhi language.

The post Novel: An Unknown Life (Part-25) first appeared on Sindh Courier.

[Author’s Note: In the Old Testament of the Bible, there is no information about the life of Jesus for 19 years. There are some contemporary texts where eyewitnesses have stated that he traveled extensively in the Middle East and crossed the Sindhu region to enter India. Through this novel, I have tried to portray the diary of a profound spiritual journey of his life in the initial and final chapters. Foreign powers have tried to erase the history of our continent, Asia. That is why, when Notovitch returned from Hemis in Ladakh and mentioned that ancient text over 2000 years old, Max Müller sent people to Hemis to destroy that ancient manuscript. The mysterious manuscript is also mentioned in the book by Swami Abhedananda about Kashmir and Tibet. What was it that caused Max Müller so much concern over this manuscript? It is noteworthy that love cannot come into the life of the son of God, and he cannot have any children. Even the Gospels attributed to him have been confined to the secret, dark chambers of the Pope’s city, with words implanted into his mouth according to their wishes. In his name, imperialistic aggression is being carried out across the world. His only daughter, Sara, has not been recognized. His entire existence has been imprisoned. There lies an unknown chapter of his life hidden throughout the Middle East, the Sindhu region, and India. I have brought forth this history through this novel. “An Unknown Life” is in no way a novel imitating “Jesus lived in India.” This novel provides detailed descriptions of his presence across the vast land from Israel to India, not just his own, but also the mysterious narratives of many people associated with him. Was Jesus truly the founder of Christianity? If not, why must he still bear the burden of the “Roman Cross”? Is there ever to be a possibility of his release? All answers are coming. Debashree Chakraborty]

An Unknown Life

(Codex Chacos, Gospel of Judas)

(Location: Portugal, Year: 2022) (Location: Egypt, Al Minya, Beni Mazar Village. Time: An afternoon in 1978)

This morning, Omkari and Ali arrived in a village in Portugal. The village is surrounded by dense forests, and within them are small ancient fortresses. They are currently standing in front of a house. The house is made of wood, with a nameplate in front that says Professor David Almedia. After ringing the doorbell for about three to four minutes, Professor David Almedia finally opened the door. As cold as it is outside, the inside of the house is quite warm, with a heater burning in one corner, and the wonderful fragrance of old books creating an extraordinary atmosphere. A yellow table lamp is lit in the room, casting light that reflects off Professor David Almedia’s white hair and beard, intensifying a deep, mysterious environment. The professor and Ali are sitting side by side. Ali rolls up his blazer and shirt sleeves to show the professor his wrist, and as the professor places a narrow device on Ali’s wrist, a beam of light appears, displaying a nine-digit number. A smile spreads across the professor’s face. He removes the device and says, “I have been waiting for your arrival for a long time. For the past few days, my health has not been good; I was afraid that if something happened, it might not be possible to deliver his treasure to him.”

Ali firmly holds the professor’s hands and says, “I understand. I myself always live with this fear. Well, I will surely accept that invaluable treasure from you, but before that, I will record your statements. This is my directive. Because a meeting with him is simply not possible. We will keep your statements as a living document of history and present them.”

The Professor gestures for the recording to begin, and as Ali starts recording, the professor begins to speak…

It was an afternoon in 1978. In the rugged landscape of Beni Mazar village in Egypt, several rough hills stand tall, piercing the sky. In the golden light of the afternoon sun, these peaks resembled golden mines. For ages, these hills have stood in this manner. The people of this village and the surrounding areas feel a deep connection to these hills, and their desire to learn about them is strong. Locals believe that there was once a flatland in this region, and due to the erosive action of the wind, the flatland has eroded, giving rise to these hills. When seen up close, these hills appear to be small mountains. In the afternoons, village youths play on the flat land beneath these hills. This area is so barren that the horizon stretches endlessly… The region is so barren that no agricultural work is possible here. Moreover, there is no pathway established for transportation that people could use. The movements of the boys are hard to interpret. On the afternoon I am speaking of, they began throwing stones at the hills with pieces of rock in their hands. As they threw, they noticed that dust started to fall from the hill’s base. Within moments, the village youths were amazed to see the mouth of a cave reveal itself on the hillside. This cave had been sealed for many years, but strangely, that day it became exposed. The mouth of the cave was so narrow that an adult person would not be able to enter. In their youth, the desire to explore is strongest, so they entered the cave and began searching all around. Such caves or abandoned places often hide treasures. In Egypt, treasures of this sort have been discovered multiple times amid the ruins of ancient architecture. While searching, they found a burnt clay pot. At first, they observed the pot from a distance because inside such pots are often hidden Egypt’s famous cobras. After a while of scrutiny, they realized that nothing else would emerge from the pot. They then approached it and turned it over, revealing several ancient papyrus scrolls from thousands of years ago. Through the hands of these youths, the papyrus made its way to the black market for antiques in Cairo. This marks the beginning of the “Gospel of Judas’s journey” once more. Since the people of the black market deal in such items, they understand the value of each one very well. Upon examining these papyrus scrolls, they discovered that the language written on them was neither hieroglyphic nor Nubian Tocar. As the examination continued, the papyrus scrolls were stolen from the antique shop. This happened because the Catholic Church’s agents roam around the black market. They buy such papyrus scrolls at high prices. If such items come into the hands of the Catholic Church, it means they are lost forever. Many secret organizations, like ours, always keep an eye on the Catholic Church. They too had been monitoring this particular item, and in 1983, it was possible to recover this important artifact again. We learned that the papyrus had been stolen by Greek antique dealer Nikolaus Koutlakis, an accomplice of the Catholic Church. We attempted to revoke his antique business license.

Omkari had been listening attentively to the professor for a long time. After the professor spoke continuously for a while and then fell silent, Omkari asked, “What was written on this papyrus in Greek? And it seems this gentleman was an expert in ancient Greek, which is perhaps why he was engaged in this special task.”

The professor looked at Omkari in surprise for a moment, then said, “Remarkable. Yes, he was able to decipher much of what was written on the papyrus because a large portion was in ancient Greek. Nikolaus had tried to hide it in Geneva. At that time, a team led by myself and Professor Stephen Emmell went to recover it.”

“Sir, did you teach somewhere?” Omkari inquired.

Professor David chuckled and said, “Yes. I taught Ancient Languages at Yale University. Anyway, we recovered the papyrus and sent it to Southern Methodist University. After that, as the papyrus was being deciphered, the veil began to lift from a great mystery of the world. The newly born baby was named, and we named it ‘Codex Chacos.’ A textual analysis revealed the use of two different languages here: some Greek words (loan words) and also ‘Coptic text.'”

Omkari asked again, “Why was there a use of two different languages? Does that mean it was not written by the same person at one time?”

Once again, Professor David was surprised. After a brief silence, he said, “Yes, exactly. Through radio carbon dating and several routine checks, we found out that these were not written at the same time. The parts written in Greek were composed between 130 and 170 CE, while the Coptic texts were written between 220 and 280 CE.”

Until then, Ali had been quietly playing the role of a listener. Now he said, “Then why were papyri from two different times placed together?”

Omkari replied, “Ali, to know that, we need to find out what is written in this papyrus.”

Professor David nodded in agreement, saying, “Absolutely. Specialist Rudolf Kasser informed us about the section written in Coptic. About thirty papyri had been discovered, but only thirteen were published at the time. The rest were said to have been damaged due to mishandling. According to him, the papyri written in Greek were authored by Irenaeus of Lyons, known as a ‘Christian writer.’ However, no leads have been found about who wrote the rest. Nonetheless, these writings changed our understanding of Judas, as well as the perception of the relationship between Jesus (Isha) and Lady Magdalene.”

For a while, there was silence all around; morning had arrived. When the professor stood up and pulled back the window curtains, sunlight began to enter the room, yet the darkness hadn’t completely lifted. Therefore, he kept the table lamp lit. To understand that time, we must reach 30 CE. Isha wanted a free and independent state of Israel, free from Roman rule. He wanted to liberate the Jews from the chains of Roman oppression. That is why he personally initiated the freedom movement. He was an exceptional speaker; to drive any freedom movement forward, unity among the common people was essential.

There was unity without which it was never possible to advance the freedom movement. Under the leadership of Isha (Jesus), the common Jews began to unite, forming a magnificent demonstration of solidarity, with Isha as their universally recognized leader. As Isha faced financial difficulties while leading this movement, Mary Magdalene handed over all her possessions to Isha to further the cause. Judas, who had earned a significant fortune through his trading, selflessly contributed that wealth to Isha as well. This donation was altruistic, and both individuals began to protect Isha with their respect and love. Initially, Isha did not understand, but later he realized that he was gradually becoming a target of jealousy among his close disciples. Those twelve (excluding Judas) wanted to usurp his power for themselves. They also desired an independent state of Israel, but they wanted to establish themselves in high positions within that state, not Isha (Jesus). They began to plot to remove Isha from the scene, considering both Mary Magdalene and Judas as their principal enemies. They needed to stigmatize these two individuals at any cost. Thus, Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” was completely altered, with Mary placed in the position of a prostitute and Judas branded as a traitor.

Once again, there was silence. Tears streamed from Omkari’s eyes, and after a moment, she collected herself and said, “At this moment, I am strongly reminded of two individuals: one is the wife of the Great Lord, Vishnupriya Devi, and the other is Netaji Subhas Chandra’s wife, Emilie. The disappearances of both the Great Lord Maha Prabhu and Subhash Chandra Bose are as mysterious as Isha’s, and the solution to that mystery has yet to be found. Both these great leaders sought to liberate the nation from the shackles of oppression. History has honored both, but it has not remembered the sacrifices of these important women in their lives, just as it has erased the legacy of Mary Magdalene. It hurts deeply.”

“Well, you’re Bengali! That’s why you thought of these two. There are many such people in the world whose sacrifices have been forgotten by history. However, we will not allow this injustice to happen to Lady Magdalene; we will restore her place in history once again.”

“You yourself are saying that all the evidence has been erased, so how will you accomplish the impossible?” Omkari asked, very disturbed.

“We have been working for a long time to uncover the unknown chapters of Isha’s life. We know what happens when such important evidence is found. During the reading of the Gospel of Judas, the Pope’s representatives came and bought the pages of this papyrus for a large sum of money. They are now housed in the Coptic Museum.”

“The Coptic Museum? Where is this museum?”

A special area in Old Cairo is called Coptic Cairo. It is here that this museum is located, covering nearly eight thousand square feet. It has collected all the “artifacts” related to Christianity from around the world. There are more than sixteen thousand artifacts organized into about twelve sections. Surrounding this museum are several Coptic churches. In the corner room on the second floor of this museum are thirteen papyrus pages of the Gospel of Judas, as the others were removed. They were intentionally removed because if this information fell into the hands of the Catholic Church, it would have destroyed the church. So only what could be given to them was provided.

“And the rest! Where did those go?”

Before we can know where the remaining portions of the Gospel of Judas are, we need to find out what was written within it. During that time, many freedom-seeking groups were formed to gain independence from the Romans. However, there was no unity among them. Isha (Jesus) united these scattered groups and built the movement for a free Israel. As this movement continued, it eventually faced a severe financial crisis. The Gospel of Luke states, “And the movement faced financial challenges.” The Gospel of Judas says, “The woman from Galilee, Mary, supported [the movement] financially.” “Mary was the first woman to support Jesus’ movement financially.”

“Unusually, Mary took the leading role.” Not only that, “Mary has personal bonding.” It is not mentioned that Isha’s mother or sister was being referred to. Because it is natural to have a personal bond with a mother or sister, but since it has been written this way, it is certainly referring to Mary Magdalene. Some statements from the Gospel of Philip also support the Gospel of Judas. It states, “And the companion of the… Mary Magdalene… loved her more than all the disciples, and used to kiss her often on her…” Dr. Esther D. Byer has addressed this in her work “The Mary Magdalene Cover-Up.” She filled in this gap and wrote, “And the companion of the savior, Mary Magdalene. The savior loved her more than all the disciples and used to kiss her often on her forehead/cheek/lip.” Judas did not betray Jesus at the Last Supper; it was one of his closest associates who did. Many were involved in this conspiracy, and Isha himself became aware of it. That is why at the Last Supper, he took a loaf of bread, divided it into twelve parts, and dipped it in red wine, giving it to his twelve closest disciples. This bread symbolized Isha’s blood and flesh. It meant that he shared himself among these twelve. He did not desire power. He wanted the unity of the movement he created to be maintained. With great affection, on that day, he washed the feet of those twelve. This meant he forgave them. He forgave those who had put him in such great danger. Because he did not want the unity among them to be destroyed. Judas was not guilty. And the lost portion of the Gospel of Judas is with me. Today I will hand it over to Ali, and Ali will pass it on to the hands of Lady Magdalene and Isha’s heir. (Continues)

Click here for Part-1, Part 2, Part-3, Part-4, Part-5, Part-6, Part-7, Part-8, Part-9, Part-10, Part-11, Part-12, Part-13, Part-14, Part-15, Part-16, Part-17, Part-18, Part-19, Part-20, Part-21, Part-22, Part-23, 

_____________

Debasree Chakraborti is a renowned novel writer of Bengali language. Based in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, she has done Master’s in Modern History from the Kolkata University, and authored some thirty books, mostly the novels, with historical perspective and themes. Her novel is ‘Maharaja Dahir’ that covers the history of Sindh from 662, the year of first attack on Sindh by the Arab armies till date, was published last year and translated by Nasir Aijaz into Sindhi language.

The post Novel: An Unknown Life (Part-24) first appeared on Sindh Courier.

[Author’s Note: In the Old Testament of the Bible, there is no information about the life of Jesus for 19 years. There are some contemporary texts where eyewitnesses have stated that he traveled extensively in the Middle East and crossed the Sindhu region to enter India. Through this novel, I have tried to portray the diary of a profound spiritual journey of his life in the initial and final chapters. Foreign powers have tried to erase the history of our continent, Asia. That is why, when Notovitch returned from Hemis in Ladakh and mentioned that ancient text over 2000 years old, Max Müller sent people to Hemis to destroy that ancient manuscript. The mysterious manuscript is also mentioned in the book by Swami Abhedananda about Kashmir and Tibet. What was it that caused Max Müller so much concern over this manuscript? It is noteworthy that love cannot come into the life of the son of God, and he cannot have any children. Even the Gospels attributed to him have been confined to the secret, dark chambers of the Pope’s city, with words implanted into his mouth according to their wishes. In his name, imperialistic aggression is being carried out across the world. His only daughter, Sara, has not been recognized. His entire existence has been imprisoned. There lies an unknown chapter of his life hidden throughout the Middle East, the Sindhu region, and India. I have brought forth this history through this novel. “An Unknown Life” is in no way a novel imitating “Jesus lived in India.” This novel provides detailed descriptions of his presence across the vast land from Israel to India, not just his own, but also the mysterious narratives of many people associated with him. Was Jesus truly the founder of Christianity? If not, why must he still bear the burden of the “Roman Cross”? Is there ever to be a possibility of his release? All answers are coming. Debashree Chakraborty]

An Unknown Life

Location: France, Rennes-le-Château, Year 2022 and two thousand years ago

Nowadays, nothing feels right. As Omkari walks through this mountainous nature, amidst the silent wilderness, a deep philosophical feeling begins to intensify within her. She is torn between physical and mental desires. She doesn’t even know what she wants. She isn’t young anymore; at this age, one needs a companion. After climbing the ladders of success one after another, she has become profoundly lonely somewhere along the way. Yet she has always been alone. The pursuit of knowledge and the search for historical figures have brought her spiritual fulfillment, but in doing so, she feels deprived of the essence, beauty, and fragrance of life’s ongoing stream.

Long ago, someone had arrived, and through the currents of time, that person has departed. Yet she wishes to rekindle the same emotions and feelings, but she cannot find them in anyone. Perhaps that’s why she feels a deep connection to historical figures like Ishanath or Mahaprabhu Shri Chaitanya. She may be searching for that love of the past through these characters. Tears are welling up in Omkari’s chest; she longs to cry on a broad chest and to embrace that warm, affectionate hug once again. But where is it?

At dusk, when day melds into night, in the dimly lit environment of the Ratnagiri Buddhist monastery, that yellow bird and the figure she loved in the past intertwine in a moment of embrace. This feeling cannot be put into words; it is a profound spiritual experience. They are entwined in an embrace, but there is no physical sensation; what exists is a spiritual feeling. This is the essence of the Non-dual Vedanta—their eternal and everlasting bond remains through the changes of time, environment, and circumstances. Maybe love is like this, silent. They have never verbally expressed their love for one another; they flowed along in the current of emotions. She once said that love is infinite like the ocean, which cannot be confined by any rules. Again, she wishes to have that person back. She can’t continue; there is unbearable pain in her heart.

Since coming to Rennes-le-Château, these feelings have intensified. There is a massive tree on the right side of the road, and Omkari does not know its name. However, she feels that the tree is like a shelter. This tree and a person seem synonymous to her. She moves closer and hugs the tree.

She began to weep, overwhelmed. There were no signs of civilization nearby, just the desolate wilderness around her. Omkari’s heart-wrenching cries erupted through her lips as she started to scream and cry loudly. At that moment, an elderly woman emerged from the forest and placed her hand on Omkari’s shoulder, asking, “Why are you crying? I haven’t seen you here before; who are you? Are you a human or a traveler from the past?”

Omkari wasn’t afraid at all by this sudden arrival of the woman; instead, her appearance felt very sincere to her. It had been a long time since anyone had asked how she was. Nevertheless, Omkari felt a desire to open up. She said, “I am really missing someone; since they left, I have been incredibly lonely. Walking alone feels exhausting.”

The kind lady asked again, “Are you a character from the past? From which time have you come?”

Such questions did not seem odd to Omkari. She resided within the currents of time, lost in where she had gone; she didn’t even know what time she was currently in. Omkari replied, “I don’t know where I came from or where I am going. I am getting lost in the flow of time. I feel so very alone.”

“It’s only natural to feel lonely; this land is that of separation, of suffering. When he came, he brought this suffering with him; his soul knows no death. As long as that longed-for union doesn’t occur, the soul cannot be freed. And without his liberation, this region cannot escape the torture of separation.”

Omkari, now somewhat more composed, asked, “Who are you talking about? Who brought suffering here so long ago?”

In the final light of day across this wild landscape, the elderly woman’s face became even more mysterious. She clasped both her hands on Omkari’s shoulders and brought her face closer to her, saying, “The Holy Grail.” He is the Holy Grail, who came here with the sacred blood in his veins.

“Who is he? Who is the Holy Grail you are referring to? What is his name?”

For a while, there was a profound silence; it felt as if all sounds in nature had come to a standstill. The old woman’s eyes brightened. Through those eyes, it seemed a special character was about to arrive, a long-awaited one. A name emerged from the old woman’s lips in a profoundly mysterious verbal flow: “Mary Magdalene.”

A jolt hit Omkari’s chest, and she fell silent. The old woman then said, “Leave this place; do not seek her. Those who have sought her have been lost.”

Night fell in Rennes-le-Château, and the old woman disappeared into the darkness. Omkari began her journey again, and as she walked, she reached the body of water once more, by the edge of which lay the stone structure with the closed door. She found herself in front of that door again, which seemed to attract him repeatedly. She felt as if he were trapped within a special circle of time, unable to break free. Yet she had to break this circle and escape. At that moment, the door creaked open, and a lady dressed in white emerged from within, holding an emergency light. Omkari was no longer surprised by anything; it felt as if she had been waiting for moments like this.

She saw Elizabeth standing in front of her. Before she could say anything, Elizabeth took Omkari’s hand and said, “Come with me; we will have dinner together tonight, and then I will answer all your questions throughout the night.”

After dining with Elizabeth that evening, they laid side by side on the bed in Elizabeth’s bedroom. A soft yellow light illuminated the room, but it was not bright enough to clearly see their faces. They turned to each other, looking sideways. In such an atmosphere, perhaps those words could not be spoken. Words that people around the world can rarely express openly cannot be expressed even within a closed room. Hence, this puzzling environment had to be created. The house was surrounded by forest, and various sounds echoed from within the jungle in the darkness of the night. Omkari was a listener today, quietly waiting for a special moment. Then, very quietly, Elizabeth began to speak.

“If you wish to know the one you are seeking, you need to understand the context of their arrival in Rennes-le-Château. The search for their tomb had been ongoing for a long time; the question of where they were remained unanswered. Senior did not suddenly find the tomb during the church’s renovation; members of a secret organization had instructed him to locate it. This special secret organization had been searching for this tomb for many years.

Under their direction, he found the tomb, but he also began to blackmail them with this discovery. Senior announced that he would reveal to the world who was buried here. Moreover, the parchment he obtained contained such information that he wanted to disclose to everyone. This is the reason he had to be killed. Senior was in good health, but eleven days before his death, his servant Mary had bought a coffin for him.

—Does that mean the girl named Mary was involved in this murder?

—Yes, she was sent specifically to keep an eye on Senior. So, in due time, she poisoned him to remove the obstacle from their path. When my father was murdered, I was in London at that time, and I started receiving many anonymous letters warning me that if I had any documents regarding the Merovingian dynasty, I should prepare them at a specific location. Someone would then come to collect this information. I had no evidence, so it was impossible for me to provide anything. However, they would not believe me and continued to threaten my life. It was no longer safe for me to stay in London, so I rushed here. The mystery of Rennes-le-Château deeply attracted me. One day, I will die; before that, I must know the real truth.

—Aren’t you afraid here? They could kill you here too.”

—No, I’m not afraid. Because I had a friend with me in London. One night, we went out for dinner, and I don’t know what the Lord’s game was, but I wore her clothes and she wore mine. Prior to that, we had cut our hair and dyed it in similar ways. That night, as we returned from dinner, an accident occurred on the road, resulting in my friend’s death; her face was completely crushed in the accident. I somehow survived. Since I was connected to the world of journalism, I had ties to the darker side of things. That very night, I acquired a fake passport by spending some money. Within a few days, I also arranged for a visa. I came to France under a new identity.

—Elizabeth, what is your purpose for coming here? There must be a reason why you chose to come to Rennes-le-Château instead of anywhere else!

—To seek the Merovingians.

—Merovingians! Who are they that you risked your life to find?

—That’s why I called you here tonight; I will tell you everything, gradually. You will understand me, and I will understand you. That’s why we need this kind of environment. Before understanding the Merovingians, you have to walk with me a bit longer. The Merovingians worshipped a goddess named Beliar. This goddess had a bull as her vehicle, and in her hand was a trident like your goddess Durga’s. It is said that the ancestors of the Merovingians, along with this goddess, left Israel and came to this region, and from this goddess arose the Merovingians. She is the primordial mother. Benjamin was the ancestor of the Merovingians. After the crucifixion of Yeshua, eleven tribes left Israel because it was no longer safe for them to stay there. The Benjaminites took their primordial mother and sought refuge first on the Phoenician coast heading west. The Phoenicians possessed the best ships, through which they brought them to France and joined forces against Rome. The goddess that the Benjaminites brought with them upon leaving Israel had a trident in one hand and a pitcher on her shoulder; this pitcher was the Grail, the “Holy Grail.”

—What does Holy Grail mean?

—The Holy Grail is a sacred vessel that held holy blood. It is said that after the crucifixion, when blood was dripping from Yeshua’s wounds, one of his companions, Joseph of Arimathea, collected the blood in a vessel. This vessel is what we call the Holy Grail. During baptism, a vessel is considered the Holy Grail, and the drink from that vessel is regarded as the blood of Yeshua. As long as you are not drinking from the Holy Grail, you cannot be considered a Christian. Hence, the Holy Grail is an extremely important aspect of Christianity.

—So, this means that the goddess brought that vessel with her here to Rennes-le-Château, right? Our Kamakhya temple is an important seat of mother worship; unless the water from this temple is taken in hand and consumed, the worship is not complete. What a strange coincidence!

—Yes, they were pagan; they practiced rituals to summon spirits and demons through tantra. There will be similarities between their practices and yours. However, the goddess’s pitcher here is not the “Holy Grail.” This pitcher represents the womb — the womb in which the goddess held the sacred blood.

—Elizabeth, there has been a lot of hiding; now tell me, what is this sacred blood really?

In the dimly lit ambiance of the room, Elizabeth appeared oddly mesmerizing, with the yellow light reflecting off her open hair, giving her a unique aura. She sat up on the bed, gazing at the wall in front of her and said, “Omkari, the Holy Grail contained the blood of Yeshua. The Grail is the womb of the goddess, in which she conceived the child of Yeshua.”

Images of the red-haired woman kept flashing before Omkari’s eyes. For some reason, she couldn’t help but recall that special burial site within the ancient structure.

—This goddess is Lady Magdalene, who also died in Rennes-le-Château. The place where you and I met today was her tomb temple, but she was later moved to a large church. Omkari, I know you know everything about her; you came here in search of that parchment. That’s why you sought friendship with me. I will provide you the information about the parchment, but in return, you must help me find the Holy Grail. I know very well that you know where it is, where the present living descendant is, Omkari.

Elizabeth’s face started to look somewhat terrifying, and her speaking style seemed different, too. Now Omkari felt a slight fear; she was not prepared for a situation like this. Elizabeth’s face began to lean towards Omkari, as if a gigantic predator were about to swallow a harmless little fish. Out of fear, Omkari closed her eyes, and just then, there was a sound, and Elizabeth fell on top of Omkari.

Omkari managed to shove Elizabeth off and sat up to see that she was dead. There was a hole right in the middle of her head and neck, from which blood was flowing. Behind where Elizabeth was sitting, there was a glass window; the window was closed, and though there were curtains drawn on both sides, there was a gap between the two curtains. Through that gap, a hole had formed, and intense light like that of a flashlight was entering the room.

At that moment, Omkari’s mobile phone rang. She saw that Ali was calling her. As soon as she answered the phone, Ali said, “Omkari, I’m outside. Get everything you have there and come out right now; we need to get out of here immediately.”

That night, Omkari came out of Elizabeth’s house and saw Ali standing in the woods. Ali had been standing in front of the glass window. He firmly grasped Omkari’s hand and began to run. When they reached the road, Omkari saw a car waiting, and Ali practically pulled her into the vehicle, which then drove off. After traveling a short distance, Ali said, “I had no other choice; if I hadn’t killed her, she would have killed you. From now on, we must take a different path than the one we’ve been on.”

At that moment, Omkari realized she had become entangled in some terrifying conspiracy. She had sought knowledge of the unknown throughout her life, had leaped into danger in search of truth, and she found great satisfaction in navigating through the diversities of life. Well, if that is what God wishes, so be it. After regaining some composure, she said, “Ali, I understand very well that I have become embroiled in a rather significant conspiracy. I enjoy navigating through life’s challenges, but you need to tell me everything.”

—Omkari, the people who sent you here sent you in search of the Holy Grail. They must have had strong faith in you that I could carry out this task effectively.

—How did you get involved with them?

—Long ago, the French government was searching for the Holy Grail. Many secret organizations participated in this highly confidential project. Investigations later revealed that several of these secret organizations no longer existed. The identities of those who were correctly identified in this particular project included some secret groups appointed by the Catholic Church, whose task is to hunt down and eliminate the descendants of Yeshua — much like how the Medici were eliminated in the time of Leonardo da Vinci. In the presence of the Pope, he was stabbed multiple times and killed. After Yeshua’s crucifixion, he was rescued and kept in various secret locations, and Mary Magdalene cared for him and helped him recover. During this time, it is said that Mary Magdalene became pregnant and that she was married to Yeshua. When she conceived, they must have certainly planned to spend their lives together. However, just as Yeshua…

In Galilee and its surrounding areas, the flames of rebellion had been ignited, making it unsafe for him to remain in Roman-ruled territory. Danger awaited him at every moment. Therefore, he entrusted his pregnant wife to his friends Lazarus and Joseph of Arimathea to ensure she reached a safe shelter. Lazarus was the elder brother of Mary Magdalene. They brought the pregnant Mary Magdalene safely to Rennes-le-Château, ensuring she delivered the child well and kept him safe. Mary Magdalene gave birth to the child here, and around this descendant, an empire developed in the region, formed by groups that had emerged from Israel, uniting to foster this empire. They established their original and secret religious practices in the area.

When news of Yeshua’s child and his family reached the Church, they initiated a crusade in the region. The Church assembled a massive army by gathering troops from the surrounding areas, and the attack began. However, it was the responsibility of the Templars and several secret organizations’ soldiers to protect Mary Magdalene’s tomb and her family. They continued to fulfill that duty, and the two parchments from Mary’s tomb ended up in the possession of my father and his friend. Unfortunately, they were murdered. After my father’s death, I began the quest for the lost parchments. In the course of that search, I learned about the secret project to find the Holy Grail initiated by the French government. During that time, I discovered through my father’s secret contact number about Robert, whose family had been secretly investigating Yeshua’s life and his family since the crucifixion. This is how I became involved in this endeavor. Our brothers are scattered across various regions following territorial division, and I was instructed to stay in Alexandria. At that time, I learned that the only daughter of my father’s friend, who had been murdered, was also killed in London, and that girl was…

The girl who was with him was a lesbian and has gone missing. My father’s friend’s daughter had some important documents that we believe she has taken with her. We had received information from various sources that the girl was hiding in Rennes-le-Château. They had been searching for the two parchments, but after the death of my father’s friend’s daughter, they ceased the search for the parchments. In fact, my father and his friend had hidden the parchments with my father’s friend’s daughter. Therefore, when the attackers found nothing on them, they killed them. The girl had gone into hiding in the region with these parchments. She was actually an agent employed by the Catholic Church, whose job was to find and eliminate the descendants of Yeshua in the present time.

How did she know that I had come here in search of Yeshua?

You yourself informed everyone here that you came in search of Yeshua. Everyone holds great respect for Mary Magdalene here, but everything is governed by the rules of the Catholic Church. They will not recognize her child. Many kings, including Charlemagne, were said to be part of this holy bloodline.

There is a ghost hiding among the mustard. The driver who brought us here, I believe, was acting as a double agent. I was supposed to leave here with you early this morning, so I asked one of our organization members to instruct this driver brother to come. We have all the fake identification documents ready; we will go straight to Portugal from here. This car will take us to Portugal.

You killed Elizabeth, how will you find the parchments for which you came here?

Every night, Elizabeth visits the temple at Mary’s previous tomb. I received instructions to set up hidden cameras in various places on the way down to the tomb. I did that. There, I saw Mary easily remove a stone from the wall, and then she looked at something there. Just like that, when Mary left the tomb last night, I entered and immediately found the two parchments as soon as I removed the stone from the wall. Now, I have those two parchments with me.

We will go straight from Portugal to Massachusetts to Robert. If I can hand these treasures over to him, I will find peace.

Why give them to Robert? The rightful owner of these parchments is you.

No, Omkari, I am not a descendant of Yeshua, so I must complete my father’s unfinished work. (Continues)

Click here for Part-1, Part 2, Part-3, Part-4, Part-5, Part-6, Part-7, Part-8, Part-9, Part-10, Part-11, Part-12, Part-13, Part-14, Part-15, Part-16, Part-17, Part-18, Part-19, Part-20, Part-21, Part-22, 

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Debasree Chakraborti is a renowned novel writer of Bengali language. Based in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, she has done Master’s in Modern History from the Kolkata University, and authored some thirty books, mostly the novels, with historical perspective and themes. Her novel is ‘Maharaja Dahir’ that covers the history of Sindh from 662, the year of first attack on Sindh by the Arab armies till date, was published last year and translated by Nasir Aijaz into Sindhi language.

The post Novel: An Unknown Life (Part-23) first appeared on Sindh Courier.

[Author’s Note: In the Old Testament of the Bible, there is no information about the life of Jesus for 19 years. There are some contemporary texts where eyewitnesses have stated that he traveled extensively in the Middle East and crossed the Sindhu region to enter India. Through this novel, I have tried to portray the diary of a profound spiritual journey of his life in the initial and final chapters. Foreign powers have tried to erase the history of our continent, Asia. That is why, when Notovitch returned from Hemis in Ladakh and mentioned that ancient text over 2000 years old, Max Müller sent people to Hemis to destroy that ancient manuscript. The mysterious manuscript is also mentioned in the book by Swami Abhedananda about Kashmir and Tibet. What was it that caused Max Müller so much concern over this manuscript? It is noteworthy that love cannot come into the life of the son of God, and he cannot have any children. Even the Gospels attributed to him have been confined to the secret, dark chambers of the Pope’s city, with words implanted into his mouth according to their wishes. In his name, imperialistic aggression is being carried out across the world. His only daughter, Sara, has not been recognized. His entire existence has been imprisoned. There lies an unknown chapter of his life hidden throughout the Middle East, the Sindhu region, and India. I have brought forth this history through this novel. “An Unknown Life” is in no way a novel imitating “Jesus lived in India.” This novel provides detailed descriptions of his presence across the vast land from Israel to India, not just his own, but also the mysterious narratives of many people associated with him. Was Jesus truly the founder of Christianity? If not, why must he still bear the burden of the “Roman Cross”? Is there ever to be a possibility of his release? All answers are coming. Debashree Chakraborty]

An Unknown Life

(Two thousand years ago, in the Gorakh Mountains of the Sindhu region, as Isa was on his way to enter India after being crucified)

Now the sun is setting, and Isa is sitting beneath a tree. Among this vast mountainous valley, this place is the highest. Sitting here, the mountains in front seem like waves in the sea. During the sunrise and sunset, white clouds gather over the mountains, and when the sunlight falls on them, the colors reflect in such a way that it feels as if he is looking at Mount Carmel or sitting on the shores of Galilee watching the sunset. Thinking of Galilee reminds him of Mary. He can never forget Mary Magdalene, not ever. Since birth, he has been taught that domestic life is not for him. He must fight for the freedom of the entire community. If the Roman oppression continues like this, one day they will be completely annihilated. There are many people like Mary Magdalene who have never found fulfillment in love, and they have been lost in the currents of time. Without the nation’s freedom, they too will be lost this way. Mary has elevated him to the place of God. There are many freedom fighters like him, but they have not been able to rise to that place. After returning from crucifixion, it was this Mary who first spread the word that she had seen Isa ascend to heaven with two angels. The people of Jerusalem, Galilee, and all the surrounding regions now truly regard Isa as the Son of God. While staying in Mount Carmel, freedom fighters from all around the region began to meet him secretly. He had become much healthier then. His presence and influence intensified the freedom movement in the region; in Galilee, the situation had reached a point where Galilee might have become free in just a few days. At such a time, news reached the Roman ruler that Isa was in Mount Carmel and that he had not died from crucifixion. Upon receiving this news, the Roman soldiers began to suppress both the movement in Galilee and the adjacent areas.

He began to move toward Mount Carmel. When this news reached Isa through a spy, John, Simon, Peter, Joseph, and Nicodemus took him secretly along a hidden path out of the Carmel mountain valley. The path was extremely treacherous. Nicodemus and John were doctors, and as long as Isa was not completely well, they could not leave his side. Thus, they became his companions in shadow. While traversing this dangerous path, Isa fell ill again, and fluid began to ooze from the wound on his foot. Despite the immense pain, he continued to walk. They traveled on like this, stopping only for a brief rest in some village along the way. All around them were Roman scouts, making it impossible to distinguish who was a spy and who was an ordinary person. Therefore, they proceeded very cautiously.

Eventually, after many days of travel, they reached the shore of the sea. Many people from their community worked as fishermen and boatmen there. Blending in with them, they donned the attire of fishermen, and under the cover of darkness, one deep night, they set sail by water toward the land of Sindhu. How many nights they spent at sea, he could no longer recall, but as he looked at the floating clouds above the mountains and the sunlight glimmering on them, he felt as if he was indeed moving through a sea. After all, life is like an ocean; during the journey of this life, the influences of many colors from the past manifest in the present. Then everything seems to blend together. This is not just one life; the influences from many past lives affect the current life. Memories and present experiences seem to merge into one single life. In that existence, it is not the events that matter, but the essence of the soul that takes precedence. At this moment, he also remembers his childhood. He had come to this land of Sindhu in his childhood, where he had lived for a long time and gained spiritual knowledge. After that, he entered India through the Sapta Sindhu. After spending some time in Hemis, he went to Tibet. Then from Tibet, he took a different route.

He arrived in Utkal and lived there for several years. It is said that the heart of Lord Krishna, the giver of the nectar of the Gita, is kept in the temple of Purushottama, located by the sea. Perhaps it was this that attracted him to the land of Utkal. After learning the teachings of Tantra from Tibet, he began to acquire the teachings of Vaishnav Tantra at Purushottama Kshetra. Alongside that, he started to take in the nectar of the Gita. This knowledge seemed to prepare him like a warrior for the independence movement in his homeland. Here, he felt a oneness with Arjuna.

Then he journeyed through Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, and Sarnath to arrive in Varanasi. During his stay in Varanasi, he compared the teachings of the Bhairava Tantra and the practices of power he had acquired from Tibet with the Bhairava practices in Varanasi. Kalabhairava is the protector of Varanasi; therefore, to understand him and the roots of Shiva worship, he had to come to Varanasi. He was pondering over all these thoughts. He stayed here for quite some time, as this region is a sacred ground for Shaivites, where practitioners of their community have resided and practiced for ages.

Today marks the end of one day. Tomorrow morning, a group from the Dattatreya community will arrive from Multan, and he will leave for India with them. His companions here have come to bid him farewell. From here, John, Joseph, Simon, Peter, and Nicodemus will each depart in different directions. Perhaps he will never see them again in this lifetime. Thus, throughout the ages, many partings occur on the path of life, yet the soul must continue to move forward; it does not stop. Gradually, all memories fade away, and then they take on the form of nature after sunset. Nature and life are synonymous there. However, he cannot forget Mary, Mary Magdalene. Everyone has changed, and she is no longer the same. Mary is a part of his soul, the one who has carried him, their souls united. This world may never recognize that. Still, Mary has embraced him.

At this moment, the one who needs Mary the most is Isa. But he… he is with Mary.

He couldn’t stay. Such a great sacrifice of Mary will history never remember; she too will have to be lost like him! While thinking about all this, the canvas darkened. The goddess of nature was enveloped in the darkness of night. Then, with the passage of time, the scene changed and it reached Kashmir in 2022.

Ratul had arrived in Kashmir several days ago. Here, he took refuge in a village outside the city of Srinagar, surrounded by remnants of some ancient sculptures. It is said that ascetics used to practice secret sadhana in this village in the past. Green fields surrounded the village, and on one side of the fields stood a vast, high mountain. On top of this mountain lay the ruins of a structure dating back about two and a half thousand years. The villagers say that nearly two thousand years ago, a Buddhist council was held atop this mountain.

While coming from Ladakh, Adinath had advised him to visit this village, saying he would find many answers to his questions there. On the day he arrived in the village, he saw a boy sitting under a chinar tree by the roadside. The village roads were very empty, with only a few Muslim families residing there, who were once Buddhists. The boy was smoking and, upon seeing Ratul, rushed over, took the bag from his hand, and asked, “Have you come to research the Buddhist council too?”

Startled by the boy’s words, Ratul nodded and said he wanted to stay in the village for a few days. The young man informed him that a Roman youth named Julius had been in the village for the past two days, researching Jesus. Hearing this, Ratul felt as if God himself was becoming his guide. How else could everything unfold in such a way?

Ratul learned that the boy’s name was Javed, who began to guide him. The streets were lined with huge chinar trees with dried leaves scattered on the road, as if Ratul was about to step into a chapter of unknown time along the colorful path of time. At the end of the village, there were mustard fields of a bright yellow color. On one side of that field was Javed’s house.

When Ratul arrived at Javed’s home, evening had set in. Javed lived in a two-story wooden house. He took Ratul to the upper floor. Ratul was extremely tired after traveling from Leh to Kargil and then hiring a car to reach this village. Javed informed him that a person named Julius was in this room.

The Roman youth would stay with him. Julius had come to Kashmir in search of Jesus. Today, Julius went to see the Martand Sun Temple. By the time he comes back to this room, it will be evening. Javed brought fresh sheep’s milk, hot bread, and vegetables for Ratul. After eating the warm food, Ratul covered himself with a blanket and fell asleep. The fragrance of comfort was emanating from the blanket. That night, Ratul did not dream at all. His body was so tired that as soon as he laid his head on the bed, he fell asleep.

Later, in the middle of the night, the creaking sound of the door opening woke him up. Upon awakening, he first saw Julius. After having dinner that night, the two of them returned to their rooms and discussed for a long time. Ratul learned that Jesus had lived in this village for a long time; he had come here to participate in a Buddhist council. Ratul asked Julius why he suddenly had the desire to research Jesus. Julius replied, “I have come to atone for the sins committed by our ancestors.”

“Sins of the ancestors?” Ratul inquired.

“Yes, the sins of the ancestors. The Romans erased all evidence of Jesus; I have come to find that lost existence. Now quickly go to sleep. Tomorrow morning we will go up that mountain, where Jesus had come for the Buddhist council a long time ago.”

Ratul was also extremely tired, so as soon as they closed their eyes, they fell asleep. Then, at dawn, as a flock of orange-colored birds flew toward the mountain over the mustard fields, Javed led Ratul and Julius forward toward that mountain. As they crossed the fields, a pine forest began. The winding mountain path rose upward through the forest. As Javed guided them, he said, “In the past, terrorists used to live in these areas. The ancient architectural parts that I’m taking you to have all been broken and sold by them. Our father said that when they were young, this mountain was much more beautiful, and the architecture was still intact.”

Then, from the 1990s, violence began, and gradually everything came to an end. There used to be more trees around here, but they’ve all been cut down and sold. As they walked through the forest, they came upon a mountain stream, and they crossed the river by foot. Afterwards, they sat under a tree to take a break. Nowadays, Ratul finds it difficult to walk continuously. Moreover, within every journey of life, there lies a profound spiritual feeling. In this journey, there is an immense spirituality embedded in this hilly forested land. This land is a ground for practice; for ages, people have meditated here. It was the spiritual energy of this land and environment that drew the Buddhist council to take place here.

Sitting in the wilderness, countless streams of thought flowed through Ratul’s mind. As he pondered various thoughts, he suddenly asked Julius, “Julius, tell me one thing: did Jesus establish a new religion? What do you think?”

“No, he did not establish a new religion. He practiced the ancient spiritual currents that have flowed through the earth for ages. The spirituality that is now confined to India is what drew him back to this land repeatedly. After returning from here during the first phase of his life, he combined this philosophical insight with revolution and spread a new message across the vast regions of Galilee and Judea. The message of love and compassion tied him to the ordinary people of this region. This is another way to conceptualize revolution. Ratul, I was associated with ISKCON for several days, during that time I became familiar with the philosophy of Mahaprabhu Sri Chaitanya.”

Five hundred years ago, Mahaprabhu integrated love and devotion with religion, bringing forth a massive wave that swept away all forms of caste and ethnic separatism. Just as he united everyone and brought forth a revolution against foreign enemies by seating people from all strata of society together, Jesus, two thousand years ago, tried to bring about a social revolution by seating all people together as well. In this way, he aimed to strike against Roman rule. He never claimed that he was preaching a new religion; rather, he wanted to eliminate the corrupt elements within the primitive religion. He sought to eradicate the extreme opulence, greed, immorality, cruelty, and the relentless, bloodthirsty joyousness that was conducted in the name of religion by the highest priests of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. At that time, the Jewish priests had started conducting business in the temple in the name of religion. This is why the priests and the religious businessmen colluded with the Romans to have him executed.

The religion we now refer to as Christianity is not a religion established by Jesus in any way; rather, we could say that it was propagated by Saint Paul. Paul blended his own thoughts with Jesus’s beliefs and spread them across vast regions. He wrote letters to various people for the promotion of this religion. For this reason, many people have referred to this religion not as Christianity but as Paulism.

Many modern Jesus scholars, including Geza Vermes, believe that in his early life, he was opposed to Jesus and once went to the High Priest of the Jerusalem temple to urge him to kill Jesus and his followers. However, Jesus and his followers preferred to practice quietly through strict asceticism. They would meditate in caves in the mountains, living on fruits. In Hinduism, there is a custom of bathing in the river before receiving initiation from a guru, or sprinkling holy river water on the head before the initiation. Jesus followed this practice himself, which is considered part of baptism. There was also a custom of sprinkling holy Ganges water in places deemed impure, a practice followed in his time as well. This holy water is referred to as holy water. A manuscript known as the Dead Sea Scrolls contains a detailed description of these practices.

After resting for a while, they began their journey again, walking through the forest until they came upon an ancient sculpture. Javed shouted, “We’ve arrived! This is where the Buddhist council was held.” However, when they reached the site, they found nothing of Buddhism. There were no statues of the Buddha or anything else to be seen—only small stone pillars standing. Upon closer inspection, it became clear that the stones were white and blue. These stones must have been transported from somewhere far away.

Julius began photographing everything carefully, observing his surroundings. Ratul thought that there was no camera like the human eye; one had to capture images in the mental galleries through this camera. From this point, there was a view of the Kashmir valley extending far into the distance. A beautiful breeze was flowing, and Javed had brought food and water with him. After a long ascent, he felt good sitting down at that moment. Javed was preparing the food, and in a little while, Julius would return, then they would sit together and have lunch while chatting.

When Julius returned after a while, they all sat down together to start their lunch. Ratul was eating, but a flurry of questions was buzzing in his mind. After observing Ratul for some time, Julius said, “Ratul, perhaps you’re feeling down now that we are here. But I won’t let your spirit dampen. Let me share some information about those who were the main conspirators behind Jesus’s crucifixion. Listen up.

The most important figure among them was Joseph Caiaphas, the High Priest of the Jerusalem temple. Under Caiaphas, there were twenty thousand priests working. When Jesus began his efforts to unite the common people, Caiaphas sent spies after him. The next person I’ll mention is Pontius Pilate. He was the Roman administrator or procurator of Judea. During the trial of Jesus, Pilate’s wife, Claudia, wrote a letter requesting that Jesus not be sentenced to death. After Jesus’s execution, Pilate’s downfall also began. Six years after this incident, Pilate was exiled to Gaul, where…”

He committed suicide. The next person is Herod Antipas, who was appointed as the ruler of Galilee and Perea by the Roman authorities. He had beheaded the closest companion of Jesus as a form of execution. After Jesus’s death, he too became almost mad, and following his exile, he met with an unnatural death.

Now, I will mention two individuals who are the most crucial characters in this entire drama. The first is Joanna, the wife of Herod’s chief steward. Joanna was greatly inspired by Jesus’s religious teachings. Time and again, disregarding her own life and knowing the risks involved, she would rush to Jesus. After Jesus’s execution, Joanna disappeared, and she could not be found anywhere.

The second woman was Claudia Procula, the wife of Pontius Pilate. Claudia was not happy at all in Jerusalem, having left behind the bright and colorful life in Rome. Some scholars believe that Claudia would secretly go to listen to Jesus’s teachings disguised. Claudia and Pilate had no children, which further chilled their marital life. Among those who study Claudia, it is believed that she had secretly fallen in love with Jesus. It is said that Pilate had learned about Claudia’s love for Jesus, which instigated a deep hatred in him toward Jesus.

“Well, Julius, you are researching his coming to India. Do you firmly believe that he came to India? Because nearly two thousand years have passed, is it possible to arrive at a strong conclusion in this situation?”

“To say nothing of the Bible, there is no information found anywhere in the Gospels of Mark, Matthew, John, and Luke about him from the age of twelve until almost thirty years. Luke made a curious remark in his Gospel. He wrote, ‘And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon him’ (Luke 2:40). In another place, he wrote, ‘And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel’ (Luke 1:80). The deserts surround Jerusalem in Israel, so he must have lost significant years of his life during that time.”

Where was he for those nearly 18 years? Even before his birth, his parents had to go into hiding because they wanted to protect the child from the oppressive King Herod of Israel. Herod had supposedly issued orders to kill the children of that region and nearby areas even before Jesus’s birth after hearing some prophecy about a future king.

“Wow, this is so reminiscent of the story of Krishna and Kansa!”

“Absolutely, Krishna’s narrative is indeed akin to Christianity. Jesus was supposedly a descendant of King David.”

“Yes, my mother told me something like that.”

“Exactly, as the child of his parents, he was at the top of Herod’s list. Until the age of 12, he reportedly immersed himself in various forms of education and spiritual practice. Then, for 18 years, he completely disappeared from the records. From statements by various sources, including Notovich, it is known that he entered India after passing through Egypt, Iraq, Iran, and Sindh. I myself have collected much information about his stay in these regions.”

Javed was listening attentively to Julius and suddenly asked, “He could have simply stayed in Egypt, Iraq, or Sindh, but why did he enter India?”

“He didn’t stay in Egypt because, at that time, Egypt was under Roman control. Moreover, only India could offer him the spiritual teachings he sought; without receiving the nectar of the Gita, how would he free his homeland from the chains of servitude? The community he followed had its roots in India. In Qumran, near the Dead Sea, they had a monastery and adhered to ancient Shaivite philosophy. The word ‘therapeutic’ was widely used in Indian philosophy as ‘theraputt,’ meaning a wise person. So, it makes perfect sense that he would come to India. Eighteen years of his life have been completely erased. Then we first see the mention of Jesus, a bright, full-grown man aged 30, as described by the eminent Luke, playing the role of a leader in various parts of Israel.”

Ratul said with a touch of sorrow, “Indeed, if Jesus was crucified and ascended to heaven, then how did he come back to India as a full-grown man and live beyond 80 years before passing away here? What about the event of his resurrection on the third day after the crucifixion?”

“Ratul, the event of this resurrection was propagated by Mary Magdalene, and then Saint Paul added many embellishments to it as he spread the word. Those who are researching him today claim that after the crucifixion, he was taken by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus to a secret place where various herbal medicines were applied to heal him. Afterward, he regained his health and returned to India. Researchers believe he was about 6 feet tall and weighed 79 kilograms at the time of the crucifixion. There are many who survived the crucifixion, and Jesus was one of them. Interestingly, it is said that the graves of Moses, Mother Mary, and Jesus are all located in Kashmir. This claim was made by Hoglar Karsten. According to Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the founder of the Ahmadiyya sect of Islam, the Holy Quran mentions that Jesus did not die on the cross. There is a verse that states, ‘We made the son of Mary and his mother a sign to mankind and gave them a shelter on a peaceful hillside watered by a fresh spring’ (Quran 23:51). The ‘peaceful hillside’ could very well refer to some part of Kashmir.”

After hearing all this, Javed said, “I had heard from my grandfather that the historical Mulla Nadiri from the time of Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin referred to Jesus Christ as ‘Uz Asaf’ in his book ‘Tarikh-i-Kashmiri,’ which he wrote in 1413. He stated that Jesus came to Kashmir during the reign of King Gopadatta. ‘AISHAN YUZU PAIGHAMBAR-I-BANI-ISRAIL AST’ (HE IS JESUS, PROPHET OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL).”

That day, as they descended from the mountain, it was already evening. When they reached the top, Ratul felt disheartened because finding anything among the dilapidated ruins was an extremely difficult task. Moreover, he did not have Julius’s keen vision. However, Ratul forgot one thing: that every journey in life hides its treasures. So that day, he did not return empty-handed. Whatever he found paved the way for his future exploration.

That night, Ratul couldn’t sleep at all. Despite his exhausted body from the day’s strenuous activity, sleep eluded him. Julius seemed to have united with Ratul during these moments; he felt he could sense all of Ratul’s emotions. So, he turned to face Ratul and said, “Ratul, there’s something else I haven’t told you. I was born and raised in the city of Turin, Italy. You know, in Vatican City’s ‘Holy See,’ a piece of burial cloth is currently being carefully preserved in Turin, called the ‘Turin Shroud.’ This cloth is kept under strict guard. It was brought from Jerusalem in Palestine on March 18, 1983. However, since 1578, the House of Savoy, Italy’s royal family, has kept it as a family possession for nearly 450 years. Before his death, King Umberto II of Savoy entrusted this cloth to Pope John Paul II at his request. This cloth was used to cover Jesus’s body when he was laid to rest. Visible imprints of sweat, salt, oil, and blood are present on it. It bears marks of wounds on the face and various parts of the body of crucified Jesus, depicting an entirely naked figure.

The Turin Shroud, where ‘shroud’ means a covering for the dead, also means mist or mystery; both meanings are deeply intertwined here. This raises a question: how can blood and fluids continue to pour from the body even after such a long time of death? In fact, within a few hours of death, a change known as rigor mortis occurs in the body. This process leads to the cessation of blood flow in the veins and arteries. So, was he… alive when…?”

“Was he buried?” The unverified gospels state that according to the Jewish “Gospel of the Hebrews,” after the resurrection, Jesus supposedly gave a certain piece of cloth, with which he was covered during his care, to two of his closest companions. Researchers believe these two were Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. After this event, around 325 AD, we learn from Eusebius of Caesarea, who was a custodian of church history, that there was correspondence between Jesus and King Abgar V of Edessa, in what is now the Urfa region of Turkey, who was known as Ukamma or “the Black.” Eusebius claims that he personally translated these letters, originally written in Syrian, into Greek.

“There is a lot of information, Ratul. We will be together for quite some time, and you will learn everything. But now it’s late; you should get some sleep.” (Continues) 

Click here for Part-1, Part 2, Part-3, Part-4, Part-5, Part-6, Part-7, Part-8, Part-9, Part-10, Part-11, Part-12, Part-13, Part-14, Part-15, Part-16, Part-17, Part-18, Part-19, Part-20, Part-21, 

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Debasree Chakraborti is a renowned novel writer of Bengali language. Based in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, she has done Master’s in Modern History from the Kolkata University, and authored some thirty books, mostly the novels, with historical perspective and themes. Her novel is ‘Maharaja Dahir’ that covers the history of Sindh from 662, the year of first attack on Sindh by the Arab armies till date, was published last year and translated by Nasir Aijaz into Sindhi language.

The post Novel: An Unknown Life (Part-22) first appeared on Sindh Courier.

[Author’s Note: In the Old Testament of the Bible, there is no information about the life of Jesus for 19 years. There are some contemporary texts where eyewitnesses have stated that he traveled extensively in the Middle East and crossed the Sindhu region to enter India. Through this novel, I have tried to portray the diary of a profound spiritual journey of his life in the initial and final chapters. Foreign powers have tried to erase the history of our continent, Asia. That is why, when Notovitch returned from Hemis in Ladakh and mentioned that ancient text over 2000 years old, Max Müller sent people to Hemis to destroy that ancient manuscript. The mysterious manuscript is also mentioned in the book by Swami Abhedananda about Kashmir and Tibet. What was it that caused Max Müller so much concern over this manuscript? It is noteworthy that love cannot come into the life of the son of God, and he cannot have any children. Even the Gospels attributed to him have been confined to the secret, dark chambers of the Pope’s city, with words implanted into his mouth according to their wishes. In his name, imperialistic aggression is being carried out across the world. His only daughter, Sara, has not been recognized. His entire existence has been imprisoned. There lies an unknown chapter of his life hidden throughout the Middle East, the Sindhu region, and India. I have brought forth this history through this novel. “An Unknown Life” is in no way a novel imitating “Jesus lived in India.” This novel provides detailed descriptions of his presence across the vast land from Israel to India, not just his own, but also the mysterious narratives of many people associated with him. Was Jesus truly the founder of Christianity? If not, why must he still bear the burden of the “Roman Cross”? Is there ever to be a possibility of his release? All answers are coming. Debashree Chakraborty]

An Unknown Life

(France, Time: 2022)

That morning, Omkari practically collapsed upon returning to her shelter. She was unable to understand at what point in time she was, or whether the people around her were present or past. This house, everything around her, felt like Vedantic illusion to her. It all felt like Maya, all her imagination. Everything she was seeing would vanish in moments. Thinking all this, everything seemed to fade into darkness.

When she regained consciousness, she saw Ali in the dim light of the room. Ali had been staring at her intently for a long time. Omkari sat up on the bed, adjusted her shawl, and said, “Ali, I had a very strange experience today. You are my fellow traveler, and I think I should share that experience with you. Because I barely made it back today, and if such an event repeats, I might die of a heart attack! Will you listen to me?”

There was a great deal of emotion in Omkari’s voice, a great deal of desperation. Ali could feel Omkari’s inner self, and without thinking twice, he said, “Omkari, please tell me, I am listening.” Omkari slowly began to tell Ali everything from the previous night until that morning. Omkari felt a strange excitement building within Ali. After hearing everything, Ali said, “Omkari, I am a Pakistani by birth. My father, Azizul Haque, was a journalist. My mother is Spanish. My mother’s father lived in Rennes-le-Château for many years with a French writer friend for special reasons.”

Okay, here’s the translation of the text you provided:

“-For special reasons?

-Yes, for special reasons. My mother’s father was an archaeologist. It is said that in the past, many people used to come to Rennes-le-Château on pilgrimage from Spain. My mother’s father and his French writer friend found some archaeological evidence from Spain and the areas around Rennes-le-Château in France, which forced them to stay in this village to help advance their own research. Then one day, my grandfather and his friend decided that they would move to America. But America did not grant them visas because they were allegedly working for an international spy organization.

-Spy organization, what do you mean?

-I don’t know the name of that organization! After this incident, he called my father, Azizul Haque, to Rennes-le-Château. After coming here, he gave my father a document wrapped in leather and told him to take it to someone in Germany. My father wrote about this to my mother in a letter. My mother lived with my father in Karachi after their marriage. A few days after receiving this letter, my mother received news that my father had died in Milan after falling from the Paris-Geneva Express. He was traveling from Paris to Geneva. But nothing was found next to the body. Omkari, a few days after my father’s death, the hanging bodies of my grandfather and his friend were found in this Rennes-le-Château. Everyone knows very well that none of these deaths were natural. But the police or administration took no action. After the death of my grandfather’s friend, his daughter, Elizabeth, began living permanently in Rennes-le-Château. I am convinced that, like me, she is looking for the mystery of her father’s murder and must have learned something.

-Ali, is that why you have come to Rennes-le-Château?

-Yes, that’s why I came here. I don’t want to talk to Elizabeth directly. It would be great if you could talk to her first. I mean, you talk first, and then maybe I’ll talk.”

That afternoon, the driver brought all the food to the house, so they didn’t have to go anywhere outside. After lunch, Omkari rested for a while and then set out again on the paths of the village. She was really enjoying walking through the surroundings surrounded by dense forest, with birdsong drifting in from all around. Ali was leading Omkari, showing her that outside Rennes-le-Château, within the forest, there were several thousand-year-old structures. Looking at them, they seemed like places of worship. They had climbed high up a hill, leaving the village below. Ali said, “As soon as I came here, I had a look at the house.”

“How did you get the address?”

“It was written in Abbu’s (father’s) diary. Abbu came to this house to meet my grandfather, after all. Omkari, we’ve arrived. I’ll stay in the forest, take a look at the structures here. Give me a missed call when you’re done, and I’ll come.”

After ringing the doorbell for quite a while, an old woman came and opened the door. Omkari folded her hands in a ‘Namaste’ and said, “I have come from India. I went to Paris to see the Louvre, and that’s when I learned about this place. It is said that an unknown chapter of history is hidden within the ancient architecture here, and I have come here to search for that chapter. I saw lights on at your house up here, so I hurried over to introduce myself.”

The people here are extremely hospitable, so Omkari didn’t have any problems. The woman folded her hands in a ‘Namaste’ like Indians and said, “I am Elizabeth. Like you, I came here in search of its history and ended up staying, never returning. And I have great respect for Indian civilization and culture. Please come in. Being in the forest, it gets very dark from the afternoon onwards, so we have to keep the lights on in the house. Let me make some coffee; we can talk while we drink it.”

Taking a sip of coffee, the woman said, “This region was once inhabited by pagans. You will find many temples from the time of those pagans in the forest.”

“Oh really!”

“Yes, it’s indeed surprising. A long time ago, when Christianity or Islam didn’t exist, pagans lived in all these regions. Pagans used to come to this region from far and wide to learn some secret, mysterious knowledge. There are many more secrets hidden in this region.”

Omkari knows very well how to extract information from someone. She is very skilled in this matter. That day, Omkari began telling Elizabeth various incidents, including the disappearance of Mahaprabhu, various mysterious temples and architecture in India, and the disappearance of people who came there in search of mysteries. After hearing stories of how she had to face danger while investigating the disappearance of Mahaprabhu, Omkari created a completely separate place in Elizabeth’s mind. She started seeing a different version of herself in Omkari. Having lived alone for a long time, she doesn’t really talk to anyone. After so long, she was overwhelmed to find someone she connected with. Elizabeth said to Omkari, “Omkari, there is some treasure hidden here, which a group of unknown people are protecting, while another group has attacked here age after age in search of it. When the Romans were completely wiping out the pagans of this region, ten unknown…”

…soldiers appeared, whose leadership drove the Romans out of this region with a group of soldiers. Many people from Germany and its surrounding areas supposedly came to this region for mining work over the ages. But Omkari, you’ll be surprised to know that after the Roman invasion, there were no minerals left in this region. But still, people from Germany and the surrounding areas used to come here and stay.

“Why? What did they come for?”

“They are all unknown. From my research, what I have come to know is that they used to come and stay here to protect some treasure from the past. Many secret killings have taken place here. It has been happening for ages.”

“Secret killings?”

“Hmm, my father and his friend were murdered.”

“Your father was murdered? Why, did he find out something?”

“He and his friend had found out a lot. Realizing their danger, they had sent their collected information to someone through a person. The person who was sent with it was murdered on the way.”

“How did you understand that he was murdered?”

“Because he later died from the train he was traveling on, and nothing he was carrying with him was ever found. And that’s not all. A few years ago, three writers researched this region for a long time and wrote a book. There was a red snake symbol on the cover of the book. There were some strange symbolic languages in this book. For example, say…”

“The fragrance that floats towards me from the one I want to free is the fragrance that impregnates a tomb. Some call her the Queen. She is extremely benevolent; all of you who suffer, go to her, and she will give you rest. To others, she is Magdalene, that famous vase. Another name for her is Notre Dame des Cross.”

“Omkari, the pagans worshiped the Mother Goddess; many consider her to be that Mother Goddess of the pagans. Many cathedrals in France are dedicated to Lady Magdalene. There is also a cathedral in Rennes-le-Château named after her, which is dedicated to her. Saunière, who consecrated the church… the writers of Le Serpent Rouge had a very bad end. All three of them were murdered and hanged.”

“Who actually was this Lady Magdalene? And what is the mystery of this red snake?”

“You don’t know Lady Magdalene? She is the real one. And the red snake is a symbol of lineage!”

“Lineage!”

“Yes. My father used to say that the story of Jesus and Magdalene is like the ancient legends of rivers, who were not meant to flow together.”

“Who was she?”

“To know Lady Magdalene, you have to know the context of her arrival, the history of the people of that time, their way of life, everything, then you will know her. The Bible identifies her as a mysterious woman. This woman is such a revolutionary character in history, who never received the respect she deserved. This woman was so full of personality that a group was afraid of her influence and power, so perhaps her own successors tried to erase her from the pages of history. This woman was the closest person to Jesus. In that sense, she was the true creator of Christianity. According to the New Testament of the Bible, this woman was the first and foremost witness to Jesus’ “Resurrection,” that is, his return after death. The foundation of Christianity is the Bible and the Gospel written by Jesus’ four main followers. To date, 94 Gospels have been found, but among these, the Church has recognized four Gospels. Nothing is recognized unless the Church permits it. The ones whose Gospels have been recognized by the Church are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. And those whose Gospels have not been recognized by the Church are the Gospels of Thomas, Peter, Judas, Mary, and James. On the third day after his death, Jesus rose to life. This event, the Resurrection, is the main foundation of Christianity. The main and only witness to this event was Mary Magdalene. She told everyone about this event. That day, through her preaching, she elevated Jesus to the place of God. Without her, Jesus Christ, known as the Son of God, would not have been born, and the origin of this Christianity would not have been possible.”

“Elizabeth, you were talking about the context of Lady Magdalene’s arrival. What was that context?”

“Omkari, I am talking about the time two thousand years ago, when the Roman Empire ruled over a vast region including the whole of Europe and its surroundings. The place we understand as Israel today was also under Roman rule. But people became rebellious to break free from this rule. At this time, the children of wealthy families in Israel used to go to Rome for education. There, they saw that the Romans had imposed so many restrictions on them, but the people of their own country enjoyed a lot of freedom. There were no such restrictions on them. All these highly educated people returned to the country and invigorated the freedom movement. The fish market of Galilee was famous. People from different parts of Israel used to travel here as buyers and sellers. The spark of the freedom movement started spreading from the market of Galilee. The freedom movement reached such a stage that at one point it shook the foundation of the Roman Empire. At that time, Roman soldiers began to indiscriminately kill the rebels of Galilee. There was a village of fishermen in Galilee. The name of that village was Magdala. The soldiers reached that village. The families of this village fled and took refuge in the caves of Mount Arbel. The remaining rebels were caught by the soldiers again. They were crucified and hung on the outskirts of the village. Those who took refuge in Mount Arbel could not stay well for long. Roman soldiers surrounded this mountain and waited at its base. After seventy-six days, when all the food and water were gone, some rebel families tried to come down and were speared to death. The last surviving family jumped off the mountain and committed suicide. Omkari, my father went to Israel in search of this mysterious woman, to the ‘National Library of Israel.’ This library is better known as the ‘Jewish National and University Library.'”

“Located in the ‘Givat Ram’ campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, this library preserves Jewish heritage throughout the world. More than five hundred thousand manuscripts and books are preserved here. It contains all the documents of Hebrew history. In 1932, an ancient document written by Josephus was found during the renovation of an ancient church in Jerusalem. But most of this document has been destroyed in two thousand years. What could be deciphered from this document is: In the last family that was alive inside the cave of Mount Arbel, there were seven sons. Their father pushed them off the mountain first, then jumped and committed suicide himself. My father and his friend went to this mountain. They saw all those caves. On the walls of these caves, there are still accounts of suffering written by people’s own hands two thousand years ago. Among them, the names of Mary, John, and Peter are written. Mary Magdalene was born in this village of Magdala. Mary was the child of a wealthy fishing family. Many Marys came into Jesus’ life. His mother and sister’s names were also Mary. At that time, married women used their husband’s name, and unmarried women used their father’s and village’s name. Therefore, to distinguish this particular Mary, her village name was used next to her name. Dr. Esther de Boer has been working on Lady Magdalene for a long time. She had a very good relationship with my father. She told my father that Luke’s Gospel supposedly states that Mary had a congenital disease. And that is, she would sometimes have a terrible fever, her teeth would clench, and foam would come out of her mouth. Mary’s brother was friends with Jesus. Secret meetings of freedom-seeking rebels were held at the Meris’ house. Jesus would go there. There he would try to heal the sick Mary. Because he was skilled in the art of healing people with herbal medicine. In this way, when he completely healed Mary, from that moment on, they both became deeply attracted to each other. To advance Jesus’ movement, a large amount of money was needed, which this Mary Magdalene donated. But she has been erased from everywhere.”

“That day, it was late at night talking at Elizabeth’s house. Ali didn’t have to be called from the house. Ali was hiding in a bush in this terrible cold. Seeing Omkari coming, he came out, then they quickly started walking towards their base.” (Continues)

Click here for Part-1, Part 2, Part-3, Part-4, Part-5, Part-6, Part-7, Part-8, Part-9, Part-10, Part-11, Part-12, Part-13, Part-14, Part-15, Part-16, Part-17, Part-18, Part-19, Part-20, 

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Debasree Chakraborti is a renowned novel writer of Bengali language. Based in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, she has done Master’s in Modern History from the Kolkata University, and authored some thirty books, mostly the novels, with historical perspective and themes. Her novel is ‘Maharaja Dahir’ that covers the history of Sindh from 662, the year of first attack on Sindh by the Arab armies till date, was published last year and translated by Nasir Aijaz into Sindhi language.

The post Novel: An Unknown Life (Part-21) first appeared on Sindh Courier.