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1 year ago ::
May 09, 2011 - 2:36AM
#1
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Hi everyone,
I've been learning a lot about Hinduism lately and have been noticing the amazing parallels that every single religion on this planet has with Hinduism to some extent or another. Given that Hinduism represents the oldest set of philosophies, and religious ideas on the planet it is not surprising that she would influence every known religion and faith at some point in her LONG history which goes far beyond our own recorded version of history.
I know that Zoroastrianism was an offshoot of Hinduism, in a similar manner that Buddhism and Jainism were "offshoots". I am able to find many similarities of Zoroastrian thought with a much older form of the Vedic religion. Yet the one thing I have trouble finding is the origin of their belief in the physical resurrection of the dead? I am aware that most people are not very original in their ideas, however even a great seer or saint would be able to find some conformity with previous revelations that were given to others in history.
I would be very grateful if someone knows the answer to my question! I have tried googling it and have not had much success.
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1 year ago ::
May 09, 2011 - 2:45AM
#2
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Hi truthseeker, You want to know whether Hinduism is the source of the Christian belief in the physical resurrection of the dead. The answer is a firm negative. According to Hindu scripture, "Just as a man gives up old garments and puts on new ones, so the embodied self abandons decrepit bodies and assumes new ones" (Gita 2.22). There can not be a physical resurrection of the body according to Hindu scripture. Hope this helps Gangajal
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1 year ago ::
May 09, 2011 - 2:50AM
#3
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Hello Ganga, I know that the belief in the resurrection did not enter Judaism until the Jewish people had spent long enough under the influence of Babylon and Persia around the 6th century B.C.. Christianity derives its ideas as a development of the concept of the resurrection of the dead, so they all borrowed a great deal from Zoroastrianism. I suppose then we can only speculate where Zarathustra (Zoroaster) came up with this idea from? :) By the way, thanks for the speedy reply! I was not expecting one so quickly.
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1 year ago ::
May 09, 2011 - 5:18AM
#4
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Suhotra Swami in his book Dimensions of Good and Evil touches on this topic in part 2, ch. 16. It seems that Zoroaster himself came up with this idea.
Vedic texts mention resurrections, or revivals of dead bodies, by mantras, herbs, etc. They're related to warring asuras being revived by their guru Shukra (Bhagavata Purana 8.11.47, 8.15.3); various saints and sages, like Narada Muni (6.16.1) or the Lord Himself (8.6.37 or 8.11.1).
There're also accounts in our Gaudiya Vaisnava tradition. Famous Jayadeva Gosvami (author of Gita Govinda) is said to revive his wife; Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, whom we consider to be Krsna Himself, revived the son of Srivas Thakur, or Sri Caitanya's associate Paramesvara das Thakur revived a fox just by looking at it.
Hope this helps. Hare Krsna
Your servant, bh. Jan
www.vrindavan-dham.com
www.veda.harekrsna.cz
dvaitaM bandhAya mokSAt prAk prApte bodhe manISayA
bhaktyarthaM kalpitam dvaitaM advaitAd api sundaram
"Duality is bondage before moksa and wisdom after realization. The duality accepted for the purpose of bhakti is sweeter than even non-duality." (from mangalacarana to Advaitasiddhi sara sangraha by Madhusudana Sarasvati, former advaitin)
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1 year ago ::
May 09, 2011 - 2:14PM
#5
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Thanks Jm8! It helps indeed. I suppose it would not be that far of a stretch to say that if a Self-realized individual can resurrect the dead, then of course God himself could do so. I knew that there had to be some Hindu similarities to this, when some of your scriptures talk about a time when Persia knew no man living there, or wild beast.
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1 year ago ::
May 10, 2011 - 3:08AM
#6
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Yes. And the self-realized person will acknowledge God as the source of all power, sarva saktiman, as per Bhagavadgita 7.6 etc.
Hope this helps. Hare Krsna
Your servant, bh. Jan
www.vrindavan-dham.com
www.veda.harekrsna.cz
dvaitaM bandhAya mokSAt prAk prApte bodhe manISayA
bhaktyarthaM kalpitam dvaitaM advaitAd api sundaram
"Duality is bondage before moksa and wisdom after realization. The duality accepted for the purpose of bhakti is sweeter than even non-duality." (from mangalacarana to Advaitasiddhi sara sangraha by Madhusudana Sarasvati, former advaitin)
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