THE LOST YEARS IN LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST-REVIEW

The lost years in the life of Jesus Christ, also called as unknown years, silent years and missing years of Jesus, usually refers to the time period between the childhood and the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, an account of which is missing in the New Testament. During the medieval period, it was believed that young Jesus spent his life between the ages 12 and 30 in Britain, but in the 19^th and 20^th centuries it emerged that he visited India during that period.

Christians have generally believed that Jesus worked as a carpenter during that period as per the statement in Mark 6:3. However, historically speaking, Sepphoris being in the phase of rebuilding, it was more likely for one to get the work of carpenter there than at the small town of Nazareth. Thus, many do not agree with the carpenter theory. Many Arthurian legends believe that Jesus travelled to Britain when in tens, lived at Priddy in Mendips, and constructed the first wattle cabin at Glastonbury. The early 19^th century poem “And did those feet in ancient time” by William Blake is believed to have been inspired by Jesus travelling to Britain. in some other versions, Jesus in his adolescent was taken care of by Joseph on Mary, Jesus’ mother being widowed.

Louis Jacolliot’s book, The Bible in India, or The Life of Jezeus Christna, tried to show the Indian influences on Jesus and Christianity, although the writer did not claim Jesus travelled to India. He likened the life of Jesus with that of Lord Krishna, and spelt Krishna like Christna to bring out the link or similarity. Ancient accounts reveal that Jesus was in India and Tibet for seventeen years from the age of thirteen to twenty-nine. He spent his time both as a student and teacher. Brahmin historians has recorded Jesus’ journey from Jerusalem to Benares, and still know him as St. Issa.

Nicolas Notovich, a Russian doctor, published a book entitled The Unknown Life of Christ in 1894 after extensively touring Afghanistan, India, and Tibet. In Leh, the capital of Ladakh in India, he came to the Buddhist convent Himis where he found ancient records of the visit of Jesus Christ. He came across to two volumes of literature on “The Life of St. Issa” containing a biography of St. Issa. On his return to the Western world, he revealed about the book. However, many doubted the authenticity of the book, and Swami Abhedanad was his staunch critic. Swami himself travelled and verified the literature, and later agreed to the contention of Notovich. Another Russian, Nicholas Roerich, a philosopher and distinguished scientist, also visited Himis like Notovitch and Abhedanand, and examined the same manuscript. He wrote that Jesus spent his time in several cities of India including Benares. He instructed Vaishyas and Shudras, too. Brahmins forbade him from teaching Vedas to those who were born out of the womb and feet. The Vaishya were allowed to listen to Vedas on holidays only, while Shudras were completely forbidden from listen to Vedas.

These accounts of Jesus’ lost days reveal that Jesus travelled far and wide, was a peace-loving person, and taught others good things about God and life.