What is really the origin of the English term "God" and what influences did Buddhism have on the ancient world? Durgadas discusses these issues in this article.

The Truth About Buddha
and "God" in Christianity


By Ved Kovid, Durgadas

(c) Ved Kovid, Durgadas. All Rights Reserved.

No part of this article may be copied or reproduced in any manner, except by direct permission from the author. 

The term "God" in English derives from the Germanic "gudan", which is cognate to the Sanskrit term "hutam" (to invoke). However, some etymologists consider the Germanic Gudan, Wotan etc. to derive from Gautama (Gotam, Gautam), the name of the Buddha. Interestingly, a Buddha statue was found in the ruins of an ancient Viking civilisation of Helgo in Sweden [1]. Buddhists were also well-known to the ancient European world through the Greeks and Romans and early Christian fathers and forms of Gnosticism as Manichaeism also revered the Buddha.

Buddhist monks during the reign of Augustus also burnt themselves alive in Athens (as a "sacrifice") and later entombed there as per the histories of the Greeks, which may also show developments of concepts in early Christianity; Christ derives from Greek "Khristos", which means "anointed" and cognate with Sanskrit "Ghrita" for ghee or clarified butter, of which Indians use on sacrificial materials as an offering and also burning. As per Strabo's account of this, the monk, "Zarmanochegas" anointed himself and entered the fire, immortalising himself. Kalanos, the Indian Guru of Alexander the Great is also famous to the Greeks for doing the same and prophesying Alexander's death in Babylon.


The dharmachakra or wheel of righteousness used by Buddha as one of his symbols also appears on the centre of his hands and feet (especially footprints) in Buddhist Art, which may also be the origin of the wounds of Jesus and stigmata. The Cross itself is simply an adaptation of the Hindu and Buddhist Swastika, a solar-symbol for the deity Surya or Mitra that Buddha himself came from (the solar dynasty of Eastern India) and used by Buddha as a symbol of his faith like the dharmachakra, the solar-wheel. The Eastern India solar dynasty that Buddha belonged was also obsessed with physical immortality of the body, as in the story of the ancient King Nimi. The ressurection of Jesus is nothing more than Buddha's reincarnation as a Buddha (wise one) after several births; like Jesus, his birth, 600 years earlier, was also a virgin-birth. 

We also know that the rosary beads originated with Hinduism and were later used by Buddhists and that Semitic faiths had no such practices, which also shows they came to the West via Buddhism.

We already know that the Christian Saints, Barlaam and Josephat (Bodhisattva) were derived from Buddhist tales and entered into Christianity in the Middle-East and reached Europe around the 11th-12th Centuries AD. It is also worth noting in Abrahamic traditions, that the Arabic term "bud" for pagan derives from "buddh" (Buddha). The Indian stories the Panchatantra were known in most European languages by the 16th Century also, and of course the West used the Indian numeral system and concept of zero later via the Arabs, which also shows deep cultural impact. Buddhist missionaries were in Egypt, Greece and Syria around 300BCE also and hence communities were living there at the onset of Christianity. Gaspar, one of the three wise men present at Jesus' birth was also known to be a King of India at the time (Gondophares), who had his capital at the ancient University-City of Takshashila, and was also an astrologer. 

The Gotama Rishis in India were also famous for their Self-realisation. Vamadeva Gotama in the Rig Veda, identifies himself as the Supreme Deity, Lord Indra and having assumed various forms. These are much like the mystical passages of Christ in the New Testament also, identifying himself with the Father. 

Considering all of this, we also know Buddhist and Hindu monks were numerous in Alexandria and Europe during the time of Christ or advent of Christianity. Hindu monks would have also brought with them the Vedas, which contain many hymns to Varuna, similar to those of "God the Father" for forgiveness of transgressions, along with his companion-God, Mitra (Mithras to Persians), the cult of whom was also known in Rome at the time of Christianity.

The New Testament was also first written in Greek. The name for "God the Father" is Pater Ouranos, which is cognate to Sanskrit Pita Varuna, the 'Father Varuna', the deity of righteousness, rta (divine law) etc. in the Vedas; Jesus being his companion, Mitra (origin of the future 'Maitreya Buddha'), the "friend". It thus appears that the Buddhist-Persian along with native Greek and Roman philosophies and Hindu Monks gave rise to Christianity, with symbols and attributes denoting spiritual concepts becoming physical realities for the Jesus-figure himself.  

In the Vedas of India also, the creator, sometimes associated with Brahma-Varuna is called Tvashtar (fashioner), which perhaps also accounts for Jesus being born a carpenter. 

References:

1. http://www.strangehistory.net/2010/08/20/the-buddha-in-viking-sweden/

2. Frawley, Dr. David, Gods, Sages and Kings 

3. Rig Veda Samhita