The climax of Kersten's book centers on Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir. He identifies a modest building known as the as the final resting place of Jesus.
Shortly after Notovitch published his book, European scholars and explorers—including the prominent orientalist Max Müller—visited Hemis Monastery. The head lama explicitly confirmed that no such visitor had been there, and no such manuscript existed.
Despite the popularity of the theory among esoteric and New Age circles, it has been almost universally rejected by mainstream historians, biblical scholars, and Indologists. holger kersten jesus lived in india
In 1981, Kersten published a book titled "Der Jesus der Indien kam" or "The Jesus who Came to India," which proposed the radical idea that Jesus spent several years of his life in India. The book was based on Kersten's research into ancient texts, including the Bible, the Mahabharata, and other Eastern spiritual traditions. Kersten argued that Jesus traveled to India during his "lost years," which are not accounted for in the biblical narrative. According to Kersten, Jesus was influenced by Indian spirituality and incorporated these teachings into his own message.
Kersten’s research, spanning several years across the Middle East and India, outlines several provocative theories: The Early Years : In his youth, Jesus allegedly traveled the Silk Road to India , where he studied Buddhism and the Vedas , eventually becoming a spiritual master. Surviving the Crucifixion The climax of Kersten's book centers on Srinagar,
: Kersten argues that Jesus did not die on the cross but survived by entering a trance-like state through advanced yogic techniques. Return to the East
He references this ancient Indian text, which allegedly describes an encounter between a King Shalivahana and "Issa-Masih" (Jesus the Messiah). The "Life of Saint Issa": The head lama explicitly confirmed that no such
Kersten didn't just repeat Notovitch; he analyzed the text’s plausibility. He points out:
The traditional Christian narrative holds that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, preached in Palestine, was crucified, and resurrected. However, Kersten's research challenges this conventional account, suggesting that Jesus' life was more complex and fascinating.
The text describes Jesus as a wise and compassionate teacher who traveled to India to study the sacred scriptures. It also describes his encounters with Indian gurus and yogis, and his experiences with the Indian people.
The central piece of "evidence" for Jesus in India—the Notovitch manuscript—is widely considered a hoax. When the famous German indologist Max Mueller wrote to the monks at the Hemis monastery, they replied that Notovitch had never been there. Another British scholar who visited was told that Notovitch had never visited the monastery. Russian Indologist Leopold von Schroeder called the story a "big fat lie". The consensus among scholars, as early as 1931, has been that the entire account was fabricated by Notovitch.