The Jesus Tomb of Kashmir

Another theory put forth by such scholars as Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, Aziz Kashmiri, Holger Kersten, and Dr Fida Hassnain is that Jesus was buried in Kashmir. This view is based on the belief that Jesus Christ traveled to the East following the crucifixion, a theory based on evidence found in historical documents, as well as characteristics of the tomb itself, a theory explored on The Tomb of Jesus Christ website.

The Kashmir Tomb

The tomb in question is located in the Roza Bal shrine venerated by Muslims, Christians and Buddhists, The tomb is located in Srinagar, Kashmir, a territory found in the northern subcontinent of India. The shrine is believed to belong to Yus Asaph (“Jesus the Gatherer”), the prince prophet who is said to have traveled to Kashmir from a distant land. Followers of Yus Asaph recognized him as a prophet of the people who preached the oneness of God in a period when many people in the region had turned to idolatry.

The tomb is comprised of a low rectangular-shaped building on a raised platform, and is surrounded by railings at the front. It contains three arches at the front, which provides an entranceway to the tomb, as well as four arches at the side.

Believed to be the tomb of Jesus by scholars, as well as Ahmadi Muslims, a sect of Muslims living in the Punjabi region of India, the direction of the tomb is considered by some historians to support the Kashmir tomb theory, as it faces an east-west direction. This geographical configuration is consistent with Jewish burial practices and therefore suggests the possibility that the individual entombed was of Israeli origin.

In addition, the Kashmir tomb contains a unique artifact that some scholars believe also supports the theory that Jesus was indeed buried in the tomb of the Roza Bal shrine. This artifact is an impression of footprints that contain markings that are found on distinct areas on each foot. Historians believe that this foot impression is consistent with the crucifixion, in which one foot was placed over another, thereby supporting the Kashmir tomb theory. Furthermore, the position of the crucifixion wounds is consistent with those of the Shroud of Turin.

The nearby temple of Solomon also contained an inscription dated to 50 CE that stated that Yus Asaph had claimed to be Jesus.

Historical Evidence and Scholarly Views

The main text that supports the theory that Jesus was buried in Kashmir is the Bhavishya Maha Purana, the ninth book of the eighteen texts considered holy by Hindus; this text records the encounter between king Shalivahan and Jesus Christ, long after the crucifixion. In this passage, Jesus describes himself as being born of a virgin and as the Son of God. The description of Jesus in the Bhavishya Maha Purana records him as being fair skinned as wearing a white garment. Historians contend that this document has great value because, unlike the Gospels, it can be traced to be a specific date, the year 115 CE, which according to the account that Jesus lived 120 years, would have taken place five years prior to Jesus’ death.

The St. Issa Scroll is another text which is believed to support the theory that Jesus was buried in Kashmir following the crucifixion. The scroll, found in a Buddhist monastery in Hemis, records the travels of a Jewish boy to the East, a fact that some historians, such as Nicholas Notorich believe explains the absence of documentation regarding Jesus’ life in the Gospels between the ages of 12 and 30.

Historians who believe that the Kashmir tomb is that in which Jesus is buried, also point to the fact that the parables attributed to Jesus in the Gospels, such as the parable of the Sower, were attributed to Yus Asaph, as found in historical recordings.

Visit The Tomb of Jesus Christ website here.