Copyright © 1999 by M. N. Anderson.
The material of this article is taken from chapter 2 of my forthcoming book: "Jesus 2000 years after Jesus".

Dr. Z. Haq claimed that the name of Mohammad appears in the Hindu scriptures which are believed to have been written at least four thousand years ago.

Dr. Z. Haq claims that the word Mahamad appears in the Puranas, Mamah in Kuntap Sukt (in Atharva Veda) and Ahmad in Sama Veda... Among the eighteen volumes of the Puranas is one by the title 'Bhavishya Puran,' literally meaning future events. The Hindus regard it as the Word of God. The prophecy containing Prophet Muhammad by name is found in Prati Sarg Parv III: 3, 3, Verse 5.
The translation of Verses 5-27 (Sanskrit text of the Puranas, Prati Sarg Parv III: 3, 3) is presented below from the work of Dr. Vidyarthi.

"A malechha (belonging to a foreign country and speaking foreign language) spiritual teacher will appear with his companions. His name will be Mahamad. Raja (Bhoj) after giving this Mahadev Arab (of angelic disposition) a bath in the 'Panchgavya' and the Ganges water, (i.e. purging him of all sins) offered him the presents of his sincere devotion and showing him all reverence said, 'I make obeisance to thee.' 'O Ye! the pride of mankind, the dweller in Arabia, Ye have collected a great force to kill the Devil and you yourself have been protected from the malechha opponents (idol worshipers, pagans).' 'O Ye! the image of the Most Pious God the biggest Lord, I am a slave to thee, take me as one lying on thy feet.'

"The Malechhas have spoiled the well-known land of the Arabs. Arya Dharma is not to be found in that country. Before also there appeared a misguided fiend whom I had killed [note: e.g., Abraha Al-Ashram, the Abyssinian viceroy of Yemen, who attacked Mecca]; he has now again appeared being sent by a powerful enemy. To show these enemies the right path and to give them guidance the well-known Mahamad (Mohammad), who has been given by me the epithet of Brahma is busy in bringing the Pishachas to the right path. O Raja! You need not go to the land of the foolish Pishachas, you will be purified through my kindness even where you are. At night, he of the angelic disposition, the shrewd man, in the guise of a Pishacha said to Raja Bhoj, "O Raja! Your Arya Dharma has been made to prevail over all religions, but according to the commandments of 'Ashwar Parmatma (God, Supreme Spirit), I shall enforce the strong creed of the meat-eaters. My follower will be a man circumcised, without a tail (on his head), keeping beard, creating a revolution, announcing call for prayer and will be eating all lawful things. He will eat all sorts of animals except swine. They will not seek purification from the holy shrubs, but will be purified through warfare. Because of their fighting the irreligious nations, they will be known as Musalmans (Muslims). I shall be the originator of this religion of the meat-eating nation."

Dr Haq also added:
The Sama Veda contains many prophecies of the advent of Prophet Mohammad.
Here, one of them is presented. It is found in Sama Veda, II:6,8:

"Ahmad acquired religious law (Shariah) from his Lord. This religious law is full of wisdom. I receive light from him just as from the sun."
http://www.erols.com/zenithco/prophhs.html#mahamad

The above quotations seems to be so fantastic, unbelievable and too good to be true.
Indeed they are.

Dr. Haq's claims will stand or fall on the reliability of these Hindu Scriptures.

Let us now look at similar quotations which some think are prophecies about Christ in the same Hindu Scriptures:

In his book Divine Harmony, Christ in the Holy books of the East Arvindaksha Menon introduces Bhavishya Purana in the following words:

"Vishnupurana" written depicting the core meanings of Vedas and the scientific principles, in narrative fiction was the first among mythologies to appear in book form. It was written by sage Parashara. Later his son Vedavyasa wrote eighteen mythologies idolizing his father's original creation. It may be calculated these mythologies came to light 5100 years ago if one goes by the period Vedavyasa lived.
... The word 'Bhavishya' means future. Hence Bhavishya Purana (futuristic mythology) denotes to the things that could happen in the future, visualized by powerful meditation.

Mr. Menon goes on to quote the following:

In his epic, the 28th verse, 4th chapter, 1st part in the book
'Prathisargaparvam' says like this: -

"Indriyani damithwa

Yehyaathmadhyaana parayana:

Thasmad Aadama naamaasou

Pathnee Havyavathee smritha"

"Adaman and his wife havyavathy are born with all the virtues, complete control of the senses and the spiritual forbearance of the mind. God creates a captivating paradise and gifts it to Adaman to live happily. Adaman reaches beneath the tree of sin in the garden, eats its forbidden fruit, tempted by Kali disguised as a snake, resulting his carnal desires come alive, which culminates in his involving in sexual intercourse with Havyyathy. The Bible narrates the same episode word by word in the book of Genesis."

Both Dr. Haq and Menon told us that `Bhavishya Puran,' literally means future events and Menon added

"What is relevant here, is that everything, every episode and every character portrayed in the Holy Bible appears in the form of prediction in this Indian mythology."

If the above is true how can the story of Adam and Eve appear in the form of a prophecy and a future event?! Who was there before Adam to transmit or receive this prophecy?

It is obvious then that although that `Bhavishya Puran,' literally means future events it is actually attempting to narrate events of past history and the so called prophecies about Muhammad fall into the same category as that that of the story of Adam.

But that is not all, Menon then went on quoting:

As detailed in the Bible later, the lineage of Adaman is very long and luminous. The son of Adaman and Hvyavathy is Shwethanama (Seth). His son is Anoohan (Enoch). Then the lineage goes like this. Keenashan (Kenan), Mahallalan (Mahallalel), Viradan (Jered), Hanukan (Enoch), Manochillan (Methuselah), Lomakan (Lamech), Newhan (Noah).

God warns His devotee Newhan in his dream, of the impending flood and asks him to take refuge in a boat with his family. Newhan embarked on the boat with his family. The floodgates of the sky opened and fell on the earth for forty days and forty nights. The flood came. All the four seas came into confluence. Only Newhan, his kith and kin along with the hermits of Badarya survived. By their fervent prayer the flood subsided and the water was gone.

Note the close resemblance and oneness, even in the names of the lineage from Adam and Eve to Noah in the book of Genesis of the Holy Bible and above. The difference is only that in the Bible it is treated symbolically while narrating history whereas in Bhavishyapurana it is given as prediction of the future. Noah, Ark, Forty days flood and its riddance by exactly one year, are all predicted word by word.

Here again the flood episode was portrayed as a prophecy, or was it?

Menon went on saying:

Not only that, the lineage beginning with Noah to Abraham will definitely startle us.

The sons of Newhan are Siman (Shem), Haman (Ham) and Yakuthan (Japheth). Sons of Japheth are Jumren (Gover), Majoojan (Magog), Maadi (Madai) and Theerasan (Tiras).

The sons of Siman (Shem) is Arkansadan (Arpachshad). His son is Simhalan (Shelah). Then Evrathan (Eber), Phalajan (Peleg), Reu (Reu), Jujan (Servig), Nahooran (Nahor), Taharan (Terah). For Taharan the sons are Aviraman (Abraham), Nahooran (Nahor) and Haranan (Haran).

Is the above a prediction of the future or a whole sale borrowing from the Bible?

Menon further added:

Then it was predicted that a master (Patriarch) will come by the name of Moosa (Moses) and his faith will spread all over the world. When the era of Kali has reached three thousand years (This is the 5095th year of that era. So it is two thousand years ago) Jesus Christ appears with the name "Easa Maseeha" in the land of Huna. Here we should remember that Jesus Christ is 'Easa Maseeha' in Hebrews. At that time it was King 'Shakapathi' who ruled that land. In the mountainous terrain of Hunadesha the Kings meeting with a white clad male is described thus:

"Ko bhavaanithi tham praaha

Sahovaachamudaanwitha:

Eshaputhram cha maam vidhi

Kumaaree garbha sambahavam

Aham Eesa Maseeha nama:"

King Shaka asked "May I know, who you are!". With apparent joy that male replied "Know that I am the Son of God. I am born in the womb of a virgin. 'Easa Maseeha' is my well known name". (Bhavashya purana- Prathisarga parva, IIIrd part- 2nd chapter- 23rd verse.) http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Olympus/6265/chap4.html

The two expressions "the well-known Mahamad" and 'Easa Maseeha' is my well known name". Let the cat out of the bag. These parts of Hindu scripture are not prophecies written in the distant past but written at a time when Muhammad's name became well known and Jesus was known as Easa Maseeh.

Contrary to Menon's understanding that Easa Maseeh is the Hebrew form of Jesus Christ, it is actually an Islamised version of Jesus Christ. The Hebrew word for Jesus is Yeshua, not Easa.

As a matter of fact the expression Easa Masih is the Persian version of Jesus the Christ. In both the Qur'an and the Hadith the name Jesus Christ appears as Masih Easa (if we delete the article). In other words Masih comes before Easa in the Qur'an and the Hadith, not the other way around. The "Easa Masih" form is the Persian version for the name of Jesus Christ. This points out that the time of compiling this part of this Hindu document was done at least after the spread of Islam to Persia or the spread of Islam to India through Persian contacts.

This is strong evidence that this part of Hindu Scripture was written after Islam had spread to the Indian subcontinent. In other words, all the above quotations by Dr. Haq and Menon are not prophecies but recent compilations.

Menon then quotes from the Rigveda, another part of the Hindu Scriptures. He asserts that:

Among the four Vedas, Rigveda stands foremost and supreme for its complete authenticity. It is calculated that the nucleus of Rigveda was evolved between 1500 and 2600 BC...

Vedic hymns were the revelations derived the sages from time to time. Rigveda, which sage Badarayana Krishna composed and later Vedavyasa compiled has ten volumes. Its last volume is supposed to have been chanted by many sages in unison. Being the last volume, its time of composition is fixed in the sixteenth century B.C. The 'Panchagrandhi' of Moses in the Holy Bible also could be its contemporary in composition.

Menon then goes on to show the similarities between the Bible and the Rigveda:

In the book of Revelation, the last in the Bible, we can see a lot of resonance, at so many places, similar to the hymns of Rigveda.

'PRAJAPATHY', the male image, the pivotal figure in the tenth volume of Rigveda is the central point of this concordance. The birth and public life of Jesus Christ of the holy Bible maintain an intimate similarity with this worshipful male.

In the first hymn of the 121st aphorism in the tenth volume of Rigveda, the narration about the birth of this male is given like this:-

"Hiranyagarbha: samavarthathaagre

Bhuuthasya jaatha: pathireka aaseeth

Sadaadhaara prudhwivim dyaamuthemam

Kasmai devaaya havisha vidhemam.

'Prajapathy' alias 'Hiranya garbha', the first born, was born to the Holy
Spirit (Paramatma) before Genesis. Upon birth, He became one and
only God to the universe comprising the Skies, Stars Earth and the
Seas. He rules the endless firmament and the whole of the earth. We
please this deity, Prajapathy, who is called 'Kan' affectionately, with
offerings in sacrifices (Rigveda X: 121,1)

We can see a mention of this son of the spirit of God in
Ithareyopanishad also.

"Sa eekshatheeme nu loka

Lokaa Paalaanusruja ithi

Sodbhaaya eva purusham

Samudruthya moorchayaayt"

After the creation of the Firmament, Earth and Waters, the Holy Spirit
of the God thought like this. "I have created all the Worlds. For them I
should create a protector (Saviour). With this intention, the Holy Spirit
created a male from His own self. (Ithareyopanishad 1. 1:3)
....
"Thasmaad virraada jaayatha

viraajo adhi purusha:

Sjaatho athyarichyatha

Paschaad bhoomimadhopura:"

From that male the universe came into being. From that body of the
universe came the omnipresent male. That male thus became
manifest, adopted various forms and character and created the earth
and other planets along with the creatures to live in them.(Rigveda
X:90:5)

In 1:3 John says, "through him God made all things; not one thing in
all creation was made without him". Isn't this similarity in essence
between these mutually supporting statements, amazing?

Rigveda says again about this male, the creator and sustainer.

"Purusha evedam sarvam

Yadbhutham yachabhavyam

Uthaamruthathwasya eesaana

Yadaannenathirohathi"

It is definitely this very same male who exists now, who has gone by
and who is expected to come. Not only that, it is this same male who
controls the state of eternity (immortality).

It is for the redemption of mankind, he surpasses his immortal sphere
and descends to the mortal sphere. He comes to give everyone
recompense as per his deeds. (Rigveda X: 90:2)

In the book of Revelation, in the Holy Bible, St.John says, verse 8
chapter 1. "The Lord God, who is, who was and who is to come." In
John's Gospel 8th chapter 51st verse Jesus says: "I am telling you the
truth. Whoever obeys my teaching will never die."Again in the book of
Revelation, 22:12 Jesus says: "I will bring my rewards with me, to give
to each one according to what he has done." All the assignments
entrusted to the idol male is fulfilled in Jesus Christ perfectly.
Maintaining resemblance word by word, these statements do not
merely coincide in content, but it reveals a singular purpose or
meaning. We should remember that this unique oneness or singularity
is seen in 'Purushasookta' which the venerated vedavyasa had
applauded as the aphorism of aphorisms.

In this very same 'Purushasookta' there is a mention of a divine
sacrifice for the deliverance and salvation of human race too.

"Thaam yajnam barhishi proukshan

Purusham jaathamagratha

Thena deva ayajantha

Saadhya rushayaschaye"

Devas of heaven and the ruling fraternity along with the hermits
offered the first born male in sacrifice by consecrating him as the
animal of offering by tying him on a wooden sacrificial post. (Rigveda
X: 90:7)

We read in all the four Gospels in the Holy Bible -

Jesus was consigned to a wooden cross by Pilate, he representative
of the Roman Emperor, Herodes, the Jew king (Ruler), and two
priests named Annas and Caiaphas and their henchmen.

The crucification of Christ should not be seen as a punishment for a
mere revolutionary for treason. And it is a sacrifice for the redemption
of humanity as a whole; it is the fulfillment of prophecies of the old
testaments. If the blood of Christ shed on the cross is the cleansing
factor for the believer of Christianity, here Rigveda comes again.

"thamevam vidwaanamrutha

iha bhavathy

Naanya pandha ayanaaya vidyathe"

Those who worship (chanting with the lips, believing in the heart) him
gets liberated in this world itself and there is no other way besides this
for salvation.(Rigveda X: 90:16)

St. Paul, the apostle of Christ says in Romans 10:9 "Because if you
confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that
God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

The above similarities between this part of the Rigveda and the teachings of Christianity is too good to be true. The last sentence mentioned in Rigveda X: 90:16 is taken from the book of Acts 4:12, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

We can see that the author of the Rigveda had thorough knowledge of the Bible. Hence we do not share the amazement of Menon at the onneness between the Hindu Scriptures and the Bible.

We can safely say that the Hindu Scriptures have been continuously modified to incorporate all that is out there.

In the Bhagavad Gita we read that people can remain forever in Hell.

O Krsna, maintainer of the people, I have heard by disciplic succession that those who destroy family traditions dwell always in hell. 1:43

The belief in Hell is contrary to the endless cycle of death and rebirth that is essential in the Hindu religion. In the Gita much lesser concepts have been expounded and taught in detail, except this one. The word Hell just appears without any explanation.

This is another borrowing from Christianity and Islam.

We also find modern words in the Gita:

The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone's heart, O Arjuna, and is directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a machine, made of the material energy. 18:61

We were asked to believe that the Gita was written some 500 BC.

Here is another modern word:

That supreme abode of Mine is not illumined by the sun or moon, nor by fire or electricity. Those who reach it never return to this material world. Ch 15:6

While we can concede that the word for electricity could be an old one, the fact that electricity produces light like the sun and moon was not known 500 BC.

Let us look into the 163'rd aphorism of 10'th volume in Rigveda. There are six hymns in this aphorism. All are hymns for healing. Here is one:

"Aandrebhyasthe gudaabhyo
Vanishto hridayadadhi
Yaashmaam mathasnaabhyaam yakna
Plaashibhyo vivruhamithe"

O! You sick and suffering
I herein remove
Your illness
From the veins of your small intestine
From the veins that carry oxygen and
Enzymes from the large intestine,
From the ghearty
From the mango shaped kidneys on both sides
From your lungs and spleen

The Hindu Scriptures can not be taken seriously. Unless we passionately believe that machines, electricity, oxygen, and enzymes are all prophecies along with the names of Muhammad.

More on claims of prophecies about Muhammad in Hindu Scriptures or elsewhere.
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