Thomas In India? History Of Christianism In India

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St.Thomas Fables-Historical Analysis.

Dear Friends,

We see a story repeated so often being summerised as follows
“Tradition says that Christianity on the Malabar Coast of India Originated with St.Thomas, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. St.Thomas is supposed to have Landed at Cranganore in about 52AD, preached the Gospel to people and Organised Christian communities in several Places and established Seven (7) Churches. In 345AD, Palestinian Businessman Thomas Cana along with 72 families came and settled in Kerala thereby augmenting the Christian community. … There are quiet a few prefer to deny the coming of St.Thomas to India, they do not however explain the Orinin of Christianity in India or adduce any reason for discrediting the Tradition about St.Thomas..”
– Page-104Christianity in Inida-Its True Face” , Dr.John Vellamattam, Addl. Secretary of CBCI, and a former Principal of a College in Kerala.

We get many books written by Bishops and Christian Professors making a list of Alleged proofs for the above claims that of the visit of St.Thomas.

Now I shall analyse all claims, but for easy I List here their main claims:

1. Acts of Thomas- a Apocryphal NT book originally written in Syrian Language, Author Unknown, normally dated to early Third Century.
2. Roman Church Records of 4/5 or Later Centuries.
3. Travelers Remarks.
4. Marco Polo- the Venetian Travelers Remarks
5. Findings of Roman Coins in South India/
6. Jewish Presence in India.
7. Kerala’s Malayalam Song – Ramban Pattu which describes in detail of St.Thomas visit stories.
8. Tamilnadu’ Traditions as Spread by Church.
9. Archeological findings of few crosses in Chennai and Kerala
10. Archeological findings of few Items in the present Church at Sea Shore of Chennai-Mylapur being called Santhom.
11. King Gondapherous coins findings
12. Tamil Ancient Literature-Post Sangam ones have Christian Influence as claimed by Christian Apologists.
13. Tirukural-as per Arch Bishop Arulappa of Santhom Catholic Basilica, who funded Millions of Rupees in making of “Original Manuscripts” , and his 100% funding Chennai University to have Tamil Christian Research Foundation and getting His 100% funded One Deivanayagam a PhD on Interpretation of Tirukural, and Later Arulappa himself writing a new Commentary for Tirukural as a Bible Oriented Book.
14. The Christian sects of Bardaisans, Nestorians and a Buddhist-Zoroastrian Influenced Manichaeism.
15. Speeches of Various Political Leaders in Christian Functions.


Every Above Claims have been made over Last 200 Odd Years and repeated over every available rooftops and Media and using the Unity as a Political Tool Stamps etc., has been issued claiming St.Thomas visits.
Against Hundreds of Books spreading and claiming newer an newer Evidences for the Alleged visit of St.Thomas, quiet a few Christian Authors with Sincere Historical view have analysed most of the above claims and found that “Alleged visit of St.Thomas- is purely Fable” and no Historic basis of any resort behind this Fable.

We shall Analyse all above: ACTA THOMAE:

Story of this Book:
Twelve Apostles divided up the world for their missionary labors by draw of lots, India fell to Thomas. Thomas the Twin Brother of Jesus said he was not healthy enough and that a Hebrew could not teach Indians; even an alleged vision of Jesus could not change his mind.

Jesus then appeared to the Indian merchant Habban and became Slave Trader, sold Thomas to Habban for 30 Silvers as a slave for his master-King Gundaphorus, who ruled over part of India. When Thomas discovered and went with Habban as Slave.

They Landed at Ship at Port- Andrapolis, went to a wedding, and a Thomas met a Jewish maid, who loved him, Thomas rejected her and in Secret told the newly wed couple to Avoid Sexual Relationship, which is against Jesus’ Teachings, when the Royal Parents came to knew this, they tried to arrest Thomas, and Habban and Thomas left ot King Gundaphorus’ Land. King gave huge Money to Thomas for building a Huge Palace for the King.

Thomas did not construct any building, and he used the silver given to him by the king for Conversion Purposes by giving to poor for Conversion.

When the king returned, he imprisoned him, intending to flay him alive. At that point, the king's brother Gad died, and in Heaven when the Dead brother was shown the palace Thomas' good works had prepared for the king, Dead Gad was allowed to return to earth and offer to buy the spot from the king for himself. The king refused, released Thomas, and was converted by him.

Thomas after carrying out Conversion work in that country, went to neighbouring Desert Country ruled by King Misdaeus, when King Misdaeus was away, Thomas Converted, King’s wife, the Queen and young Prince. King felt Thomas-a Conjurer, arrested Thomas and On hearing was sentenced to death for Sorcery. Misdaeus’s Soldiers took him to a Hill and Carried sentence for Sorcery by Piercing. When One of the relatives of King Misdaeus was sick, on suggestion went to the Tomb of Thomas, but it was Empty, as the Dead Body was moved away, which later was moved to Mesopotamia.

What Chruch says about ACTA THOMAE?- in St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia, ed. George Menachery in which Article “The Acts of Thomas” by Rev.Anthony Poathoor.

- “The Acts of Thomas in its present form contains many Doctrinal Errors. Some Historians conclude that – “The Acts of Thomas” is the work of an unknown heretic who made use of the Authority to support his own Theological Opinions. Some Other Authors have suggested that the present work is the corrupted form of an older Orthodox version. In the view of former… We can hardly call the text interpolated, because the additions increase nearly Ten-fold to the Original Text. …. there is no doubt that the present Acts of Thomas is unacceptable from the Doctrinal point of View. Page- 24

-This is actually the same practice of Old and New Testament Bible Books. Pentateuch- or First Five books of Old Testament also called Moses’ Laws- as per Biblical Research is dated to 400-250CE, but put on the Mouth of Moses a Legendary Person to have lived in 1200BCE.

None of the Four Canonical Gospel or any of the 27 New Testament books were written by any of the Eye witnesses or Disciples OF Historical Jesus, but church added the names given to make use of the Authority of Dead Apostle and Jesus.

Now a book which was rejected in end of 4th Century/early 5th Cen when New Testament Canon was formed, and whose Doctrinal position is totally rejected is claimed by Those who spread Thomas Visit Stories as a Prime Source. Now this Acta Thomae tells of Kings Misdaeus & Gundaphorus.

Now in the name of Tamilnadu and Kerala Traditions which Church created- Kings Mahadevan or MachchaDevan and Kandappa Raja where the Kings with whom Thomas interacted.

But then Coins of a King in North-West of India A King Gondophorus was found in 19th Cen. Middle and Gondophorus could reigned around late 1st Centruy BCE-early 1st Cent.CE.

Our Thomas Story Builders who earlier said Thomas visiting by ship to Keralite Kandappa Raja and Coramandel (Chennai) king Mahadevan, now jumped saying first Thomas visited Gondophorus’ Kingdom (Now in Afghanistan) and later came to Kerala.

But does the name of King Gondophorus make the Acta- Historical? What is the Opinion of Roman Church?

Holy see’s Publisher “Burn Oares & Wash Boune Ltd’ has Published Multi Volume –“Butler’s Lives of Saints” Edited by Rev.Alban Butler (with Nihil Obstat & Imprimatur from Two Archbishop for its Doctrinal Acceptance) says-

“.. the Syrian Greek who was probably the fabricator of the Story would have been able to learn from Traders and Travelers such details as the name Gondophorus with Tropical details.. Pages 213-218, in Volume December.

The Authors have gone through all the major works of the claims of St.Thomas Indian visit claims and one of the highly acclaimed work of “The Early Spread of Christianity in India” – Alfred Mingana connected this with Apostle Thomas visit claims and clearly affirms-
. “ It is likely enough that the Malabar Coast was evangelized from Edessa at a later date, and . that in the course of time a confused tradition.”
“It is likely enough that the Malabar Coast was Evangelized from Edessa at a Later date, and in the course of time a confused tradition connected this with Apostle Thomas himself.”

Holy See’s publisher says that Indian Christianity has mostly the Origins from Edessa, which is in present Turkey- But did Edessa was the area where Thomas Worked?- let us see, how a detailed study by a Secular Historian says-

“Edessa-the modern Urfa in North West Mesopotamia is a city with an immensely long history going back to the Babylonian & Assyrian age. About 132BC it has became a seat of local dynasty, one of whose king raised the pillar. CHRISTIANITY Was Introduced in the Jewish Colony in the 2nd Century CE, and the church developed a national spirit using the Syriac Language and becoming the First Seat of Christianity in the Syriac speaking Community.”- Page-2176, World History; Editor J.A.Hanmeston.

Former English Professor of St.Joseoph College, Trichy, Dr.Joseph Kolangodan wrote a book “The History of Apostle Thomas” and it has the total appraisal from a fellow Christian, Professor John Ochanthurthi, Dept. of History, Calicut University saying-
“As the Well known Orientalist and Syrian Scholar George Every in his book “Christian Myths”(New York; Page-92)- India of this Legend (Acta THomae) is certainly not Malabar and may not be in the Indian Peninsula”

CHURCHES very clearly know the above Research truths with its vast Experience of “ a lie repeated becomes Legendry History as that of New Testament Hero- Jesus”.

What does Church know about Thomas. Let us get from a Christian Scholar-

“ The VERY NAME of the Apostle who is known as Thomas remains obscure. Thomas is the Greek form of the Aramaic Teoma whose Greek Translation is Didymas, meaning “Twin”, most probably his original name was Judas, and the Parentheses and the versional variants could have been Scribal clarification. How could an Apostle be known by an epithet or an adjective such as “TWIN” - “Person And Faith of Apostle Thomas in the Gospels”- Dr.George Kaniarakath,CMI

What is the Opinion about Acts of Thomas, in Catholic Church- Acta Thomae was composed in the Ist half of the 3rd Century AD in Gnostic Manichean circle with Encrastic tendencies. Page-411, Vol-3, New Catholic Encyclopedia &

Holy see’s Publisher “Butler’s Lives of Saints” Edited by Rev.Alban Butler with Nihil Obstat & Imprimatur from Two Archbishop and it says-

It is now commonly agreed that there is no Truth behind the extravagant but interesting story as just outlined.

I also refer to<b> “Church History of Travancore” by C.M.Agur, (</b>released by the Church in commemoration of Centenary Celebrations of the Church in 1903) reprint 1990, refers to the Merchant Thomas of Cana who came in 745 AD and clearly affirms-

“ Long after his Death the people Canonised him and the Subsequent Generation confused St.Thomas the Armenian Merchant with St.Thomas the Apostle, who never came to Malabar. This Confusion becomes more potent when we look in to the names of the Churches said to have been founded by the Merchant Thomas are Identical with the names of the Churches attributed to St.Thomas. Page-12

Christian Churches say that Thomas founded seven churches are at Kodungallur, Palayur, Paravoor, Kokkamangalam, Niranam, Chayal and Kollam.

Also we saw that Church claims that Thomas landed at Cranganore- a corrupted version of modern Kodungallur, and most of the other Six are all on Western Keralite Coast. Let Us what is the Truth of Archaeological Truth. The Church Apologists also say is the Cranganore as the Musiri the famous Port referred in Sangam Literature Former Professor of Chennai University Head of the Department of Archeaology Professor-Dr.K.V.Raman in Tamil says

கொடுங்கல்லூர் நகருக்குத் தெற்கில் பல இடங்களில், வடக்கில் பழமையானவை என்று கருத்ப்ப்ட்ட சில இடங்களிலும் அகழ்வாய்வுகள் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டது....
கேரளாவில் நடைபெற்ற இந்த அகழ்வாய்வுகளை நடுநிலை நின்று பார்த்தால் கீழ்கண்ட, தற்காலிகமான முடிவிற்கு வரலாம்.

கொடுங்கல்லூருக்கு உள்ளும் புறமுமாக, பல முக்கிய இடங்களிலும் நடத்தப்பட்ட அகழ்வாய்வுஅள் எல்லாவற்றிலும் கிடைத்த மிகப் பழைமையான படிவுகள் கி.பி.8 அல்லது 9-ஆம் நூற்றாண்டைச் செர்ந்த்ததாகத்தான் உள்ளன. ஆக, ஓரே சீரான பண்பாட்டுக் கூறுகள் எல்லா இடங்களிலும் வெளிப்பட்டுள்ளன என்பது தெளிவாகிறது.
கொடுங்கல்லூர் பகுதியில், மனித சமுதாயத்தில் முதல் குடியிருப்புகள் 8,9-ஆம் நூற்றாண்டுகளில் தான் ஏற்பட்டிருக்க வேண்டும். குலசேகர மரபினர், கண்ணனூர்ப் பகுதியில் குடியேறி, அதைத் தங்களுடைய தலைநகராக கொண்ட பொழுது இந்தப் பகுதி முழுவதும் முக்கியத்துவம் பெற்றிருக்க வேண்டும். குலசேகர மரபினர்களைப் பற்றிய நல்ல காலக் கணிப்புகள் நமக்குக் கிடைத்திருக்கின்றன. ஆனால் அதற்கு முற்பட்ட காலத்தைச் சேர்ந்த எந்த விதமான ஆதாரமும் கிடைக்கவில்லை.. ..

திருவஞ்சிக்களம் இங்கே ந்டந்த அகழ்வாய்வு கலவையான(M) பல ஆதாரங்களை வெளிப்படுத்தியது. அவை மிகவும் பழைமையானவை10 அல்லது 9ம் நுற்றாண்டுக்கு முற்பட்டதாக இல்லை.

திருவஞ்சிக்களம், கருப்பதானா அல்லது மதிலகம் போன்றவற்றின் பெயர்களை மட்டும் கொண்டு, அவைகள் பழைய வஞ்சியாகவோ கருராகவோ இருக்கலாம் என்று கருதப்பட்டது. ஆனால் இங்கு நடந்த அகழ்வாய்வுகள் கி.பி 8-ஆம் நூற்றாண்டைச் சேர்ந்த இரண்டாம் சேரப் பேரரசுக் காலத்து ஆதாரங்களைத் தான் வெளிப்படுத்தி உள்ளனவே அல்லாமல் பழங்காலச் சேரர்களை பற்றிய எந்தவிதமமன ஆதாரத்தையும் வில்லை. ஆகவே, இந்த இடங்களில் தான், பழைய வங்சியோ, கருரோ இருந்தது என்று சொல்ல முடிய வெளிப்படுத்தவில்லை.

பழைய முசிறித் துறைமுகம் இருந்த இடத்தைக் கண்டுபிடிக்க வேண்டிய அவசியம் ஏற்பட்டிருக்கின்றது. அது நிச்சயமாக கொடுங்கல்லூராக இருக்க முடியாது. பக்-68-70 கே.வி..ராமன், தொல்லியல் ஆய்வுகள் and this article was earlier published in Araichi, 170, under the Heading “Archaeological Investigations in Kerala”

I summarise it in English, Professor refers to the Archaeological research work done under Mr.Anu John Achhan and after analyzing all the findings says First Occupation of Humankind in Kodungallore Belt and surroundings happened in 8 or 9th Century AD, as Virgin Soil without Any Human Occupation came then, all researches in the surrounding areas took us to the Second Chera period of and certainly Kodungallore is not the Musiri the famous Port referred in Sangam Literature.

Does the Apostle Thomas in India Fables spreading Churches aware that Coastal Kerala was below Sea till 7th or 8th Century CE.

Let us see from History of Christianity in India, Vol. I, by Fr. A. Mathias Mundadan, Professor of Church History and Theology at the Dharmaram Pontifical Institute, Bangalore, in says
“Opinion seems to be Unanimously insupporting the Hypothesis that the whole or Greater part of the western section of the Kerala coast was once under waters and that the formation of the Land was due to some process of nature either gradual or Sudden.” Page-12

Incidentally Kodungallore Church are also called MALANKARA. What Does MALANKARA Mean? The Tamil word correct form is Mal-Iyan Karai, which became Maliankara or Malankara. The Land formed By God Vishnu(Mal) and God Siva(Iyan).

Now I refer again Dr.Joseph Kolangodan wrote a book “The History of Apostle Thomas” and it has the total appraisal from a fellow Christian, Professor John Ochanthurthi, Dept. of History, Calicut University

“As for as I could see from all the Shreds of Quotations presented by Prof. Kolangadan in this Volume, the antiquity of St.Thomas Tradition in South India cannot go beyond 13th Century. So for as direct and explicit support in favour of the St.Thomas Tradition in South India is concerned, I have No Doubt that the answer must be, None. Neither the Church Fathers nor the Apocrypal Acts say anything explicityly about Malabar.” Page 79

I quote from Rev.George Menachery Edited St. Thomas Christians Encyclopedia”,Vol-2, Article DID St.Thomas Really Come to INDIA- From a Doubter’s point of View by
Rev H.COMES. It explains-

“Heracleon- (II Century) is the earliest author to throw a light on St.Thomas’s carrier; his grandparents might have known the Apostle. Now, discussing the problem of witness and blood martyrdom, he states in a casual way, as something well known, that Matthew, Philip, Thomas, and Levi(Thaddaues) had not met violent deaths. And Clement of Alexandria (150-211/16 A.D.) who quotes this Passage of Heracleon and corrects some of his ideas, does not challenge this facts.”


It explains and analyses further in detail all other points and finally concludes as-
" For all these reasons it is our honest opinion, and thus we conclude, that Christianity was brought to India, not by St.Thomas, but by merchants, refugees and missionaries from Persia; that in this movement of Christianity towards India, Rewardshir, which was not only a great church, but also a great port, played an important part; that the St.Thomas Tradition itself may have been brought to Socotra to Konkan -Gujarat and to South India by these early settlers and missionaries from Persia; but that its ultimate origin may have been some of the regions near Palestine Christianized in the First Century." Page-24

Linguistics Help much, Brahmins and Vedas have been regarded with Highest Hanour in Thol Kappiyam, Sangam Literature, Tirukural, Silapathigaram and Manimekalai which covers a period from BCE300 to 300 CE. Vedas are not written for long because it does not follow Panini’s Grammar, but has to get the right interpretation, hence we use Sanskrit-“SRUTHI” Means “Heard”- where as we have many names in above Tamil Literature such as “Marai, (மறை, எழுதா கற்பு, ஓத்தும் அறம், ஆர்ங்கம் நான்மறை)Ezutha kaRpu, Aram, Aarangam etc., Sanskrit words have been mixed in All the Above Literature. We do not have a Single Hebrew, Greek, Latin word which confirms the absence of anu major presence of this people here.
We saw, from Highest Authorities of Roman Churches, that
1. Acts of Thomas is totally unreliable an unacceptable book, with absolutely Un-Historical Fables, totally rejected.
2. Even this Fable Acta Thomae- and the Geography it says are not in Indian Peninsula itself.
3. As for as South Indian Traditions we know there was nothing, as confirmed by Calicut University Professor of History.
4. Kodungallore and most of the places are below Sea till 7th/8th Century of Common Era(CE), which has been very clearly proven by Archaeological Researches.
5. The Indian Christianity came from Syrian Edessa even that has no Thomas Back Ground as per Historical Truths.
6. Church has absolutely no Knowledge about any of the 12 Apostles or even the founder of Christianity Paul. Even though Church does not know the real name of any Back ground about Thomas, But very clear earliest recordings say that Thomas did not suffer from any Opposition and died a Normal death mostly in Judea itself.
Why Church is spreading this Fables – I quote a Church Scholar’s WORK which tells Truth openly-
“Psychologically such a Perception is important , in that it helps to attach the involved population to a long tradition which in turn insets them with Dignity and Pride. Sociologically such a cognition defines Indian Christianity as Pre-Colonial phenomenon which is of Tremendous Existential Consequence.” - Page-40, The Christian Clergy in India, Vol.-I, T.K.Comen & Hunter.P.Malony, Sage Publications
Though most of these materials are familiar to Scholars and Specialist in the Fields, it is never made available to the Wider Public.
Luke16:10, Jesus of Galilee, the Orthodox and Patriotic Jew of New Testament Gospels against the Heathen Roman rule-says,

if one is honest in little matters, he is trustable in other matters, and if one is dishonest in little matters he cannot be trusted in anything.

No Gospel Author has been Honest and so the Church. We have seen mainly about The Acta Thomae, but in my subsequent Chapters let us see in detail the way these Church has been Fraudulently spreading these Thomas Indian visit Fables and the Blatant Lies used and spread, on each of the above headings given as Proofs seen in First, with Authority of Highest Order from Christian Church and also Secular.

DEVAPRIA SOLOMON