ON KRISHNA, AND SOLAR MYTHS. 7g 
“7, Norham Gardens, Oxford, 
“March 20, 1887. 
“ Duar Caprain PETRIE, 
“JT have read Mr. Collins’ paper with much interest. The subject 
is extremely difficult, and the literature connected with it very large. 
I cannot enter into details. I can only say that, looking at the ques- 
tion from a purely historical point of view, I see no channel through 
which the Krishna story could have influenced Christianity, nor vice versd. 
The points of similarity are, no doubt, puzzling at first sight ; the points of 
difference, however, are far more numerous. We must wait and be satisfied 
that we cannot make out everything. The chief point is a critical study of 
the original documents. What is the date of the Syriac document called 
‘The leaching of the Apostles ?’ 
“The name Yezews was invented, I believe, by Jacolliot, and is a mere 
corruption of Yadu. I answered Jacolliot once (Selected Hssays IL, 
p. 422; also Introduction to the Science of Religion, p. 24), but these books 
hardly deserve notice. “Yours sincerely, 
“PF, Max MULLER.” 
The Cambridge Professor of Sanscrit, writes :— 
“Cambridge, March 15. 
“My pEAr Sim,—I thank you for sending me the copy of the Rev. R. 
Collins’ interesting paper. I am sorry that I cannot come up to London 
next week to attend the Meeting. 
“T may perhaps mention that it seems to me not unlikely that the name 
Jezeus, referred to in p. 174, may be a corruption of the Sanskrit word I’sa, 
‘Lord.’ J’sa properly belongs as a title to Siva; but it is sometimes used 
of Krishna (or Vishnu), as ¢.g. in the Vishnu Purana (Wilson, Hall’s ed., 
vol. v. p. 43). I’sas would be the nominative. It is a mere casual coinci- 
dence, if this is the name meant. 
“T remain, yours sincerely, 
“HB. B. CowEnt.” 
Dr. Leitner, Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Punjab, writes :— 
“Krishna is a half-historical character, and the coincidences of his life 
and that of Christ are too vague to justify the least connexion with, much 
less the derivation of any of the Krishna myths from, the narrative regarding 
Christ, or vice versa.” 
Dr. Edersheim writes :— 
“8, Bradmore Road, Oxford, March 20. 
“Dear Sir,—I am greatly obliged by the courteous invitation of the 
Council to be present at the reading of the paper, of which you have been 
so good as to send me a proof. I much regret that a literary engagement 
prevents my coming to town on Monday. I should have much liked to 
express my sincere appreciation of the paper, and my entire concurrence in 
the views of its able and learned writer. If my opinion is worth anything 
on these subjects, I can only state that, so far as my reading has gone, it 
has led me to precisely similar conclusions, and it confirms those advocated 
in the paper to be read before the Institute. 
“ Believe me, yours with much regard, 
“* ALFRED EDERSHEIM.” 
