CHRISTIAN RELIGION IN INDIA. 6\ 



ready to die in his place; and in that of all those 

 who claimed his protection. The King ordered, that 

 the holy man should suifer immediate death, upon a 

 'Sulaox ^SuU, which means a stake, either one for em- 

 paling, or a gibbet, or cross. Crucifixion being un- 

 known to the Hindus, they of course, have no name 

 for it: and Sula or Suit, originally a stake, signifies 

 also a gibbet, or the cross ; exactly like Stauros m 

 Greek, It is so even in the Persian language ; and 

 so it was among the Romans, according to Seneca;* 

 crucifixion signified both empaling and extending 

 the arms upon a cross bar ; for these two modes of 

 punishment were equally in use among them : a cir- 

 cumstance very little known. 



Then the holy man was stretched upon tlie 'Sula, 

 amidst the lamentations of the surrounding multi- 

 tude, to whom he observed, that he came for that 

 purpose, (to atone with his life for the sins of others). 

 The 'Sula was suddenly changed into a ^Sala, or tree 

 loaded with flowers ; a piishpa-varsha took place, as 

 usual on such occasions ; that is to say, it rained 

 flowers from on high ; a celestial car, with divine 

 choristers, came dov/n to translate into heaven the 

 holy man, who, taking the thief by the hand, said, 

 " thou shalt also be with me in Cailasa or paradise.'' 

 Thus they went to Cailasa in the presence of an im- 

 mense crowd, who with uplifted liands, loud huzzas, 

 and tears of joy, testified their satisfaction, at the, 

 sudden change. The Muselmans, and the Mani- 

 cheans, with many other sectaries, will not allow 

 that Christ was really crucified. Some say, that 

 it was a mere illusion; others allege, that he 



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* Seneca de Consol. ad Marcium, p. c. 20. 



