Shravan Shuklapaksha Ashtami, Kaliyug Varsha 5116
An illustrious example depicting how crafty Christians attempt to confuse Hindus. Due to lack of Dharma-education (Dharmashikshan), Hindus cannot protest in the right earnest. – Editor
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Rev Dr Chilkuri Vasantha Rao uses a Sanskrit sloka to introduce the Vedpurush
The saffron-clad ‘ascetic’ crossed his legs and was in deep meditation in Haridwar at the foothills of the Himalayas. “Baba Bolo!” a pilgrim said. It was question the ascetic had not expected. He had come there only to see what Hindu pilgrims do at Haridwar.
And for the two hours that he had closed his eyes, Rev Chilkuri Vasantha Rao was praying. When the pilgrims prodded him to say something, the pastor looked around. He pointed to a pilgrim taking a dip in the Ganges. He asked the crowd what the he was doing. They answered that he was taking a holy dip to wash away one’s sins.
“What if he sins after going back home?” he asked. “He will come back next year for the holy again,” a man responded. “And if he died before that?” No one had an answer to that question.
That is when Rev Vasantha Rao spoke to them about Jesus Christ. He wrote about this experience in his book titled “Heads and Tales”.
“I told them a sloka (verse) from the Vedas (Hindu scriptures) in Sanskirt. It was ‘Sarva papa pariharao, raktha prokshanam thath raktham, paramthemena punya dana yagam (God would give a holy sacrifice in which holy blood would be shed for the remission of all sins.)”
“I explained that God had already sent his begotten son who was the Vedpurush (the promised son of God). This Vedpurush had died on the cross about 2,000 years ago and shed the holy blood…that cleanses us from all sin (I John 1:7).”
Rev Vasantha Rao told the pilgrims that once washed in the blood of Jesus, sin are forgiven and the question of having to be washed every year does not arise. That was introducing Jesus to the spiritually thirsty, at a place they would hardly expect to be told about Jesus.
Hindus are unaware that only regular spiritual practice, preached in Hinduism, alone can help them to go beyond the virtue-sin cycle to achieve the Ultimate Liberation i.e. becoming one with God ! Hindu Janajagruti Samiti strives to impart Dharma-education to Hindus. – Editor
The incident took place nearly 25 years ago. Rev Vasantha Rao, with a doctorate in theology from Germany, has shepherded many congregations, was principal of Andhra Christian Theological College (ACTC). He is now Presbyter-in-charge of CSI Christ Church, Lalaguda (English Service) in Secunderabad.
Source : The Gospel Truth Newspaper
