erning the story of Herod and his order to slay all the male
infants, there has been discovered in a cavern at Elephanta, in India,
a sculptured representation of a huge and ferocious figure, bearing a
drawn sword and surrounded by slaughtered children, while mothers appear
weeping for their slain. This figure is said to be of great antiquity.

Mary, the Mother of Jesus, like Mai, the Mother of Gatama Buddha, was
regarded by certain sects in the earlier ages of Christianity as an
Immortal Virgin whose birth had been announced by an angel.(126) She was
in fact the ancient Virgin of the Sphere--the Mother of the Gods--the
Queen of Heaven.

126) See Gospels of Mary and the Protovangelion.

As soon as Christ was born he conversed with Mary, as did also Crishna
with his mother, informing her of his divine mission.

Crishna was cradled among shepherds, so was Christ. Cansa, fearing the
loss of his kingdom, sought to destroy the life of the divine infant in
the same manner as did Herod in the case of Christ. Both children are
carried away by night, after which an order is issued by the ruler
of the country that all the young children throughout the kingdom be
slaughtered.

When Joseph and Mary arrived in Egypt, they visited the temple of
Serapis, where "all the magistrates and priests of the idols
were assembled." Upon the image being interrogated concerning the
"consternation and dread which had fallen upon all our country," it
answered them as follows: "The unknown god has come hither, who is truly
God; nor is there anyone besides him, who is worthy of divine worship;
for he is truly the son of God." And at the same instant this idol fell
down, and at his fall all the inhabitants of Egypt, besides others, ran
together.(127) A similar story is related of Crishna. This Indian god,
the same as Christ, cured a leper. A woman, after having poured a box
of precious ointment on the head of Crishna, was healed; so also a woman
anointed the head of Jesus. Crishna when but a lad displayed remarkable
mental powers and the most profound wisdom before the tutor who was sent
to instruct him. Christ astonished the school-master Zaccheus with his
great learning.(128)

127) Gospel of the Infancy, ch. iv.

128) Gospel of the Infancy, ch. xx.

Crishna had a terrible encounter with the serpent Calinaga; the infant
Christ had also a dreadful adventure with a serpent. Now this Calinaga
which Crishna encountered w