Jesus of Nazareth, as this gallery shows, is a wholly Indian diety. His image is well recognized across the country. Some of the oldest Christian communities, like the Mar Thoma of Kerala, are found here. One popular legend states that after his crucifixion Jesus made his way to Kashmir where he married a local girl and died quietly many years later. Others claim he learned his spiritual ways from Himalayan gurus before starting his ministry in Palestine. In the more humanist and popular forms of Hinduism Jesus is considered one of the avatars (incarnations) of Vishnu. By promoters of modern India's secular national culture Jesus is enlisted along with Hindu gods and symbols of Islam as if to say 'we are all the same'.
About 2% of Indians are Christians and most live in the south and northeast. These pictures were made mostly in Chennai and Andhra Pradesh during 2006.
Jesus, Burning Heart. Mural. Triplicane, Chennai.
Jesus, Burning Heart. Mural. Triplicane, Chennai.
Camera: Canon (Canon Eos 20d) |
Original size: 1166px x 1752px |
Current: 200px x 300px |