UNMASKING THE SYRIACS: THE HIDDEN ORIGIN OF INDIAN CHRISTIANITY

This book is all about the origin of Indian Christianity especially Syriac Christianity based on archaeological findings from ancient sites of the Socio-commercial network. Based on the archaeological data and artistic imagery represented in Central Asian religious syncretism together with historical narrative, the author questions the Martyrdom of St. Thomas at Mylapore, Chennai and its prime evidence the Pahlavi inscribed cross. Contrary to popular belief, the author meticulously suggests the possibility of a Gnostic origin of Pahlavi crosses of South India. He proposes the origin of present-day Syriac Christianity in India as an amalgamation of different gnostic groups comprising Farsi-Dravidian Manichaeans and Judeo-Dravidian pre-proto-orthodox groups in the post 9th century period under the Nestorian missionary supervision. Analysing archaeological data against the history of the Indian Ocean trade with the historical evolution of the symbol of the cross in Christendom, the author questions the claims of Syriac Churches not only in India but also in Mesopotamia and Central Asia. To substantiate his proposals, the author provides a detailed study on the Central Asian and Chinese evolution of the symbol of the cross suggesting the possible religious syncretism involving Manichaeism, Buddhism, Taoism and East Syriac Christianity.