Barlaam and Josaphat

Saint Josaphat is said to have lived and died in the 3rd century or 4th century in India . His story appears to be in many respects a Christianized version of Siddhartha Gautama 's story. According to legend, a King Abenner or Avenier in India persecuted the Christian church in his realm, founded by the Apostle Thomas . When astrologers predicted that his own son would someday become a Christian, Abenner had the young prince Josaphat isolated from external contact. Despite the imprisonment, Josaphat met the hermit Saint Baarlam and converted to Christianity. Josaphat kept his faith even in the face of his father's anger and persuasion. Eventually, Abenner himself converted, turned over his throne to Josaphat, and retired to the desert to become a hermit. Josaphat himself later abdicated and went into reclusion with his old teacher Baarlam. The story of Josaphat and Baarlam was popular in the Middle Ages , appearing in such works as the Golden Legend . Although Josaphat and Baarlam were canonized in the Greek Orthodox Church and Roman Catholic Church , there is no evidence that either ever existed. Wilfred Cantwell Smith traced the story from a second to fourth-century Sanskrit Mahayana Buddhist text, to a Manichee version, to an Arabic Muslim version, to an eleventh century Christian Georgian version, to a Christian Greek version, and from there into Western European languages. He traced Josaphat's name from the Sanskrit term bodhisattva via the Middle Persian bodasif . Author Holger Kersten proposes an alternate explanation: that "Josaphat" is derived from the Arabic "Judasaf" or "Budasaf", as written in an Urdu version of the tale. He ties this name to Yuz Asaf , a Muslim holy figure identified with Jesus . This idea, which proposes Jesus escaped crucifixion and died in India, was first introduced to the west by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad .

Barlaam and Josaphat is a Christianized version of the story of Gautama Buddha , the founder of Buddhism . In the Middle Ages the two were treated as Christian saints, being entered in the Greek Orthodox calendar on 26 August, and in the Roman Martyrology in the Western Church as "Barlaam and Josaphat" on the date of 27 November. According to the legend, King Abenner or Avenier in India persecuted the Christian Church in his realm, founded by the Apostle Thomas . When astrologers predicted that his own son would some day become a Christian, Abenner had the young prince Josaphat isolated from external contact. Despite the imprisonment, Josaphat met the hermit Saint Barlaam and converted to Christianity. Josaphat kept his faith even in the face of his father's anger and persuasion. Eventually Abenner converted, turned over his throne to Josaphat, and retired to the desert to become a hermit. Josaphat himself later abdicated and went into seclusion with his old teacher Barlaam. A History of Sanskrit Literature .

Their life story is likely to have been based on the life of the Gautama Buddha . It tells how an Indian king persecuted the Christian Church in his realm. When astrologers predicted that his own son would some day become a Christian, the king imprisoned the young prince Josaphat, who nevertheless met the hermit Saint Barlaam and converted to Christianity. After much tribulation the young prince's father accepted the Christian faith, turned over his throne to Josaphat, and retired to the desert to become a hermit. Josaphat himself later abdicated and went into seclusion with his old teacher Barlaam. The tale derives from a second to fourth century Sanskrit Mahayana Buddhist text, via a Manichaean version, then the Arabic Kitāb Bilawhar wa-Būd̠āsaf (Book of Bilawhar and Budhasaf), current in Baghdad in the eighth century, from where it entered into Middle Eastern Christian circles before appearing in European versions. The two were entered in the Eastern Orthodox calendar with a feast-day on 26 August , and in the Roman Martyrology in the Western Church as "Barlaam and Josaphat" on the date of 27 November. John Walbridge The Wisdom of the Mystic East: Suhrawardī and Platonic Orientalism Page 129 – 2001 "The form Būdhīsaf is the original, as shown by Sogdian form Pwtysfi and the early New Persian form Bwdysf. ... On the Christian versions see A. Geden, Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics, s.v. "Josaphat, Barlaam and," and M. A History of Sanskrit Literature .

Legendary Christian saints For other uses, see Barlaam and Josaphat . A Christian depiction of Josaphat, 12th century manuscript Barlaam and Josaphat , also known as Bilawhar and Budhasaf , are legendary Christian saints . Their life story was based on the life of the Gautama Buddha , and tells of the conversion of Josaphat to Christianity . According to the legend, an Indian king persecuted the Christian Church in his realm. After astrologers predicted that his own son would some day become a Christian, the king imprisoned the young prince Josaphat, who nevertheless met the hermit Saint Barlaam and converted to Christianity. After much tribulation the young prince's father accepted the Christian faith, turned over his throne to Josaphat, and retired to the desert to become a hermit. Josaphat himself later abdicated and went into seclusion with his old teacher Barlaam. Encyclopedia of Buddhism Online .

Legendary Christian saints For other uses, see Barlaam and Josaphat . A Christian depiction of Josaphat, 12th century manuscript Barlaam and Josaphat , also known as Bilawhar and Budhasaf , are Christian saints . Their story tells of the conversion of Josaphat to Christianity . According to tradition, an Indian king persecuted the Christian Church in his realm. After astrologers predicted that his own son would some day become a Christian, the king imprisoned the young prince Josaphat, who nevertheless met the hermit Saint Barlaam and converted to Christianity. After much tribulation the young prince's father accepted the Christian faith, turned over his throne to Josaphat, and retired to the desert to become a hermit. Josaphat himself later abdicated and went into seclusion with his old teacher Barlaam.