Brahman

BRAHMAN: THE DISCOVERY OF THE GOD OF ABRAHAM: M. M. NINAN
The Change as we have seen took place around 600 BC. Hence
In his History of the Jews, the Jewish scholar and theologian Flavius Josephus (37 - 100
A.D.), wrote that the Greek philosopher Aristotle had said: "...These Jews are derived from the
Indian philosophers; they are named by the Indians Calani." (Book I:22.)
Clearchus of Soli (Greek: Kλέαρχoς, Klearkhos) was a Greek philosopher of the 4th–3rd
century BCE, belonging to Aristotle's Peripatetic school. He was born in Soli in Cyprus. He
wrote extensively on eastern cultures, and is thought to have traveled to the Bactrian city of Ai-
Khanoum (Alexandria on the Oxus) in modern Afghanistan.Clearchus of Soli wrote, "The Jews
descend from the philosophers of India. The philosophers are called in India Calanians and in
Syria Jews. The name of their capital is very difficult to pronounce. It is called 'Jerusalem.'
The full quotation evidently shows that there were jews in India who were known as “calani”
Here's the quote from JSTOR-accessible scholarly journal article: E. Silberschlag (1933). "The
earliest record of Jews in Asia Minor". Journal of Biblical Literature 52 (1): 66-77. ISSN 00219231.
On pages 67-68, it quotes Josephus in Contra Apionem (1.176-183), quoting from "Thackeray's
translation made for the Loeb Classical Library" (p. 67, footnote 5) as stating that:
"It would take too long to repeat the whole story, but there were features in that man's character, at
once strangely marvellous and philosophical, which merit description. 'I warn you, Hyperochides,'
he said, 'that what I am about to say will seem to you as wonderful as a dream.'
Hyperochides respectfully replied, 'that is the very reason why we are all anxious to hear it'. 'Well,'
said Aristotle, 'in accordance with the precepts of rhetoric, let us begin by describing his race, in
order to keep to the rules of our masters in the art of narration.' 'Tell the story as you please,' said
Hyperochides.
'Well,' he replied, 'the man was a Jew of Coele-Syria. These people are descended from the Indian
philosophers. The philosophers, they say, are in India called Calani;[FOOTNOTE 6] in Syria by the
territorial name of Jews; for the district which they inhabit is known as Judaea. Their city has a
remarkably odd name: they call it Hierusaleme. Now this man, who was entertained by a large
circle of friends and was on his way down from the interior to the coast, not only spoke Greek, but
had the soul of a Greek. During my stay in Asia, he visited the same places as I did, and came to
converse with me and some other scholars, to test our learning. But as one who had been intimate
with many cultivated persons, it was rather he who imparted to us something of his own."
"Megasthenes, who was sent to India by Seleucus Nicator, about three hundred years
before Christ, and whose accounts from new inquiries are every day acquiring additional
credit, says that the Jews 'were an Indian tribe or sect called Kalani...'" (Anacalypsis, by
Godfrey Higgins, Vol. I; p. 400.)
Martin Haug, Ph.D., wrote in The Sacred Language, Writings, and Religions of the Parsis, "The
Magi are said to have called their religion Kesh-î-Ibrahim.They traced their religious books to
Abraham, who was believed to have brought them from heaven." (p. 16.)
In fact one of the magi who visited Bethlehem came from Kerala
Placing Abraham in India can only be done with lot of twisting of words and assumptions that
cannot be supported simply because of the time. Abraham was born arounf 2000 BC and the tribe
of Judah did not came into existence after His great grandson Judah. Brahminism came only by
600 BC.
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