Indian Christianity

HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA : M. M. NINAN
“This Pseudepigraphic text relates the adventures of the apostle Judas Thomas as he preaches an
ascetical or encratite form of Christianity on the way to and from India. Like other apocryphal acts
combining popular legend and religious propaganda, the work attempts to entertain and instruct. In
addition to narratives of Thomas' adventures, its poetic and liturgical elements provide important
evidence for early Syrian Christian traditions.” (17)
One of the reasons for doubting the story was the absence of any King by the name of Gondophores in
India. During the last few decades a large deposit of coins turned up which clearly showed Gondophores
as the Indo- Parthian King with a brother whose name was Gad as mentioned in the Acts of Thomas.
The coins from Taxila with the seal and inscription of King Gundophorus read: "Maharaja -
rajarajasamahata -dramia -devavrata Gundapharase". Rock stone called Takhth-i-Bahi Stone of size 17"
long and 14.5" broad has this inscription: "In the twenty-sixth year of the great King Gudaphara in the
year three and one hundred, in the month of Vaishakh, on the fifth day" (18)
The Ruins of Taxila, the Capitol of the Indo-Parthian Kingdom of Gondaphorus - now in Pakisthan
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