Still poor, husband still drunk, but now Bhagaila is happy!

For Bhagaila, there was a distinct before and after. Before she became a Christian, Bhagaila had problems at home. She was poor, and her husband was a drunkard. Since becoming a Christian, Bhagaila is still poor, and her husband is still a drunkard. And yet everything has changed. "Now we don't have problems like before," she said. "Now we are happy."

After Bhagaila converted from Hinduism to Christianity, her husband began to beat her. He said, "I don't want you anymore because you are a believer. Your church will take care of you." One beating damaged her left ear, but she wouldn't leave. VOM paid for the surgery to repair her eardrum as well as a surgery to correct her daughter's birth defect.

Like many new believers in Nepal, Bhagaila has faced more problems from family and neighbors than from the government. However, when Christians are beaten, abused or expelled from their homes, they know they won't get help or protection from the government either.

By outward appearance, Bhagaila's life may have gotten worse after she came to know Christ. And yet, she said, "I am very happy to be a believer." She asks only for prayer. "Pray that I will be a strong believer so that whatever comes in my life I will not give up my faith. Now my husband is walking in the darkness. Please especially pray for my husband, that he will know Jesus. I will be very happy to see my husband walking in the light."

(From Voice of the Marters newsletter, June 2012)

High Caste Hindus who Embrace Jesus

My name is Ventakesh and my home is India. I was brought up in a strict, high caste Hindu family, and we had our own pooja room where we had daily prayers to the Hindu gods. We maintained all the Hindu festivals and were very diligent to fulfill all the requirements of our Hindu faith and religion.

My father was a highly-placed government official and very orthodox in all his practices. He treated with disdain the religion of the Christians because of their habits of smoking, drinking and dancing. He viewed them as unclean. His overall impression of the Christianity of the West was molded by what he saw in the Western movies, especially from America.

When I returned to the USA, I met another Hindu man who told me that he followed Jesus. He was not a practicing Christian who went to church, but he maintained his own Hindu culture and social habits, and he loved Jesus and read the Bible and he knew it very well. He explained to me that he was a Hindu by his first birth and was proud of this heritage which was from God and showed me Acts 17:26, where God is explained as the one who determines where and when we are born. Then he explained how he had experienced a second birth, when he became one of God’s children and a member of His kingdom. This second birth was not a physical birth but a spiritual birth and as God’s Spirit lived in us we would gradually become very attractive people who cared for others and helped them in their troubles. He showed me John 1:12 "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" - and so I decided to believe in Jesus. As a result I became one of His children and knew that my past was forgiven and that I had a great hope after I died.

Immediately I Skyped my sister in India and told her what was happening to me. She too has now experienced Jesus in her life and no longer prays to the Hindu gods. The changes in her attitude have touched my mother and father, who are now showing a lot of interest.

I have since returned to India, and I am very much part of our Hindu community. I am engaged in all the activities of our family and extended family. There are many discussions about Jesus, and I am sharing the Bible with many people in our community. Because of my academic qualifications and the good job I now have, I have a very good standing in our community, and so people listen to me. I continually explain to them that I am not trying to “convert” them to Christianity but to “convert” them to Jesus as they live out their lives in the Hindu community. Now I have quite a few friends who are also following Jesus, and we meet regularly to pray together and share the Scriptures and to encourage each other. We sense that God is going to cause many people in our community to know and love Him. We are claiming the verse Isaiah 60:22 that a little one shall become a thousand and that a small one will become a mighty nation and that God will hasten all this in His time. This is already beginning to happen.

(excerpted from K. Venkatesh, Living and Discipling in the Hindu World, Mission Frontiers May-June 2011)

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Dhanjibhai Fakirbhai and the Song of the Heart

"Dhanjibhai Fakirbhai was born a Hindu in Baroda and grew up in an atmosphere of devout bhakti. He became a Christian as a young man and after retirement from his work as a professor of physics devoted himself to the writing of Christian literature presenting the Christian faith in a way that would appeal to Hindus. His most widely-read book is Hriday Gita (The Song of the Heart)."

(from Robin Boyd, An Introduction to Indian Christian Theology, 1969, ISPCK, 2000 edition, p.213, available from Merging Currents.)
"Hriday Gita was the title of the original Gujarati work, published about 1955. It was later published in English, Hindi, and Marathi as Shri Krist Gita (The Song of the Lord Christ). The English version, published posthumously in 1969, is based on the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, but in Gujarati the translation of the Bible is Dhanjibhai's own very attractive one. Hriday Gita is a devotional presentation of the Christian faith in the dialogue-form made so familiar in India by the Bhagavadgita - a dialogue between the Lord and the believer, with the added testimony of other disciples and devotees. The material is composed entirely of quotations from the New Testament, yet this is no mere chain of texts. Dhanjibhai had a very detailed knowledge of the New Testament, and the selection and arrangement of the material indicates a profound grasp of the inner meaning of the Christian faith, and of how it can be presented to Hindu readers in a form at once familiar and new.

"The first section begins with the Divine Vision (dirsana) - Christ's appearance in glory to the author of Revelation. The titles of some of the other sections are: The Yoga of Faith (sraddha yoga), The Yoga of Divine Love (prema yoga), The Yoga of Action (karma yoga), The Yoga of Salvation (mukti yoga), The Yoga of Knowledge (jnana yoga), The Yoga of the Divine Sacrifice (balidan yoga), etc. In the words of Bishop Appasamy, 'many familliar passages in the New Testament will be found to glow with a new meaning in their new setting' in this book."

(from Robin Boyd, Manilal C. Parekh, Dhanjibhai Fakirbhai, Christian Literature Society, Madras, 1974, p.185, available from Merging Currents.)

Shri Krist Gita in its English version has appeared in print from time to time. It has been recently republished by Pilot Books, and can be purchased from the William Cary Library. As a taste of the entire work, Chapter one is presented on this blog - please click here.

Hriday Gita in the Gujarati version is long out of print, and difficult to find even in libraries in India. As a testimony to Dhanjibhai, a beloved Jesu Bhakta, I am presenting it in its entirety on this blog - a gift to Jesu Bhaktas everywhere and Jesu himself. For the Table of Contents (in Gujarati), click here. If there are any copyright issues, please let me know.

If you have trouble viewing Gujarati on your computer, see my article Office XP Proofing Tools for Indian Text Entry, Spell Checking, and Web pages.

- Marko

Dhanjibhai Fakirbhai died at the age of seventy-two in 1967.

Shri Krist Gita (1), by Dhanjibhai Fakirbhai

THE DIVINE VISION

The seer said:

I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet;
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me.

On turning I saw seven golden lampstands,
And in the midst of the lampstands one like a Son of Man.

He was clothed with a long robe,
And with a golden girdle round his breast.

His eyes were like a flame of fire,
His feet were like burnished bronze
Refined as in a furnace.

His voice was like the sound of many waters,
And in his right hand he held seven stars.

His face was like the sun,
Shining in full strength.

When I saw him,
I fell at his feet As though dead.

But he laid his right hand upon me, saying,
Fear not; I am the First and the Last,
And the Living One.

I am the holy one, the true one,
Who opens and no one shall shut,
Who shuts and no one opens.

Heavenly beings sing praises:

Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come.

Worthy art thou, our Lord and God,
To receive glory and honour and power.

For thou didst create all things,
And by thy will they existed and were created.

The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ,
And he shall reign for ever and ever.

Great and wonderful are thy deeds,
Just and true are thy ways.

Who shall not fear and glorify thy name, O Lord?
For thou alone art holy.

A devotee said:

He reflects the glory of God
And bears the very stamp of his nature.

He is the image of the invisible God,
For in him the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily.

The grace of God was manifested
For the salvation of all men.

Great is the mystery —
He was manifested in the body.

The seer bears witness:

The Word embodied himself and dwelt among us.
He was full of grace and truth.

In him was life,
And the life was the light of men.

The true light that enlightens every man
Was coming into the world.

The life was made manifest, and we saw it;
That which we have seen and heard
We proclaim also to you.

So say all his companions:

We were eyewitnesses
Of his Majesty.

Office XP Proofing Tools for Indian Text Entry, Spell Checking, and Web pages

By Marko Malyj, August 2003

A new Microsoft product, Office XP Proofing Tools, finally opens up the evolving world of Windows to the major languages of India. You can type in Hindi, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Punjabi, Tamil, and Telugu, using the global Unicode standard for world languages. This means that you can now create Indian language-documents or web sites that will be readable for many decades to come on all future computing systems.

What makes this software a must have is the spell checking capability. For the first time, you can type in any one of these Indian languages and be notified instantly of your spelling errors. You can even get a list of possible corrections, just by right clicking on the mistake.

Office XP Proofing Tools, also known as Office 2002 Proofing Tools, is available for about $75 U.S. from Microsoft. To operate Indian-style, you must have Windows XP and some version of Microsoft Office 2002.

Installation.

Run the setup program for Office XP Proofing Tools. Select all the options that you desire to use.

Configuration.

When the setup routine is done, click on Start, Control Panel, and then Regional and Language Options (available from Control Panel’s “Classic View”). Choose the Languages tab, then under “Supplemental Language Support”, check the box labeled “Install files for complex script and right-to-left languages”. Then, still on the Languages tab, under “Text Services” click on Details.

A window titled “Text Services and Input Languages” will pop up. Under “Installed services” click on the Add button, then select the language you want to work with and click OK. You may select more than one language by clicking on the Add button again. Again in the “Text Services and Input Languages”, under “Preferences” click on the “Language Bar” button, then check off “Show the Language bar on the desktop” and “Show additional Language bar icons in the taskbar”. Back under “Preferences”, click on “Key Settings”, highlight “Switch between input languages”, click on “Change Key Sequence”, then choose Left-Alt-Shift to switch input languages and Ctrl-Shift to switch keyboard layouts. Keep pressing OK and get out of Control Panel.

Keyboard Layouts and Fonts.

On the Windows XP task bar you will see a little blue box that tells you which language is currently in use. Normally it will show “EN” for English. In Microsoft Word, when you press Left-Alt-Shift, it will switch to the next available language that you installed, for example, “GU” for Gujarati. The font will also automatically change, depending on the language. Here is the list of fonts for the different languages:

Language	Font	Unicode Subrange
Hindi	Mangal	Devanagari
Gujarati	Shruti
Kannada	Tunga
Tamil	Latha
Telugu	Gautami
Marathi	Raavi	Gurmukhi
Punjabi

These fonts are available on all Windows XP systems. A second font is also available for each of the languages: Arial Unicode MS. This font is available on Windows XP, and also on Windows 2000 computers, which means that any documents that you prepare can be read (thought not edited) on Windows 2000 machines.

The keyboard layout makes all the letters of the alphabet available for typing. For instance, the Gujarati keyboard layout is shown at the top of this article.

It is very easy to combine characters. For example, to create the Gujarati combination નિ, you type the letter ન, followed by the symbol 'િ'. The combination મો would be મ followed by 'ો'.

Conjunct consonants require you to use '્', called the “virama” key in Unicode. For example, the Gujarati ધ્ય is produced by typing ધ, the virama '્', then ય. The one letter word હ્યું is five keystrokes: the letter હ, then the virama '્', followed by the ય, 'ુ' and 'ં' symbols.

Some character combinations are not obvious by looking at the keyboard layout. For the Gujarati language, here is a list of the most commonly used conjunct consonants.

Shruti		Arial Unicode MS		Shruti		Arial Unicode MS
ભ્ર	ભ્-ર	ભ્ર	ભ્-ર	રૂ	ર-ૂ	રૂ	ર-ૂ
હૃ	હ-ૃ	હૃ	હ-ૃ	ર્બ	ર્-બ	ર્બ	ર્-બ
હ્ય	હ્-ય	હ્ય	હ્-ય	ર્ગ	ર્-ગ	ર્ગ	ર્-ગ
ગ્ર	ગ્-ર	ગ્ર	ગ્-ર	ર્દ	ર્-દ	ર્દ	ર્-દ
ગ્ન	ગ્-ન	ગ્ન	ગ્-ન	ર્પ	ર્-પ	ર્પ	ર્-પ
ઘ્ય	ઘ્-ય	ઘ્ય	ઘ્-ય	ર્થ	ર્-થ	ર્થ	ર્-થ
દ્બ	દ્-બ	દ્બ	દ્-બ	ર્મ	ર્-મ	ર્મ	ર્-મ
દ્ભ	દ્-ભ	દ્ભ	દ્-ભ	ર્વ	ર્-વ	ર્વ	ર્-વ
દ્ગ	દ્-ગ	દ્ગ	દ્-ગ	ર્ય	ર્-ય	ર્ય	ર્-ય
દ્ઘ	દ્-ઘ	દ્ઘ	દ્-ઘ	ક્ર	ક્-ર	ક્ર	ક્-ર
દ્દ	દ્-દ	દ્દ	દ્-દ	ખ્ર	ખ્-ર	ખ્ર	ખ્-ર
દ્ધ	દ્-ધ	દ્ધ	દ્-ધ	ત્ત	ત્-ત	ત્ત	ત્-ત
દ્ર	દ્-ર	દ્ર	દ્-ર	છ્વ	છ્-વ	છ્વ	છ્-વ
દ્મ	દ્-મ	દ્મ	દ્-મ	મ્ર	મ્-ર	મ્ર	મ્-ર
દ્ન	દ્-ન	દ્ન	દ્-ન	ન્ન	ન્-ન	ન્ન	ન્-ન
દ્વ	દ્-વ	દ્વ	દ્-વ	સ્ત્ર	સ્-ત્ર	સ્ત્ર	સ્-ત્ર
દ્ય	દ્-ય	દ્ય	દ્-ય	સ્ર	સ્-પ	સ્ર	સ્-પ
ધ્ય	ધ્-ય	ધ્ય	ધ્-ય	રુ	ર-ુ	રુ	ર-ુ
જી	જ-ી	જી	જ-ી	શ્ચ	શ્-ચ	શ્ચ	શ્-ચ
પ્ર	પ્-ર	પ્ર	પ્-ર	શ્વ	શ્-વ	શ્વ	શ્-વ

You will notice that the Arial Unicode MS font does not display all the symbols in the same way – in some cases it displays the virama instead of the conjunct consonant. However, the virama is recognized by most native language readers.

If you see '?' (question marks) or ્ (square) characters in this article, it means that you do not have the Arial Unicode MS and Shruti fonts loaded on your system. The Arial Unicode MS font is not a free download (see http://lists.webjunction.org/wjlists/web4lib/2002-August/020299.html). It is bundled with Office XP/Word 2002 and Office 2003/Word 2003. To install it, see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q287247/. If you not have these products, you can purchase the Arial Unicode MS font for $20 from http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/microsoft/arial/. The Shruti.ttf font is bundled with Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. For other versions of Windows, you can download it for free from http://www.readgujarati.com/readinghelp.asp.

Numbers.

The keyboard layout allows you to enter Western style numerals, 0 through 9. If you wish to type the number Indian-language style, open up the Windows Character Map utility by clicking on Start, then All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and Character Map. Select the Indian font that you will be using (see the list of fonts by language above). For example, choose Shruti if you are typing in Gujarati. You can then click on all the Indian-style numerals that you want, and then click on Copy. Switch back to your Word document, click on the Edit menu, then Paste Special, and Unformatted Unicode Text. The Gujarati-style numerals look like this:
૦ ૧ ૨ ૩ ૪ ૫ ૬ ૭ ૮ ૯.

Spell checking.

When a possible misspelling is detected, it will be underlined with a wavy red line. To get a list of possible corrections, simply right click on the misspelled word. You will get a pop-up list of many different words to choose from! This is available for Hindi, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Punjabi, Tamil, and Telugu.

Producing web pages.

Of course, you could save a Microsoft Word document as an HTML file. However, you will see the typical mess of Microsoft tags, a black hole to any professional HTML developer. Also, Unicode data is better handled by XHTML rather than HTML.

So, if you are a serious web page designer, and you want to produce clean XHTML files from your Word documents, here’s one way to do this (this was written in 2003):

a) Use Microsoft Word 2002 – makes it easy to enter text and do spell checking. Copy, then
b) Use Wordpad – Paste, and right away Copy
c) Use Microsoft Frontpage 2002 – create a blank HTML file, switch from Normal to HTML view, then replace all the Frontpage-style code with the following basic set of XHTML tags:

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<html><head>
<title></title>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<link href="chars-descn.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css">
</head>
<body>
<SPAN class=gu>
Gujarati text gets pasted here
</SPAN>
</body>
</html>

The chars-descn.css file here is a Cascading Style Sheet. It would include a section that defines the “gu” style like this:

SPAN.gu {
FONT-SIZE: 1.25em; FONT-FAMILY: shruti, "arial unicode ms", sans-serif
}

Notice that it calls for the Shruti font if available, otherwise the Arial Unicode MS font. This will cover all Windows XP and Windows 2000 computers.

Now paste the Gujarati text that you had in WordPad into position between the tags, and Save your XHTML document. The XHTML tags will trick FrontPage into not converting the Gujarati text into a series of unrecognizable special characters. Otherwise અમેરિકા would become &#2693;&#2734;&#2759;&#2736;&#2751;&#2709;&#2750; !

d) Use Dreamweaver MX – You can now open up the XHTML file you created in FrontPage, format it just the way you want to, and still be able to read the Indian text when you view the HTML Code.

Conclusion.

Microsoft has finally recognized that there are a billion people in India. Many thanks to the Indian language experts and software developers that they paid to do this. And if Microsoft lowers the price on their software, they will truly achieve monumental success in India.

A Vocabulary of Terms, Dedicated to Jesu Bhaktas

Sanskrit, Hindi, Marathi, and Tamil terms helpful in understanding caste Hindus and bringing them the good news of Jesus. With Special Vocabulary Lists and Bibliography. Dedicated to all Jesu Bhaktas.
Compiled by Marko Malyj, 2002-2003.

Quotes from R.C.Das
The Kingdom of God is a spiritual and invisible empire, the reign of God in human hearts and social relationships....

Christianity is rather like leaven, qualifying, vitalizing and reshaping the whole system of Hindu thought, emotion and activity....

Living Hinduism can easily and normally pass into living Christianity without serious loss to either....

Outwardly the evangelist should live the Hindu life in obedience to essential Christian principles. This will not only disarm opposition and melt prejudice but will also remove the harmful idea that Christian conversion is mere change of outward community....

The moral and spiritual truths of Hinduism are of a piece with the gospel and lead to a final surrender and shelter in Christ....

If the Holy Spirit continues his work outside the church frame, there may come, sooner than later, a time when Hindus as a community will awake to find that they are truly Christian in faith though Hindu in religion (culture and life)....

We do not confront Hindus with ideas and doctrines, we share our experiences with him and communicate our life to him, and he recognizes us if we are true followers of the humble Nazarene who came to 'seek and save that which was lost'....

(R.C.Das, pp. 72, 128, 132, 218, 283-4.)

The radical goal for Hindu devotees of Christ and for India itself is to be truly Hindu and fully biblical....
(H.L.Richard on N.V.Tilak, p. 107.)

Vocabulary
AARTI, lighting and circular waving of a lamp to honor the celebrant of worship.

ABHANG, a religious song or hymn written in the traditional metre used by the Indian Poet-saints, to express their devotion to God.

ACHARYA, spiritual teacher, lord, could be used as a term for "pastor" that would be meaningful to JESU BHAKTAS. (compare PADRI)

ADHARMA, sin (compare DHARMA).

ADHUNIK GEET, modern songs. (compare GEET)

AGNI DIKSHA, Holy Spirit baptism. (see also SNANA DIKSHA)

AHIMSA, nonviolence, impartiality. AHIMSA points to the love and humility of Jesus, according to R.C.Das. (see also VARUNA, VISHNU, SWAHIMSA)

ANANYABHAKTI, undivided devotion to God. (see also BHAKTI)

ANANYATVA, the unitive spiritual experience.

ANASAKTI, aka SAMATA, SANYAS.

ANGON, aka CHABUTRA.

ANNAM, rice, could possibly be used to represent the body of Christ, according to R.C.Das. In Sanskrit means life. (see also JALAM)

ANNAPRASHNA, rice-eating ceremony, a Hindu practice observed by many JESU BHAKTAS.

ANTARYAMIN, "inner controller", God as immanent within each person.

ANUBHAVA, ANUBHABA, experience, experience of reality, direct religious experience.

ANURAGA, love, loyalty.

ARADHANA, adoration or consecration in silence.

ARATI, waving of a lamp, also a service of lights by waving of lamps, incense around an alter, offering of flowers, etc., usually in the evening (see also BHAJAN, KIRTAN, SATSANGH)

ARCHANA, worship with flowers, a Hindu act of devotion.

ARTHA, wealth, one of the things Hindu society strives for (see also DHARMA, KAMA, MOKSHA)..

ASHRAM, 1) stage of life, of which there are four for Hindus, 2) a quiet place of retreat for the third stage, the stage of contempletion, retreat from the busyness of life, denial of enjoyment, and renunciation and sacrifice. Roman Catholics have set up many Hindu Christian ashrams. (see also BHOG, TYAG)

ATMA, spirit.

ATMAN, soul, spirit, self.

AUM, logos, Word.

AVATAR, an incarnation of a deity, examples include Rama, Krishna. Literally 'descent'. "Stripped of its historical association with Hinduism, it is the most appropriate term to express the meaning and implication of the incarnation." - R.C.Das

AVIDYA, aka MAYA.

BAJANAI, a form of carolling which is practiced on full-moon nights and festivals.

BANDHAM, fetters, bondage.

BARAYANAM, repetition of scripture verses, a Hindu act of devotion.

BEEJMATRA, creeds.

BHAGAVAN, BHAGWAN, god, "blessed one", used to describe AVATARA like Rama and Krishna, could be used for Jesus to mean "blessed Lord", or instead of "God" or "Yahweh". (compare PRABHU, SRI, see also BHAJ, BHAKTI, BHAKTA, BHAJAN)

BHAJ, adoration, worship. (see also BHAKTI, BHAKTA, BHAJAN, BHAGAVAN)

BHAJANS, devotional songs addressed directly to God, more specifically a traditional antiphonal musical chant between a guru and his disciples, a type of corporate worship, group songs which start in the evening, can last till the small hours of the morning (see also ARATI, KIRTAN, SATSANGH,
BHAJ, BHAKTI, BHAKTA, BHAGAVAN, NAN JAP, compare GEET, GHAZAL) performed in the temple.

BHAKTA, devotee, selfless devotion to a personal concept of God, usually the AVATARS Krishna or Rama. Salvation is by fellowship with and enjoyment of God, and is by grace and love, free of cost. (compare JNANI, see also BHAJ, BHAKTI, BHAJAN, BHAGAVAN)

BHAKTI, devotion, devotional. (see also ANANYABHAKTI, BHAJ, BHAKTA, BHAJAN, BHAGAVAN)

BHAKTI MARGA, the way of devotion. "BHAKTI MARGA is devotion to a Person" (E.Stanley Jones). See also JNANA MARGA, KARMA MARGA.
BHOG, denial of enjoyment.

BHUT, evil spirit.

BHUTI, ash worn on the forehead by most Indian widows. (aka VIBHUTI)

BINDI, aka KUNKU, POTTU, SINDHUR, TILAK.

BRAHMACHARI, student.

BRAHMACHARYA, self control, continence, and the discipline of bodily passions leading to physical and mental purity and building up of character, a training for the young.

BRAHMASTHITI, abiding in God.

BRAHMAVAKYA, infallible scripture.

BUDDHI, one's nature.

CHABUTRA, open or protected courtyard within a Hindu temple. (aka ANGON)

CHARANAMRITAM, consecrated drink.

CHELA, disciple.

DAKSHINA, voluntary gifts offered in gratitude.

DALIT, literally "the oppressed", politically correct term for outcaste, low-caste. scheduled caste.

DARI, a thick carpet.

DARSHAN, DARSAN, an image or representation of a god, vision of a god.

DARSANA, the nature of reality, vision of the ultimate.

DASA, servant.

DEVA, God.

DHARMA, eternal law, righteousness, the Hindu word for religion or spirituality, following one's duty to live in harmony with the universe, one of the things Hindu society strives for; the privileges, duties and obligations of a man, his standard of conduct as a member of the Aryan community, as a member of one of the castes, as a person in a particular stage of life (PV Kane) (see also ARTHA, KAMA, MOKSHA, SADHANA DHARMA, SAMAJ DHARMA).

DHARMIKTA, term that could be used by JESU BHAKTAS instead of DHARM.

DHYANA, contemplation, religious exercises and preparation in order to find truth and peace. (aka SADHANA)

DIKSHA, DEEKSHA, "initiatory sign", a ceremony instead of "baptism" that could be used by JESU BHAKTAS to publicly confess faith in Christ. (see also SANSKARA)

DIWALI, the Hindu festival of Lights, observed one day near the beginning of November.

DUKH, sorrow and pain. Universal DUKH is a consequence of original sin.

DVIJA, regenerate, one of the three twice-born castes. The sacred thread ceremony initiates a boy from the three twice-born castes into a Brahmanical school. (see also SUDRA, VARNA)

GAIRIK, colored robe worn by a SANYASI, a sign of utter consecration to truth and non-attachment to the world.

GEET, indigenous worship song, akin to the Western hymn form, having many long verses, usually speaking about God rather than to God. (compare GHAZAL, BHAJAN, see also ADHUNIK GEET)

GHAZAL, love song, usually secular, some are towards a divine being, popular in the Hindu film industry. Most Indian church hymnbooks have a section of GHAZALS. (compare GEET, BHAJAN)

GIRIJA, word for "church", but not meaningful to Hindus. (compare MANDIR, SABHA)

GURU, venerable person, religious teacher, spiritual guide, spiritual preceptor, cult leader, a channel through which God communicates himself to man. Also their followers, who preached and propagated the essence and doctrines of their sects, were also called GURUS. (see also SHISHYA)

GURUDEV, a title for Jesus Christ.

GURUJI, term of endearment for a GURU by his followers.

GURUSHRUTI, incarnation.

GYANA MARGA, the way of knowledge, salvation is by losing one's self through meditative supra-rational realization and moving to an abyss beyond personality. (aka JNANA MARGA)

HARIJAN, literally "people of God", Gandhi's term for outcaste, low-caste. scheduled caste.

HARMONIUM, an Indian musical instrument.

HINDUTVA, literally "Hindu-ness", also refers to a Hindu nation.

HOLI, a Hindu festival.

HOMA, sacrifice, as of fat, flesh, cakes or drink (compare TYAG)

HRIDAYA, heart.

ISAI DHARM, a term equivalent to "Christianity", but not meaningful to Hindus. (compare KHRIST YESU PANTH)

ISAYEE, a term equivalent to "Christian", but not meaningful to Hindus. (compare KHRIST BHAKTA, JESU BHAKTA, MASIHI)

ISHTA DEVATA, ISHTADEVATA, a personal, chosen deity among the many gods, the concrete form in which the Godhead established contact with the worshipper. As such, it is a sign of divine election rather than the reverse.

JALAM, water, could possibly be used to represent the blood of Christ, according to R.C.Das. In Sanskrit means life. (see also ANNAM)

JAMINDAR, landlord.

JAPA, meditation.

JATI, caste. There are thousands of JATI. (compare VARNA)

JEBAMALA, garland of prayer.

JEPALAYA, Hindu temple of worship. a feature of some Christian ashrams.
JESU BHAKTA, a devotee or disciplined disciple of Jesus, non-baptized believer in Christ (NBBC). (compare KHRIST BHAKTA, MASIHI, ISAAYI)

JESUS JAYANTI, term that could be used by JESU BHAKTAS instead of "Christmas".

JIJNASA, spiritual searching.

JIWAN MUKTA, one who has found living salvation.

JNANA MARGA, the way of knowledge. "JNANA MARGA is devotion to an Idea" (E.Stanley Jones). MOKSHA is understood to be the realization of this essential unity of ATMAN and BRAHMAN in JNANA MARGA. (aka GYANA MARGA) See also BHAKTI MARGA, KARMA MARGA.

JNANI, JNANIN, philosopher, sage, one who follows the way of meditation and knowledge. (compare BHAKTI) KALEKSHEPAM, aka KIRTON, KIRTAN.

JUTTU, growth of long hair.

KAMA, pleasure, one of the things Hindu society strives for (see also DHARMA, ARTHA, MOKSHA).

KARADAYAN NONBU, day of fasting when married women who are not married perform PUJA for their TALI.

KARMA, the law of cause and effect active in the moral realm.

KARMA MARGA, the way of works. "KARMA MARGA is devotion to a Code" (E.Stanley Jones). See also BHAKTI MARGA, JNANA MARGA.

KAVI, saffron dress, worn also by SADHUS.

KHRIST BHAKTA, a devotee or disciplined disciple of Jesus, non-baptized believer in Christ (NBBC). (compare JESU BHAKTA, MASIHI, ISAAYI)

KHRIST JESU PANTH, could be used as a term equivalent to "Christianity" that would be meaningful to JESU BHAKTAS. (compare ISAI DHARM)

KIRTAN, KIRTON, a form of religious service, combining music, poetry, story-telling, and humor. Conducted by a single leader with a small choir singing in unison assisting him, in which hymns in praise of God alternate with sermons describing His doings when incarnate in human form (aka KALEKSHEPAM, also see ARATI, BHAJAN, SATSANGH), performed in the temple.

Kneeling, in the Hindu tradition is a gesture confined to mourning.

KOLAM, a ricepowder decoration put by the women in front of the door each morning and evening traditionally to welcome the good spirits to the house.

KOLUVA, worship.

KSHAMA, forbearance.

KUNKU, aka BINDI, POTTU, SINDHUR, TILAK.

KUTUVILAKKU, oil lamps, used in worship. Candles are not used.

LAKH, hundred thousand.

MAHATMA, great soul.

MANDAPAM, covered rest area in front of a temple.

MANDIR, could be used as a term for "church" that would be meaningful to JESU BHAKTAS. (compare GIRIJA, SRI KHRIST BHAKT MANDALI, SABHA)

MANES, spirits of the dead.

MANGALYAM, aka TALI.

MANJAL, yellow sandal paste to make a woman's complexion fairer.

MANTRA, a phrase on which one meditates in order to invite a particular deity to enter you.

MASALA, priestly robe, heirarchical titles, religious formalism, etc.

MASIHI, a term equivalent to "Christian", but not meaningful to Hindus. (compare KHRIST BHAKTA, JESU BHAKTA, ISAYEE)

MATHAM, organized religion.

MAYA, ignorance, illusion. (aka AVIDYA)

MOKSHA, liberation, release, one of the things Hindu society strives for (see also DHARMA, ARTHA, KAMA).

MOUNAM, corporate silence, a Hindu act of devotion.

MUMUKSHA, spiritual searching.

MUNI, silent seeker, saint.

MUTT, MUTH, monastery.

NAADOPASANA, music worship.

NAMARUPA, "names and forms", to a typical Hindu all NAMARUPA representing the invisible God are idols.

NAMA SADHAN, recitation of the names of God (or Jesus) in versified Sanskrit, to foster concentrated devotion and self-surrender to him.

NAMASKARAM, a motion with hands raised.

NAMASTE, hello, goodbye, literally "the God in me greets the God in you".

NAN JAP, a type of BHAJAN whose lyrics are made up exclusively of the names of god, or even a single name. (see also BHAJAN, KIRTAN, SATSANGH)

NAMRATA, humility.

NISHKAMA KARMA, "desireless work", working without being concerned about any reward that might follow on good works, taught in the BHAGAVAD GITA.

NISHKAM SEVA, selfless service.

NITYA SATYA, eternal truth.

OM, the eternal, used by some Hindu believers to express the idea of the eternal logos.

PADRI, word for "Christian pastor", but not meaningful to Hindus. (compare ACHARYA)

PANCHANGA PRANAM, semi-prostration during worship.

PANDA, a type of professional priest, often connected with a pilgrimmage center or temple.

PANDIT, also Hindu word for Christian priest.

PAPI, sinner.

PARAMATMA, supreme spirit.

PARAMU, heaven.

PARIPRASHNENA, informal free discussion by questions and counter questions.

PINDA, balls of wheat or rice offered to the MANES (spirits) of fathers or other relatives who have died but who have not been released. Especially during the ten-day-long funeral ceremony.

PONGAL, a Hindu festival, three days in January, primarily a social event of nonreligious nature involving a whole community.

POTTU, aka BINDI, KUNKU, SINDHUR, TILAK.

PRABHU, "Lord", term for Jesus used by non-Hindu Christians. (compare BHAGAVAN, SRI)

PRABHU BHOJ, term for holy communion used by non-Hindu Christians. (compare RAA BHOJ, PRASAD)

PRADAKSHIN, PRADAKSHINA, circumambulation, a Hindu practice observed by many JESU BHAKTAS, going round the church in a procession with lights or flowers or branches in hand and singing praises on special occasions.

PRAJAPATI, Lord of creatures in RIGVEDA who divided his body as a sacrifice of propitiation of sins of men and gods, an idea that points to the sacrifice of Jesus the Son of God.

PRAMAANA, evidence.

PRASAD, consecrated food placed in the presence of an idol and shared with others , literally"grace", could be used as a term for "holy communion" that would be meaningful to JESU BHAKTAS. (compare PRABHU BHOJ, RAA BHOJ)

PRASADAM, consecrated food.

PRAVACHAN, religious discourse.

PUJA, worship, particularly a ceremonial service performed in the temple or home, for example, a naming ceremony. The core ritual of popular theistic Hinduism. Pujas are characterized by various offerings, for example of incense, bananas, bits of coconut, flowers, milk, garlands, sweets, offered as sweet-tasting food for the worship of deities.

PUJA room, where puja is offered.

PUJARI, performer of religious ritual, in a Hindu's eyes carrying same level of authority as a church leader in a Protestant's eyes.

PUNARJANMA, doctrine of reincarnation.

PURUSA, person, personality (compare UTTUMA PURUSA)

PURUSHA, sacrifice.

PUT, the hell to which a Hindu man goes if his son does not perform the final rites.

PUTRA, the title a son receives for performing the final rites, so delivering his father from PUT.

RAA BHOJ, term for holy communion used by non-Hindu Christians. (compare PRABHU BHOJ, PRASAD)

RAKHI, RAKSABANDAN, a Hindu festival.

RAGA, a "melody-type" of Indian classical music. The RAGA used in a
BHAJAN should reflect the meaning of the text. Ideally, certain RAGAS would be sung in a certain season of the year and time of day.

RAM RAJYA, "the kingdom of God", also the name of a (former?) movement in India.

RISHI, truth seeker, sage.

RIYAAZ, music practice.

SABHA, the Church. (compare GIRIJA, MANDIR)

SACCHIDANANDA, reality, intelligence and bliss (see also SAT, YOGA)

SADHAN, cultivation, self-effort.

SADHANA, contemplation, religious exercises and preparation in order to find truth and peace. (aka DHYANA)

SADHANA DHARMA, points to the way to reach salvation. SADHANA DHARMA leaves the Hindu free to choose any way or MARGA that appeals to him. (see also SAMAJ DHARMA)

SADHU, ascetic, or more generally, a saintly man (see also SADHUNI, SAMNYASIN, SANYASI, KAVI). In the New Testament all believers are called saints.

SADHUNI, a saintly woman. (see also SADHU, SAMNYASIN, SANYASI)

SADHUTWA, sainthood.

SAIVISM,a Hindu practice prevalent in South India, and according to R.C.Das "a successful form of Hindu Christianity".

SALOKATA, association, expresses the traditional way of union with the Supreme through BHAKTI. (see also SAMIPATA, SARUPATA, SAYUJYTA)

SAMAJ DHARMA, the rules regarding social life, for example, regarding bathing, dressing, eating, etc. A Hindu is bound by the SAMAJ DHARMA (see also DHARMA, SADHANA DHARMA)

SAMATA, aka ANASAKTI, SANYAS.

SAMIPATA, nearness, expresses the traditional way of union with the Supreme through BHAKTI. (see also SALOKATA, SARUPATA, SAYUJYTA)

SAMNYASIN, aka SANYASI, SANNYASI, SADHU, SADHUNI.

SAMPRADAYA, Hindu religious order, sect, or denomination.

SAMSARA, the law of reincarnation.

SAMSKARA, sacrament, Hindu ceremony, always a family and community celebration, comparable to Christian marriage ceremonies, funerals, child baptism/dedication, confirmation.

SANSKARA, a term for sacrament acceptible to Hindus. (see also DIKSHA)

SANSAR, the world, worldly concern.

SANYAS, SANNYASA, renunciation, other worldliness, non-attachment. (aka ANASAKTI, SAMATA)

SANYASI, SANNYASI, literally "one who has renounced", a homeless wanderer or monk, the fourth ashram (stage) in the life of a Hindu. Jesus Christ waa the truest type of a SANYASI. (aka SADHU, SADHUNI, SAMNYASIN)

SARUPATA, likeness, expresses the traditional way of union with the Supreme through BHAKTI. (see also SALOKATA, SAMIPATA, SAYUJYTA)
SASTRI, pundit.

SAT, the infinite real (see also SACCHIDANANDA, compare MAYA)

SATSANGH, a type of corporate worship (see also ARATI, BHAJAN, KIRTAN) performed in the temple as an evening service; also, the informal gathering of truth-seekers for sharing and fellowship.

SATYA, truth.

SAYUJYTA, SAYUJATA, yokedness, union, expresses the traditional way of union with the Supreme through BHAKTI. (see also SALOKATA, SAMIPATA, SARUPATA)

SHAKTI, power of God.

SHANTI, the traditional spiritual quest of a Hindu is spiritual growth, to attain peace of mind and a pure heart, used as a term of greeting or farewell as in "Shalom".

SHASHTANGA NAMASKARAM, prostration for adoration, a Hindu act of devotion.

SHISHYA, student of a GURU.

SHUDDHI, (adj) cleansing.

SHUDRA, menial caste, background castes.

SINDHUR, aka KUNKU, POTTU, BINDI, TILAK.

SNANA DIKSHA, immersion, a Hindu form of initiation into religious life under the guidance of a MARG or GURU. (see also AGNI DIKSHA)
SRI, "lord", as in SRI KHRIST BHAGAVAN. (compare BHAGAVAN, PRABHU)

SRI KHRIST BHAKT MANDALI, could be used as a term for "local church" that would be meaningful to JESU BHAKTAS. (compare GIRIJA, MANDIR)

SRTI, SHRUTI, SRUTI, ancient writings, equivalent to revealed scripture.

STUTI, praise.

SUDRA, unregenerate. The lowest caste, descended from aboriginals brought under Brahmin authority. (see also DVIJA, VARNA)

SUT, being, or an overwhelming power of goodness that impels one to holiness.

SUTTEE, a widow burned on her husband's funeral pyre, also a righteous woman. (see also SUT)

SWAHIMSA, immolation of self for the good of others. (see also AHIMSA)

TABLA, an Indian musical instrument.

TALI, wedding chain, worn as a symbol of marriage. (aka MANGALYAM)

TAPASYA, simple life.

TATASTU, Hindu version of "Amen" (Muslims say "Amin") or "let it be so".
TELIVI, truth.

TILAK, the red dot on the forehead worn by most Indian women, symbolizing good fortune being in wedlock. (aka KUNKU, POTTU, BINDI, SINDHUR)

TUM, informal name for God, in the singular, indicating God's closeness.

TYAG, renunciation, sacrifice (compare HOMA)

UPANAYANA, ceremony marking the beginning of student life, a Hindu practice observed by many JESU BHAKTAS.

UPAVASA, fasting.

UTTUMA PURUSA, perfect personality; God is perfect personality (compare PURUSA)

VAIRAGYA, giving up the world.

VAISHNAVISM,the Hindu way of love and grace (originally through VISHNU), prevalent in North India, and according to R.C.Das "a successful form of Hindu Christianity".

VARNA, caste. There are only four castes. "When the church will act like the VARNA system, it will lose its foreignness, every Christian will have a place, a status and security." - R.C.Das on spiritual gifts in the church. (compare JATI)

VARNASHRAM DHARMA, duty to God according to caste and stage of life, the principle of the law and order of society. This strongly witnesses to Christ, the head of the ordered society of the redeemed, according to R.C.Das.

VARUNA, the righteous god of the VEDAS. VARUNA points to the truth and justice of Jesus, according to R.C.Das. (see also AHIMSA, VISHNU)

VEDA, literally "knowledge".

VESHTI, skirt-like cloth worn by men.

VIBHUTI, aka BHUTI.

VIRAFA, detachment.

VISHNU, the god of love and grace who is concerned with the welfare of his devotees and incarnates himself from age to age. This points to the most satisfying incarnation of Christ, according to R.C.Das. (see also AHIMSA, VARUNA)

YAJNA, sacrifice, to propitiate for some sin, or as thanksgiving fo deliverance from some immediate calamity.

YOGA, a physical and mental discipline that is practiced for the purpose of spiritual liberation or empowerment and experience of SACCIDANANDA. Reality is conceived as a source of spiritual substance rather than the creation of a personal God.

YOGESWARA, lord of yoga.

YUKTI, rational thought, reason.

ZENANA, Hindu women staying inside the house.

Special Vocabulary Lists
- Authority - BHAJ - BHAKTI - Consecrated Things - DHARMA - Fellowship - Festivals - JATI (Castes) - Lord - Music - Sacraments - Sacrifice - Seekers - Union - Values - Ways or paths of salvation -

- Authority -The four standards of Christian faith, according to A. J. Appasamy:
SRUTI, the Scriptures.
SABHA, the Church.
YUKTI, Reason.
ANUBHAVA, Experience.

- BHAJ -ARATI, a service of lights by waving of lamps, incense around an alter, offering of flowers, etc., usually in the evening
BHAJ, adoration, worship.
KIRTAN, KIRTON, a form of religious service, combining music, poetry, story-telling, and humor. Conducted by a single leader with a small choir singing in unison assisting him, in which hymns in praise of God alternate with sermons describing His doings when incarnate in human form (aka KALEKSHEPAM), performed in the temple.
Kneeling, in the Hindu tradition is a gesture confined to mourning.
PANCHANGA PRANAM, semi-prostration during worship.
PANDA, a type of professional priest, often connected with a pilgrimmage center or temple.
SATSANGH, a type of corporate worship performed in the temple as an evening service; also, the informal gathering of truth-seekers for sharing and fellowship.

- BHAKTI -ANANYABHAKTI, undivided devotion to God.
BHAKTI, devotion, devotional.

- Consecrated Things -ANNAM, rice, could possibly be used to represent the body of Christ.
CHARANAMRITAM, consecrated drink.
JALAM, water, could possibly be used to represent the blood of Christ, according to R.C.Das. In Sanskrit means life.
JEBAMALA, garland of prayer.
PINDA, balls of wheat or rice offered to the MANES (spirits) of fathers or other relatives who have died but who have not been released. Especially during the ten-day-long funeral ceremony.

- DHARMA -ADHARMA, sin.
DHARMA, eternal law, righteousness, the Hindu word for religion or spirituality, following one's duty to live in harmony with the universe, one of the things Hindu society strives for (see also SAMAJ DHARMA)
SADHANA DHARMA, points to the way to reach salvation. SADHANA DHARMA leaves the Hindu free to choose any way or MARGA that appeals to him
SAMAJ DHARMA, the rules regarding social life, for example, regarding bathing, dressing, eating, etc. A Hindu is bound by the SAMAJ DHARMA

- Fellowship -KHRIST JESU PANTH, could be used as a term equivalent to "Christianity" that would be meaningful to JESU BHAKTAS.
MANDIR, could be used as a term for "church" that would be meaningful to JESU BHAKTAS.
SRI KHRIST BHAKT MANDALI, could be used as a term for "local church" that would be meaningful to JESU BHAKTAS.

- Festivals -DIWALI, the Hindu festival of Lights, observed one day near the beginning of November.
HOLI, a Hindu festival.
PONGAL, a Hindu festival, three days in January, primarily a social event of nonreligious nature involving a whole community.

- Lord -BHAGAVAN, god, "blessed one", used to describe AVATARA like Rama and Krishna, could be used for Jesus to mean "blessed Lord", or instead of "God" or "Yahweh".
PRABHU, "Lord", term for Jesus used by non-Hindu Christians.
SRI, "lord", as in SRI KHRIST BHAGAVAN.

- Music -
ADHUNIK GEET, modern songs.
BHAJANS, devotional songs addressed directly to God, more specifically a traditional antiphonal musical chant between a guru and his disciples, a type of corporate worship, group songs which start in the evening, can last till the small hours of the morning, performed in the temple.
GEET, indigenous worship song, akin to the Western hymn form, having many long verses, usually speaking about God rather than to God.
GHAZAL, love song, usually secular, some are towards a divine being, popular in the Hindu film industry. Most Indian church hymnbooks have a section of GHAZALS.
NAN JAP, a type of BHAJAN whose lyrics are made up exclusively of the names of god, or even a single name.

- Sacraments -AGNI DIKSHA, Holy Spirit baptism.
SNANA DIKSHA, immersion, a Hindu form of initiation into religious life under the guidance of a MARG or GURU.

- Sacrifice -
AHIMSA, nonviolence, impartiality. AHIMSA points to the love and humility of Jesus, according to R.C.Das
SWAHIMSA, immolation of self for the good of others.

- Seekers -BHAKTA, devotee, selfless devotion to a personal concept of God, usually the AVATARS Krishna or Rama. Salvation is by fellowship with and enjoyment of God, and is by grace and love, free of cost.
GURU, spiritual guide.
JESU BHAKTA, a devotee or disciplined disciple of Jesus, non-baptized believer in Christ (NBBC), aka KHRIST BHAKTA.
JNANI, JNANIN, philosopher, sage, one who follows the way of meditation and knowledge.
KHRIST BHAKTA, aka JESU BHAKTA.
SHISHYA, student of a GURU.

- Union -Terms that express the traditional way of union with the Supreme through BHAKTI:
SALOKATA, association.
SAMIPATA, nearness.
SARUPATA, likeness.
SAYUJYTA, yokedness, union.
BRAHMASTHITI, abiding in God.

- Values -
Four things Hindu society strives for:
ARTHA, wealth
DHARMA, the Hindu word for religion or spirituality, following one's duty to live in harmony with the universe.
DHARMIKTA, term that could be used by JESU BHAKTAS instead of DHARM.
KAMA, pleasure.
MOKSHA, liberation, release.

- VARNA (the four great castes)
The great castes
Brahmins (priests),
Kshatriyas (rulers, warriors),
Vaisyas (agriculturalists),
DVIJAS (regenerate, twice-born), one of the above three castes
SUDRAS (unregenerate, aboriginals brought under Brahmin authority).
Also the outcastes beyond the pale of Brahmin service.

- Ways or paths of salvation -
BHAKTI MARGA, the way of devotion. "BHAKTI MARGA is devotion to a Person" (E.Stanley Jones).
GYANA MARGA, the way of knowledge, salvation is by losing one's self through meditative supra-rational realization and moving to an abyss beyond personality.
JNANA MARGA, the way of knowledge. "JNANA MARGA is devotion to an Idea" (E.Stanley Jones).
KARMA MARGA, the way of works. "KARMA MARGA is devotion to a Code" (E.Stanley Jones).
NISHKAMA KARMA, "desireless work", working without being concerned about any reward that might follow on good works, taught in the BHAGAVAD GITA.

Bibliography
Dayanand Bharati, Living Water and Indian Bowl; An Analysis of Christian Failings in Communicating Christ to Hindus, ISPCK, Delhi, 1997, reprinted 2001.

R.C.Das, Evangelical Prophet for Contextual Christianity, H.L.Richard ed., CISRS, Bangalore, ISPCK, Delhi, 1995, reprinted 1999.

C. H. Dikran, Hindi Christian Bhajans: A Survey of their use by Christians and a Critique by Hindu Professionals in the Music World, http://www.aradhnamusic.com/, 2000,

Richard L. Hivner, Exploring the Depths of the Mystery of Christ: The Life and Work of K. Subba Rao of Andhra Pradesh, South India, with Special Reference to His Songs, Submitted in fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the subject of Religious Studies at the University of South Africa, Nov 2003.

Herbert E. Hoefer, Churchless Christianity, William Carey Library, Pasadena, CA, 2001.

Herbert Hoefer, The Burden of the Past, in Reaching Hindus, Mission Frontiers, special edition, U.S.Center for World Missions, Pasadena CA, 2000. p.12.

E. Stanley Jones, The Christ of the Indian Road, Abingdon Press, New York, 1925.

Rev. George Matthew, Enculturation of Liturgy in the Indian Context, http://www.marthomachurch.com/OurLiturgies/indian-context-liturgy.htm, 2003.

Radhakrishan. The Hindu View of Life, HarperCollins, New Delhi, 1993, originally published 1927.

H.L.Richard, Christ-Followers in India Flourishing-But Outside the Church, in Reaching Hindus, Mission Frontiers, special edition, U.S.Center for World Missions, Pasadena CA, 2000. p.16.

H.L.Richard, Following Jesus in the Hindu Context; The Intriguing Implications of N.V.Tilak's Life and Thought, William Carey Library, Pasadena, California, 1998.

Hans Staffner, Dialogue Stimulating Contacts with Hindus, Gujarat Sahitya Prakash, Anand,1993.

M.M.Thomas, P.T.Thomas, Towards an Indian Christian Theology, Christava Sahitya Samithi, Tiruvalla, 1998.