Why Buddhists Thought Jesus Christ Was Evil. Who is Devadatta?

The fascinating tale unfolds not only in the realm of evil but also through the curious relationship between Jesus Christ and the Buddha as siblings. This story finds its roots in the rich cultural tapestry of Thailand, historically known as Siam. During the 17th century, the Buddhist state of Ayutthaya held sway over the region.

In the 1680s, the Jesuit Catholic monastic order embarked on a mission to Ayutthaya, aiming to convert King Narai to Catholicism. Despite their fervent efforts, this mission ended in failure, culminating in the king’s death during a popular uprising.

While the primary mission to convert the king faltered, the interaction between the Jesuits, other merchants, and travelers allowed for a deeper understanding of Buddhism. The French merchant Jean-Baptiste Tavernier offered intriguing insights into Thai Buddhism.

He noted that the king held monks in high regard, that these monks adhered to vows of chastity and refrained from killing animals (though they could consume meat), believed in the transmigration of souls, and had no certain knowledge of where their god went after death (Tavernier referred to the Buddha as a god).

Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of Tavernier’s account is his revelation about the Siamese belief that the Buddha was the elder brother of Jesus Christ. This notion raises an intriguing question: why would they consider Jesus as a brother to Buddha?

How Jesus Became Buddha’s Evil Brother

The explanation comes from the French Jesuit Guy Tachard, who visited Siam in 1685. Tachard is credited with being one of the first Europeans to provide an accurate description of the Buddha’s characteristics. He detailed Buddhist cosmology, the enlightenment of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha Shakyamuni), and his envious, evil cousin Devadatta. According to Tachard, Buddhist monks believed Jesus Christ to be the younger brother of the Buddha and the evil cousin of Devadatta.

The suffering of Jesus Christ on the cross was seen by the Siamese as a fitting punishment for Devadatta. They feared that converting to Christianity would condemn them to hell.

Further explanation is provided by the French diplomat La Lubert, who visited Siam in 1687. La Lubert discovered that the Siamese identified Jesus with the evil Devadatta due to a perceived similarity between the names of their mothers. The Buddha’s mother was known as Maha Maya or “Great Maya,” while they mistakenly believed her to be called Maha Maria or “Great Mary.”

This phonetic resemblance led Siamese Buddhist monks to surmise that Jesus Christ, who suffered a painful death like Devadatta, was the reincarnation of the Buddha’s younger brother, Devadatta.

Who is Devadatta?

Devadatta was a monk, the cousin of the Buddha, and initially, his follower. However, driven by intense jealousy, Devadatta sought to divide the sangha (Buddhist community) and managed to persuade 500 monks to join his cause. He also made several attempts on the Buddha’s life.

According to Theravada tradition, the Buddha harbored no hatred towards Devadatta. Devadatta eventually fell gravely ill and pretended to regret his actions. On his way to make a false apology to the Buddha, the earth opened up and swallowed him, condemning him to hell.

The descent of Jesus into hell may have been interpreted by the Siamese as mirroring the fate of the malevolent Devadatta.