In recent days I've shared with you the source of the pride-filled Nazi emphasis upon the supposed Aryan race. The word Aryan comes from the ancient Sanskrit arya and initially referred to those who spoke northern India languages. I've also commented about the influence of C.S. Lewis in my life.
Now today I stumbled upon Sadhu Sundar Singh, an Indian holy man and convert to Christianity who lived and taught around the world in the early years of the twentieth century. Kathryn Lindskoog suggests he had a strong influence upon C.S. Lewis.
Now today I stumbled upon Sadhu Sundar Singh, an Indian holy man and convert to Christianity who lived and taught around the world in the early years of the twentieth century. Kathryn Lindskoog suggests he had a strong influence upon C.S. Lewis.
Commenting upon Lewis' reference to the Sura in That Hideous Strength, Lindskoog asks, "What did Lewis mean by the term Sura? In Sanscrit the word means god. In the Hindu pantheon, a sura is a good angel or genie. In Arabic a sura is one of the 114 chapters of the Koran. Lewis must have known all this when he chose the word. I believe that Lewis used the word sura because he was hinting at the word sadhu, which means a holy man in India. (As an adjective in Sanscrit, sadhu means straight.) If Lewis had actually called his Christian mystic the Sadhu, some readers might have believed that his tale was a true account about the famous Sadhu Sundar Singh.
A bit further in her article Lindskoog continues, "Sundar Singh may have influenced C. S. Lewis in several ways. For example, the name Singh comes from the Sanskrit word for lion. Because Sundar Singh was popularly perceived as the most Christ-like man in Lewis's day, it is possible that Sundar Singh was in the back of Lewis's mind when Aslan the lion came bounding into Lewis's first story of Narnia. (Aslan is the Turkish word for lion.)"
How many of us have been influenced by Lewis? And in recent years how many have loved the tales of Narnia, both in their written form and now as movies? The number reaches into the millions I am certain.
How strange and wondrous are the workings of our Lord who is at work in all things for our good (Romans 8:28). And how great are the blessings that await those of us who have been called by His name (1 Corinthians 2:8-9).
A bit further in her article Lindskoog continues, "Sundar Singh may have influenced C. S. Lewis in several ways. For example, the name Singh comes from the Sanskrit word for lion. Because Sundar Singh was popularly perceived as the most Christ-like man in Lewis's day, it is possible that Sundar Singh was in the back of Lewis's mind when Aslan the lion came bounding into Lewis's first story of Narnia. (Aslan is the Turkish word for lion.)"
How many of us have been influenced by Lewis? And in recent years how many have loved the tales of Narnia, both in their written form and now as movies? The number reaches into the millions I am certain.
How strange and wondrous are the workings of our Lord who is at work in all things for our good (Romans 8:28). And how great are the blessings that await those of us who have been called by His name (1 Corinthians 2:8-9).
