Did Jesus Go to India during his Childhood years and study under Indian gurus, as New Agers Claim?
NO.
Though the Gospels do not directly address Jesus' childhood, there are strong & convincing indirect evidences that Jesus never traveled to India during this time.
We begin with Luke 2:52 " And Jesus Grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and Men ". This verse summarizes Jesus' life from the age of 12 up to the time of his ministry. Jesus was Both God & Man.
As God, he was omniscient and all wise. He could never grow in Wisdom from the devine prospective.
However, In his Humanity, He did Grow in Wisdom. He Gained his Wisdom like any 12 year old Jewish Boy by Studying the Old Testament Scriptures. Jesus Spent the greater part of his Childhood years studying and meditating on the OT scriptures, not wandering from city to city in India.
We then find further evidence that Jesus never traveled to India. He was well known in his community as a long-standing Carpenter
Mark 6:3 " Many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did he get these ideas? And what is this wisdom that has been given to him? What are these miracles that are done through his hands? Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And aren’t his sisters here with us?”
Also he was known as the Son of a well known Carpenter. It was customary among the Jews for Fathers to teach their sons a trade during their childhood years.
Matthew 13:55 " Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers? Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother named Mary? And aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? "
The Trade of Carpentry played a large role In Jesus' life up to the time of his ministry. That is proven from the Fact that some of his parables and teachings drew upon his experience as a carpenter, for example Building a house on a rock ( Matthew 7:24 )
According to the Gospels, Jesus was Raised In Nazareth. People around that town knew him well and displayed obvious familiarity with him as if they had had regular contact with him for a very long time.
We read in the begging of his ministry that He went to Nazareth where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath, he went into the synagogue and stood up to read from scripture. All the people there spoke well of him and were amazed at his words
Luke 4:22 " Isnt this Joseph's son? they asked "
Another Strong evidence which proves Jesus could not have possibly gone to India is that the Jewish Leaders who were extremely upset with him, Never used it against him. If they Could, they would have certainly done so.
The Jewish Leaders accused Jesus of many offenses including breaking the Sabbath ( Matthew 12:1), Blasphemy ( John 8:58), doing Miracles in Satan's powers ( Matthew 12:24). BUT, they never accused him of teaching or practicing anything learned in the East. The Jews considered such teachings and practices to be idolatry and sorcery. Had Jesus Actually gone to India to study under the Great Buddhas, this would have been the Perfect ground for discrediting and disqualifying him, regarding his Claim to be the Promised Jewish Messiah
