In Hindu scriptures too there are a good many pro-phecies about the Holy Prophet Muhammad. A few of these are in the Puranas. The one in the Bhavishya Purana is the clearest of all. The fifth word from left to right is the name of our Holy Prophet. It gives even the name of the country of the Prophet "Marusthalnivasinan denizen of the desert (Arabia)". For this reason the Arya Samaj has tried to cast doubt on the authenticity of this Purana. Their argument is that it contains a reference to the Prophet. According to Sanatanist Pandits and the vast bulk: of Hindus, nevertheless, it is considered very authentic.
Below we give the £ngHsh translation of the prophetic words-.
"A malechha (belonging to
a foreign country and speaking foreign language} spiritual teacher will
appear with his compa-nions. His name will be Mohammad. Raja (Bhoj) after
giving this Maha Dev Arab (of angelic disposition) a bath in the `Panchgavya'
and the Ganges water, (i.e., purging him of all sins) offered him the presents
of his sincere devotion and showing him all reve-rence said, `1 make obeisance
to thee.' `0 Ye! the pride of man-kind, the dweller in Arabia. Ye have
collected a great force to kill the Devil and you yourself have been protected
from the malechha opponents.' `0 Ye! the image of the Most Pious God the
biggest Lord, I am a slave to thee, take me as one lying on thy feet. In
this eulogy of the Holy Prophet, Maharishi Vyasa has enumerated the following
points:- .
(1) The name of the Prophet
is clearly stated as Mohammad. (2) He is said to be belonging to Arabia.
The Sanskrit word marusthal used in the prophecy means a sandy tract of
land or a desert. (3) Special mention is made of the companions of the
Prophet. There has hardly been any other Prophet in the world who had such
a host of companions all resembling him. (4) He will be immune from sins,
having an angelic disposition. (5) The Raja of India will show him his
heart-felt reverence. (6) The Prophet will be given protection against
his enemies. (7) He will kill Devil, root out idol-worship and will do
away with all sorts of vices. (8) He will be an image of the All-powerful
God. (9) The Mahrishi claims to be lying at his feet. (10) He is regarded
as the pride of mankind (Parbatis Nath).
(Bhavishya Purana Parv 3, Khand 3, Adhya 3, Shalok 5-8).
Translation
"O people, listen this emphatically! the man of Praise (Muhammad) will be raised among the people. We take the emig-rant in our shelter from sixty thousand and ninety enemies whose conveyances are twenty camels and she camels, whose loftiness of position touches the heaven and lowers it.
He gave to Mamah Rishi hundred of gold coins ten circles, three hundred Arab horses and ten thousand cows."
Atharva Veda, Kanda 20, Sukta
127, Mantra 1-3.
