Khanyar Rozabal - The Tomb of Jesus in Kashmir?
Summer 2005, Page 2
| I am the photographer of all these photos. I have seen several of these photos on web sites without credits, links, or permission. If you would like to use any of my photos for your web site or any other reason, please contact me first. Thank you for your kindness and respect. -Ken |
 In
2005, I returned to Kashmir to visit my friend. He took me to Khanyar
Rozabal (Kan Yar Rosa Bal or Rauza Bal), the tomb of Yuz Asaf.We found that foreigners are no longer allowed inside here, and photography and videography are prohibited. My friend asked why. The local merchants said that a Western woman showed up here, saying she was a journalist. She later returned with scientists, saying that she wanted to take DNA samples. She was told not to desecrate the grave and to leave immediately. From this point on, foreigners were not allowed inside. NOTE: When I wrote what happened above, I did not know that they were speaking of author Suzanne Olsson. She wrote to me to explain what happened:
Ken, I spent a year in Kashmir carefully and respectfully
meeting with everyone from the local chowkidars to the Chief Minister
himself. We were all supporting the DNA project, and it was a local
professor from Kashmir University who was heading the project. I was the
facilitator, who ran around organizing everyone and spreading the rupees
around. There was no deceit of any kind. I had the full support of the Board
of Directors who were then running the tomb. I also had full support of the
entire Kashmir populace. We were working together with the Shaheen family
and we all agreed that the DNA would be used to determine who was related to
Yuz Asaf. However, due to the misunderstandings of one individual, the
entire project had to be shelved. Due to this person's efforts, false
rumors have been circulated. However, at no time did I ever misrepresent the
project to anyone. Below, as the tomb appeared
in 1997. |
|
Inside, a woman in a black chador was praying silently. I was surprised that there was a sturdy metal door blocking me from entering beyond the anteroom. I sat quietly away from her until she left, and then tried to position the lens of my camera carefully through the metal grates of the door so it would wouldn't be blocked to take this photo. I remember feeling lucky. Really blessed and lucky. But also wary that any moment, people might be upset. My friend stood outside, and if I looked outside, he'd smile, indicating that all was fine. Still, I left after about ten minutes. This photo appears in the book The Jesus Inquest by Charles Foster, the Tomb of Jesus web site, and the June/July 2007 issue of Four Corners Magazine. |
 A
woman passing Khanyar Rozabal (Khanyar Rosa Bal) on the street. Many
stop for short prayers before continuing. A mosque stands
across the street from Khanyar Rozabal, the calls to prayer echoing inside
the tomb.This photo will also appear in the same issue of Four Corners Magazine.
The window as it appeared in 1997. |
|
Below, as it
appeared in 1997. |
 The
entrance as it appeared in 2005, and below, as it appeared in 1997. I noticed right away that the trees and vine were missing, as I had really
liked them there the first time I visited.
the entrance to Khanyar Rozabal in 1997 |
|
The next six photos have never been shown in public before 1 June 2007. They are brand-new scans from my personal photo album. |
 The
eaves and decorations of the tomb of Yuz Asaf (Yus Asaf or Youza Asouph) as
seen from the street. |
 Another
of the six photos of Khanyar Rozabal that have never been seen before.
This is another view of the entrance. |
 Another
view of the front of Khanyar Rozabal, along with the new (to me) sign
prominently stating that photography and videography is prohibited.
After my friend asked, however, I was allowed to go inside, pray, and even
take photos.Khanyar Rozabal in 1997 |
 The
front of the building in another one of the photos that has never been seen
before 1 June 2007
the tomb in 1997 |
 The
back side of Khanyar Rozabal (the entrance is on the opposite side, off the
street).
Khanyar Rozabal in 1997 |
 The
entrance to Khanyar Rozabal, and the mosque across the street. The
last time I was here in 1997, when I was inside the building, I remember the
call to prayer echoing through the front window.
This is the last of the six photos that have never been seen before.
|
Page 2
Khanyar Rozabal Home Page
Eleven Shadows Travel Page
Image of
Shroud of Turin by...Johnny Cash?
alternate spellings for Khanyar Rozabal and Yuz Asaf: Kan Yar Rosa Bal, Rauza Bal; Youza Asouph, Yuz Assaf, Yus Asaf, युझ असफ, یوذسف), Judasaf, Yus Asaph, or Shahzada Nabi Hazrat Yura Asaf
I
was despondent that I could not enter.
However, my friend told the merchant that I was like his brother, a member of the family,
and that I was not a journalist and was very respectful. The local
merchants agreed that I could go inside, pray, and even take photos.
The
tomb of Yuz Asaf (Youza Asouph or Yus Asaf). Is Yuz Asaf, like Yeshu,
Issa, Hazrat Issa, and others, simply another name for Jesus? In
Parthia (now present-day Iraq and Iran), Jesus was evidently known by the
name Yuz Asaf, according to Kersten's book. It also states that in the
Farhang-i-Asafia, an ancient work of Persia, Jesus (Hazrat Issa)
healed some lepers, who were thereafter called Asaf - "the purified".
Yuz means 'leader', so Yuz Asaf can be taken to mean 'leader
of the healed'.
