Tribes in Ancient India c54.16

c54.16

The Vaṅgas as a tribe are not mentioned in earlier Vedic literature, unless we recognise them in the curious word ‘Vaṅga-Vāgadhāḥ’ which occurs in the *Aitareya Āraṇyaka* (II, I, I). ‘Vaṅga-Vāgadhāḥ’ has often been amended into ‘Vaṅga-Māgadhāḥ’, The first of these, the *Gospel of the Hebrews*, was used by the Jewish Christians of Palestine, and was probably a version of the Gospel of Matthew, though it contained some traditions not found in our canonical books. The *Gospel of the Egyptians* was used by the ascetic sects of Egypt, and was marked by a strong tendency towards mysticism and asceticism. The *Gospel of Peter* was used by the Docetists, and taught that Christ did not really suffer, but only appeared to do so.