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Luke 2:13-15 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. (KJV)
Let us not also forget the "shepherds who watched their flocks by night," who by noticing this "announcing star." The writer of the Gospel of Luke would have us believe that these shepherds likewise were awakened to the asupicious time of the birth of the Sun-King. This star had alerted them of his birth and they knew that the Savior of Mankind was about to be born. These shephreds were attendants to a "free Heavenly concert." It makes a beautiful picture.
Such a story makes a Christian think of "Jesus" and his birth. But the sad fact is that although such story of a "heavenly choir announcing the births of Jesus isrecorded in a Christian's "infallible and inerrant New Testament," similar storiescan be found told about the births of pagan god-men since time immemorial.
In the Sanskrit Dictionary, compiled more than two thousand years ago, we find a full account of the incarnate deith Vishun, who appreard in human form as Chrishna. Vishnu, being moved to relieve the earth of her load of misery and sin, came down from heaven, and was born of the virgin Devaki, on the 25th of December. Chrishna's birth was announced in the heavens by his star, and a chorus of Devatas celebrated, with sone, the praise of Devaki (Morris, Aryan Sun-Myths And The Origin Of Religion, p. 37). Morris relates:
"The spirits and numphs of heaven danced and sang; and at midnight, when the Suppor of All was born, the clouds emitted low, pleasing sounds, and poured down rain of flowers" (Morris, Aryan Sun-Myths And The Origin Of Religion, p. 37).
The immortals of the Tusita-heaven decide that Buddha shall be born when the Flower-star makes its first appearance in the east. At his birth a host of angelic messengers descend and announce tidings of great joy: "A hero, glorious and imcomparable, has been born, a savior unto all nations of the earth" (Morris, Aryan Sun-Myths And The Origin Of Religion, pp. 50-51).
The Aryan Sun-Myths, as has been mentioned, went with the Aryans when they peopled Persia, and became the religion of the ancient Pasees. Mithras was the name which the Persians gave to the Sun. After ages had passed, it was utterly forgotten that Mithra was the Sun, and it was believed that he was the Only Begotten Son of God, who had come down from Heaven to be a mediator between God and man, to save man from theri sins. The 25th of December was said to be the day on which this God-man was born, and it was celebrated with great rejoicings. The legend was that the wondrous infant was visited soon after his miraculous birth, by wise men called magi, who brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. It was cutomary for the magi to ascend a high mountain, at early dawn on the 25th of December, and there, with their faces turned to the east, to wait anxiously for the first rays of the Sun, which they hailed with incense and prayer. The shepherds, also were in the habit of prostrating themselves and praying to their god, the Sun.
All nature smiles at the birth of the Heavenly Being. "To him all angels cry aloud, the heavens, and all the powers therein." "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men." "The quarters of the horizon are irradiate with joy, as if moonlight was diffused over the whole earth." "The spirits of the nymphs of heaven dance and sing." For the Lord Savior is born, "to give joy and peace to men and Devas, to shed light in the dark places, and to give sight to the blind."
Truly, there is nothing new under the sun.