I don't think these cultures HAVE to be linked, although it is quite probable that people travelelled from/to India to/from the MIddle East where Xianity emerged from. Often important mathemantical facts (theorums) were discovered by different people in differnt parts of the world who had no contact with each other.

When I first realised that the k-techniques were not unique to rowatt, I looked for different people who did them and found many different types, not all devotee types by any means. I even met one man who grew up in an ashram in India and had been trained in the techniques since quite young. For him the techniques were just part of his life. He was an absolute athiest and a renowned Indian mathematician.

It is interesting that many religious movements did rise up in the 1800s. JWs, Mormons, Rahdasaomi etc. (Zeitgeist?)

Regarding darshan, I always had 'cosmic' experieneces when I went and had no doubt that rowatt was the source.
Since getting rowat out of my head, I feel The same sweetness I experienced in darshan, except I don't have to go anywhere.
Anyway, I am still in the early days of rediscovering myself without rowatt in my life or in my head.

You may interested in reading Professor David Lane's stuff on darshan experiences etc.

Jethro