"An old Buddhist Brahman in Nepal was
carrying out the will of the gods in making a visit to the ancient kingdom of
Jenghiz, – Siam, -- where he met a fisherman who ordered him to take a place in
his boat and sail with him upon the sea. On the third day they reached an
island where he met a people having two tongues which could speak separately in
different languages.
"They showed him peculiar, unfamiliar
animals, tortoises with sixteen feet and one eye, huge snakes with a very tasty
flesh and birds with teeth which caught fish for their masters in the sea.
These people told him that they had come up out of the subterranean kingdom and
described to him certain parts of the underground country."
"The Lama Turgut traveling with me from
Urga to Peking gave me further details.
"The capital of Agharta is surrounded
with towns of high priests and scientists. It reminds one of Lhasa where the
palace of the Dalai Lama, the Potala, is the top of a mountain covered with
monasteries and temples. The throne of the king of the World is surrounded by
millions... They are the 'holy' Panditas. The palace itself is encircled by the
palaces of the Goro, who possess all the visible and invisible forces of the
earth, of inferno and of the sky and who can do everything for the life and
death of man.
"If our mad humankind should begin a
war against them, they would be able to explode the whole surface of our planet
and transform it into deserts. They can dry up the seas, transform lands into
oceans and scatter the mountains into the sands of the deserts. By his order
trees, grasses and bushes can be made to grow, old and feeble men can become
young and stalwart; and the dead can be resurrected. In cars strange and
unknown to us they rush through the narrow cleavages inside our planet. Some
Indian Brahmans and Tibetan Dalai Lamas during their laborious struggles to the
peaks of the mountains which no other human feet have trod have found there
inscriptions carved on the rocks, footprints in the snow and the tracks of
wheels. The blissful Sakkia Mouni found on one mountain top tablets of stone
carrying words which he only understood in his old age and afterwards
penetrated into the Kingdom of Agharti, from which he brought back crumbs of
the sacred learning preserved in his memory. There in palaces of wonderful
crystal live the invisible rulers of all pious people, - the King of the World
or Brahytma, who can speak with God as I speak with you, and his two
assistants, Mahytma, knowing the purposes of future events, and Mahynga, ruling
the causes of these events.
"The Holy Panditas study the world and
all its forces. Sometimes the most learned among them collect together and send
envoys to that place where human eyes have never penetrated. This is described
by the Tashi Lama living eight hundred and fifty years ago. The highest
Panditas place their hands on their eyes and at the base of the brain of younger
ones and force them into a deep sleep, wash their bodies with an infusion of
grass and make them immune to pain and harder than stones, wrap them in magic
cloths, bind them and then pray to the Great God. The petrified youths lie with
eyes and ears open and alert, seeing, hearing and remembering everything.
"Afterwards a Goro approaches and
fastens a long, steady gaze upon then. Very slowly the bodies lift themselves
from the earth and disappear.
"The Goro sits and stares with fixed
eyes to the place whither he had sent them. Invisible threads join them to his
will. Some of them course among the stars, observe their events, their unknown
peoples, their life and their laws. They listen to their talk, read their
books, understand their fortunes and woes, their holiness and sins, their piety
and evil. Some are mingled with flame and see the creature of fire, quick and
ferocious, eternally fighting, melting and hammering metals in the depths of
planets, boiling the water for geysers and springs, melting the rocks and
pushing out molten streams over the surface of the earth through the holes in
the mountains. Others rush together with the ever elusive, infinitesimally
small, transparent creatures of the air and penetrate into the mysteries of
their existence and into the purposes of their life. Others slip into the
depths of the seas and observe the kingdom of the wise creatures of the water,
who transport and spread genial warmth all over the earth, ruling the winds,
waves and storms.... In Erdeni Dzu formerly lived Pandita Hutuktu, who had come
from Agharti. As he was dying, he told about the time when he lived according
to the will of the Goro on a red star in the east, floated in an ice-covered
ocean and flew among the stormy fires in the depths of the earth.
"These are the tales which I heard in
the Mongolian 'yurtas' of Princes and in the Lamaite monasteries. These stories
were all related in a solemn tone which forbade challenge and doubt...
"Mystery.......
"During my stay in Urga I tried to find
an explanation of this legend about the King of the World. Of course, the
Living Buddha could tell me most of all and so I endeavored to get the story
from him. In a conversation with him I mentioned the name of the King of the
World. The old Pontiff sharply turned his head toward me and fixed upon me his
immobile, blind eyes. Unwillingly I became silent. Our silence was a long one
and after it the Pontiff continued the conversation in such a way that I
understood he did not wish to accept the suggestion of my reference. On the
facts of the others present I noticed expressions of astonishment and fear
produced by my words, and especially was this true of the custodian of the
library of the Bogdo Khan. One can readily understand that all this only made
me the more anxious to press the pursuit.
"As I was leaving the study of the
Bogdo Hutuktu, I met the librarian who had stepped out ahead of me and asked
him if he would show me the library of the Living Buddha and used a very
simple, sly trick with him.
"'Do you know, my dear lama,' I said,
'once I rode in the plain at the hour when the King of the World spoke with God
and I felt the impressive majesty of this moment.'
"To my astonishment the old Lama very
quietly answered me: 'It is not right that the Buddhist and our Yellow Faith
should conceal it. The acknowledgment of the existence of the most holy and
most powerful man, of the blissful kingdom, of the great temple of sacred
science... is such a consolation to our sinful hearts and our corrupt lives that
to conceal it from humankind is a sin.
"'Well, listen,' he continued,
'throughout the whole year the King of the World guides the work of the
Panditas and Goros of Agharti. Only at times he goes to the temple cave where
the embalmed body of his predecessor lies in a black stone coffin. This cave is
always dark, but when the King of the World enters it the walls are striped
with fire and from the lid of the coffin appears tongues of flame. The eldest
Goro stands before him with covered head and face and with hands folded across
his chest. This Goro never removes the covering from his face, for his head is
a nude skull with living eyes and a tongue that speaks. He is in communication
with the souls of all who have gone before.
"The King of the World prays for a long
time and afterwards approaches the coffin and stretches out his hand. The
flames thereon burn brighter; the stripes of fire on the walls disappear and
revive, interlace and form mysterious signs from the alphabet 'vatannan’. From
the coffin transparent bands of scarcely noticeable light begin to flow forth.
These are the thoughts of his predecessor. Soon the King of the World stands
surrounded by an auriole of this light and fiery letters write and write upon
the
walls the wishes and orders of God.
"At this moment the King of the World
is in contact with the thoughts of all the men who influence the lot and life
of all humankind: with Kings, Czars, Khans, warlike leaders, High Priests,
scientists and other strong men. He realizes all their thoughts and plans. If
these be pleasing before God, the King of the world will invisibly help them;
if they are unpleasant in the sight of God, the King will bring them to
destruction. This power is given to Agharti by the mysterious science of 'Om,'
with which we begin all prayers. 'Om' is the name of an ancient Holyman, the
first Goro... He was (one of) the first men to know God and who taught
humankind to believe, hope and struggle with Evil. Then God gave him power over
all forces ruling the visible world.
"After his conversation with his
predecessor the King of the World assembles the 'Great Council of God,' judges
the actions and thoughts of great men, helps then or destroys them. Mahytma and
Mahynga find the place for these actions and thoughts in the causes ruling the
world. Afterwards the King of the World enters the great temple and prays in
solitude. Fire appears on the altar, gradually spreading to all the altars
near, and through the burning flame gradually appears the face of God. The King
of the World reverently announces to God the decisions and awards of the
'Council of God' and receives in turn the Divine orders of the Almighty. As he
comes forth from the temple, the King of the World radiates with Divine Light.
"'Has anybody seen the King of the
World?' I asked.
"'Oh, yes!' answered the lama. 'During
the solemn holidays of the ancient Buddhism in Siam and India the King of the
World appeared five times. He rode in a splendid car drawn by white elephants
and ornamented with gold, precious stones and finest fabrics; he was robed in a
white mantle and red tiara with strings of diamonds masking his fade. He
blessed the people with a golden apple with the figure of a LAMB above it. The
blind received their sight, the dumb spoke, the deaf heard, the crippled freely
moved and the dead arose, wherever the eyes of the King of the World rested. He
also appeared five hundred and forty years ago in Erdeni Dzu, he was in the
ancient Sakkai Monastery and in the Nerabanchi Kure.
"'One of our living Buddha’s and one of
the Tashi Lamas received a message from him, written with unknown signs and
golden tablets. No one could read these signs. The Tashi Lama entered the
temple, placed the golden tablet on his head and began to pray. With this the
thoughts of the King of the World penetrated his brain and, without having read
the enigmatical signs, he understood and accomplished the message of the
King."
"'How many persons have ever been to
Agharti?' I questioned him.
"'Very many,' answered the Lama, 'but
all these people have kept secret that which they saw there. When the Olets
destroyed Lhasa, one of their detachments in the south-western mountains
penetrated to the outskirts of Agharti. Here they learned some of the lesser
mysterious sciences and brought them to the surface of our earth. This is why
the Olets and Kalmucks are artful sorcerers and prophets. Also from the eastern
country some tribes of black people penetrated to Agharti and lived there many
centuries. Afterwards they were thrust out from the kingdom and returned to the
earth, bringing with them the mystery of predictions according to cards,
grasses and lines of the palm. They are the Gypsies...'
"The Lama was silent and afterwards, as
though answering my thoughts, continued.
"'In Agharti the learned Panditas write
on tablets of stone all the science of our planet and of the other worlds. The
Chinese learned Buddhists know this. Their science is the highest and purest.
Every century one hundred sages of China collect in a secret place on the
shores of the sea, where from its depths come out one hundred (long living)
tortoises. On their shells the Chinese write all the developments of the divine
science of the century...'
"'Several times the Pontiffs of Lhasa
and Urga have sent envoys to the King of the World,' said the Lama librarian,
'but they could not find him. Only a certain Tibetan leader after a battle with
the Olets found the cave with the inscription, "This is the gate to
Agharti." From the cave a fine appearing man came forth, presented him
with a gold tablet bearing the mysterious signs and said:
"'"The King of the World will
appear before all people when the time shall have arrived for him to lead all
the good people of the world against all the bad; but this time has not yet
come. The most evil among mankind have not yet been born."
"'"Chiang Chun" Baron Ungern
sent a young Prince Pounzig to seek out the King of the World but he returned
with a letter from the Dalai Lama from Lhasa. When the Baron sent him a second time,
he did not come back."...'"
*******
#48
--- More information on Agharti can be found on pages 210-222 of Nicholas
Roerich's book, "SHAMBHALA", in his chapter - "Subterranean
Dwellers":
"Once
on our travels we reached a half-ruined village. There was a glimmer of light
in only two houses. In a small room, an old man sat cleaning a utensil. He
became our host for the night. I asked him the reason for his isolation. He
answered... 'Every one has departed. They have found more suitable sites for their
dwellings. They were strong and enterprising. Something new attracted them. But
I knew that nothing new exists on earth. And I did not wish to change the place
of my death.'
"Thus the strongest ones depart. The
decaying ones patiently await death. Is it not the story of all migrations, of
all enterprises?
"The subject of the great migrations is
the most fascinating in the history of humanity.
What spirit was it that thus moved whole nations and innumerable tribes? What
cataclysm drove the hordes from their familiar steppes? What new happiness and
privileges did they anticipate in the blue mist of the immense desert?...
"In every city, in every encampment of
Asia, I tried to discover what memories were being cherished in the
folk-memory. Through these guarded and preserved tales you can recognize the
reality of the past. In every spark of folk-lore, there is a drop of the great
Truth adorned or distorted. Not long ago we were to vain to appreciate these
treasures of folk-lore. 'What could these illiterate people know!' But afterwards we learned that even the great
Rig-Vedas were written down only in the comparatively recent past, and perhaps
for many centuries they were passed down by word of mouth. We thought that the
flying carpet of fairy-tales belonged only to the children: but we soon
recognized that although each fantasy, in its own individual way, weaves a beautiful
carpet ornamenting life, nevertheless this very carpet bears the footprints of
great reality of the past.
"Among the innumerable legends and
fairy tales of various countries may be found the tales of lost tribes or
subterranean dwellers. In wide and diverse directions, people are speaking of
the identical facts. But in correlating them you can readily see that these are
but chapters from the one story. At first it seems impossible that there should
exist any scientific connection between these distorted whispers under the
light of the desert bonfires. But afterwards you begin to grasp the peculiar
coincidence in these manifold legends related by peoples who are even ignorant
of each other's names.
"You recognize the same relationship in
the folk-lores of Tibet, Mongolia, China, Turkestan, Kashmir, Persia, Altai,
Siberia, the Ural, Caucasia, the Russian steppes, Lithuania, Poland, Hungary,
Germany, France; from the highest mountains to the deepest oceans. You will
hear wonderfully elaborated tales in the Tourfan district. They tell you how a
holy tribe was persecuted by a tyrant and how the people, not willing to submit
to the cruelty, closed themselves in subterranean mountains. They even ask you
if you want to see the entrance of the cave through which the saintly
persecuted folk fled.
"In Kuchar you will hear of King
Po-chan, ruler of the Tokhars, and how, when the enemy approached, he
disappeared with all the treasures of his kingdom, leaving only sand, stones
and ruins behind him...
"Each entrance to a cave suggests that
someone has already entered there. Every creek -- especially the subterranean
creeks -- draw one's fantasy to the underground passages. In many places of
Central Asia, they speak of (the) Agharti, the subterranean people. In numerous
beautiful legends they outline the same story of how the best people abandoned
the treacherous earth and sought salvation in hidden countries where they
acquired new forces and conquered powerful energies.
"In the Altai Mountains, in the
beautiful upland valley of Uimon, a hoary Old Believer (Starover) said to me:
'I shall prove to you that the tale about the Chud, the subterranean people, is
not a fantasy! I shall lead you to the entrance of the subterranean kingdom.'
"On the way through the valley
surrounded by snowy mountains, my host told us many tales about the Chud. It is
remarkable that 'Chud' in Russian has the same origin as the word
'wonder'! So, perhaps, we may consider
the Chud a wonderful tribe. My bearded guide told how '...once upon a time, in
this fertile valley lived and flourished the powerful tribe of Chud. They knew
how to prospect for minerals and how to reap the best harvest. Most peaceful
and most industrious, was this tribe.
"'But then came a White Tzar with
innumerable hordes of cruel warriors. The peaceful, industrious Chud could not
resist the assaults of the conquerors, and not wishing to lose their liberty,
they remained as serfs of the White Tzar. Then, for the first tine, a white
birch began to grow in this region. And, according to the old prophecies, the
Chud knew that it was time for their departure. And the Chud, unwilling to
remain subject to the White Tear, departed under the earth.
"'Only sometimes can you hear the holy
people singing: now their bells ring out in their subterranean temples. But
there shall come the glorious time of human purification, and in those days,
the great Chud shall again appear in full glory.'
"Thus the Old Believer concluded. We
approached some low stony hill. Proudly he showed me, 'Here we are. Here is the
entrance to the great subterranean kingdom! When the Chud entered the
subterranean passage they closed the entrance with stones. Now
we
stand just beside this holy entrance.'
"We stood beside a huge tomb encircled
by great stones, so typical of the period of the great migrations. Such tombs,
with the beautiful remains of Gothic relics, we saw in South Russian steppes,
in foothills of the Northern Caucasus. Studying this hill, I remembered how
during our crossing of the Karakoram pass, my sais, the Ladaki, asked me, 'Do
you know why there is such a peculiar upland here? Do you know that in
subterranean caves here many treasures are hidden and that in them lives a
wonderful tribe which abhors the sins of earth?'
