TESTIMONY OF MASTER MORYA
The first to speak about this
mysterious place was Master Morya, who in a letter he wrote to Mr. Sinnett in
October 1881, pointed out the following:
« At a certain spot not
to be mentioned to outsiders, there is a chasm spanned by a frail bridge of
woven grasses and with a raging torrent beneath.
The bravest member of your Alpine
clubs would scarcely dare to venture the passage, for it hangs like a spider's
web and seems to
be rotten and impassable. Yet it is not; and he who dares the trial and
succeeds — as he will if it is right that he should be permitted — comes into a
gorge of surpassing beauty of scenery — to one of our places and to some of our people, of which and
whom there is no note or minute among European geographers.
At a stone's throw from the old
Lamasery stands the old tower, within whose bosom have gestated generations of
Bodhisatwas. It is there, where now rests your lifeless friend [Master Kuthumi]. »
(Mahatma
Letter 29, p.219)
TESTIMONY OF BLAVATSKY
Helena Blavatsky, in a letter she wrote to Mrs. Mary Hollis Billings, dated
October 2, 1881, gave more details about that mysterious place:
« Kuthumi is now gone
to sleep for three months to prepare during this Sumadhi or
continuous trance state for his initiation, the last but one, when he
will become one of the highest adepts.
Poor Kuthumi, his body is now
lying cold and stiff in a separate square building of stone with no windows or
doors in it, the entrance to which is effected through an underground passage
from a door in Toong-ting (reliquary, a room situated in every Thaten
(temple) or Lamisery; and his Spirit is quite free. An adept might lie so
for years, when his body was carefully prepared for it beforehand by mesmeric
passes etc.
It is a beautiful spot where he
is now in the square tower. The Himalayas on the right and a lovely lake
near the lamisery. His Chohan (spiritual instructor, master, and
the Chief of a Tibetan Monastery) takes care of his body. Morya also goes
occasionally to visit him. It is an awful mystery that state of
cataleptic sleep for such a length of time. »
(The Theosophical Forum, May 1936, p.345)
TESTIMONY OF C. RAMIAH
Although the physical access to that place is reserved only for the Adepts
and their disciples, there were also members of the Theosophical Society who
visited him through his astral body, and one of them was C. Ramiah who narrated
his experience in two letters which were published in the Theosophist magazine:
« My age is 51 years; and this circumstance I mention
to show that I have not the enthusiasm of youth, nor its inseparable flights of
imagination. I note down the incidents in the order of their occurrence to me,
and the reader is at liberty to draw what conclusion he pleases.
I am a Brahmin of the orthodox faith, and I have been brought up by my
parents in the belief of the existence of one great Personal God, and of
numerous other minor gods whose powers over nature and elements are extensive,
and who have gradually worked up their ways by a knowledge of occult
philosophy.
In the year 1860 or 1861, I had occasion to visit the town of Trivellum
in North Arcot District and halted in the chuttrum near the Pagoda. I liked the
place much; and something about the aspect of the place struck me that it must
have been sanctified by the presence of a Mahatma in its neighborhood. If time
had allowed, I would have stayed there much longer, but my business required me
to leave it the same evening.
In the year 1864 I was working in another district when one night in a
dream I saw a Mahatma seated high in the air with a very brilliant star for his
ring, and he pointed me out to his Chela standing near, and beyond this,
nothing further occurred.
In the year 1873 my father died and in his last moments he told me that
"he had in his mind one or two particular things to communicate, but which
he was powerless to do at that moment, and, if the Mahatmas wished, they would
communicate with me in the course of time."
About the year 1880, one night, I was carried in my dream to a rural
village at the foot of a great chain of mountains; and there I saw a Mahatma
dressed in a Buddhist’s gown and hood, with bare feet. I at once prostrated
myself at his feet, when he bade me rise, placed his two hands on my head, and
directed me to persevere in the mode of life I have been following. A few
months rolled away and nothing particular occurred.
In the year 1881, the newly established Theosophical Society attracted
the attention of all people; and hearing that a Mahatma was favorably disposed
to its successful working, I prayed that I may be favored with faith. I repeated
this prayer every night; and it so happened that one night, in my dream, I was
carried to the same chain of mountains, when I perceived the same Mahatma (who
already appeared to me in the Buddhist’s gown) standing on an isolated rock;
and there was a deep chasm between him and me.
Not being able to go nearer, I prostrated on the ground, when I was
ordered to rise and was asked what I wanted. I repeated the prayer that I
wanted to know more of faith, when, to my surprise, a large volume of brilliant
fire burst forth from his breast with several forked tongues, and a few
particles of fire flew in my direction and they were absorbed in my person. The
Mahatma disappeared after this, and here ended my second dream.
As time rolled on, I became less and less selfish, am disposed to look
upon the whole humanity, animals and men, as part of myself, and am more and
more anxious to learn and become useful to the world at large within my limited
means and knowledge, of which there is not much.
In the middle part of the year 1883, one night, I was carried in my
dream to a great chain of mountains when some one led me into their recesses.
There I found a great rock temple in the form of a hall of oblong size, and I
perceived the same Mahatma, who had shown himself to me on the two previous
occasions, seated on a low stool with a shrine opposite to him, and there were
two rows of Mahatmas, one on each side, all dressed in Buddhist’s gown except
the Chief.
I prostrated as usual and was ordered to rise. I was then told to go
round the shrine, and some one led me round, and there I found two or three
ladies in deep devotion.
On the shrine I observed a very brilliant substance resembling
phosphorus, in a dark place irregularly coiled like a serpent, and I expressed
a wish to know what it was; and one of the ladies then opening her eyes told me
that the shrine is earth, to which state all our physical bodies must be
brought down sooner or later, and the brilliant substance is the spirit, or
essence, or "Jyoti" which moves all universe. I came back to the
Chief, and after prostrating before him once more, I left the place which was
said to be "Harthayery", by one of the Mahatmas standing (1).
I have had no dreams since then, but I perceive a change coming over me
as if my inward man is trying to fly upwards; and I have now a very sincere
desire to proceed to the Tibetan mountains in search of the Mahatmas.
I was thinking over these dreams, and at last my mind became so heavy
with these thoughts that I prayed to the Mahatmas for relief. In my dream again
about two months ago, I was told to go to Mr. T. Subba Row, the worthy
President of the Madras Branch of the Theosophical Society, and to him I went
after the voice repeated itself a second time. To him I explained my whole
experience, and he kindly asked me to call at the Head-Quarters of the
Theosophical Society in order to see if I could recognize the features of the
Mahatma who appeared to me in my dream.
I went thither the same evening, and at about 4 p.m., the "Shrine"
doors were opened, and to my surprise I identified in the photo of the
Illustrious Mahatma K. H. the exact features of the Mahatma of my dreams. With
my hands joined in a state of supplication, and with the words "O Mighty
God" on my lips, I went down on my knees, and in an hour afterwards I
became a fellow of the Theosophical Society.
C. RAMIAH.
MADRAS
11th August, 1884.
After identifying the Mahatma of my dreams with the Mahatma K. H., whose
picture graces the shrine at Adyar Head-quarters (as mentioned in the September
number of the Theosophist), I resolved to call to my mind the form of
the Mahatma, and after a few determined trials I succeeded in impressing my
mind with his exact features, not omitting even the Buddhist’s gown and bare
feet.
I willed this often, and each time the features became more and more
clearly defined. At one time the Mahatma appeared seated, oftentimes standing,
and on a few occasions he appeared standing on an elevated place; and in my
efforts to approach him from the low land, in which I then fancied I was, he
extended his hand as if to help me in climbing up. All the above were visions
in open day time during my hours of prayer, and they were not dreams.
As time rolled on I observed the features of the Mahatma to wear an
expression of sorrow, and this I thought was due to my sinful life. A change,
however, came over me soon, and to my extreme regret I perceived that mental
clouds intervened between the Mahatma and me, hiding him altogether from my
view; and they followed each other in rapid succession.
When they were dispersed by an effort of the will, the internal light
which enabled me to see the Mahatma with my mind’s eye became so intense and
displayed such variegated colors, that I was not able to see any thing. On
other occasions this same internal light became so unsteady that an effort to
see him pained the mind’s eye.
I felt very sorry for the above interruption, when one day, while in
prayers, I perceived a ray of light of golden hue shine within me, and as I
followed it, it grew in intensity, and the golden hue was diffused all over in
me. It did not however stop here, and it extended itself to the whole earth,
and even went beyond it, lighting up as far as the mind’s eye can reach or
comprehend. In this light I perceived worlds moving and all sorts of matter and
human and other forms moving in this ocean of light.
The vision was splendid to behold, and after a lapse of about five
minutes the light gradually contracted itself to the original single ray, and
in the light which it diffused, I perceived the sublime and glorious form of
the Mahatma. I must, however, add here that so long as this ray of light of
golden hue was seen by me, neither the clouds, nor the intensely strong light
with variegated colors, nor unsteadiness of light, disturbed the vision.
I have no control over this splendid ray of light as it appears when I
am unaware, and does not appear when I want it to appear. Its duration is also
not fixed nor its intensity either.
I mentioned all this to my esteemed friend Mr. Subba Row, and he advised
me to see well and distinguish what objects I saw in that glorious light, and I
did not waste the advice.
One day while at prayers the golden ray of light appeared, and in seeing
through it I perceived the figure of the Mahatma; and as I found my mind’s eye
upon him he receded. I followed him, and steadily he walked over an ascent, and
then I perceived that a mountainous country was at hand. He went up mountains
and down again, now turning to the right and then to the left, until at last he
came upon a broad river and then disappeared.
Instinctively I walked alongside of the bank of the river in the hope of
finding a ford, and came to its narrowest part. There was a rude bridge of
reeds here spanning the river, and trusting myself to the protecting care of
the Mahatma, who brought me so far, I made a venture, and before I was aware of
my dangerous position, I found myself on the other side.
Here was up and down hill work again, and when I perceived that I was
much exhausted, a large lake was disclosed to my view, the margin of which was
graced with clusters of beautiful trees, with a sprinkling of rudely built
houses on the shore; and on my nearer approach I perceived they were
inhabited (2).
Thirsty and hungry, I ventured into the house nearest to me, and with
one voice all the inmates greeted me and made me participate in their meals.
After this, they clothed me in a gown and hood of pale yellow color, and after
similarly clothing themselves, they took me to the rock temple in
"Husthagerry" (described in the September number of the Theosophist)
where to my surprise and infinite joy I found the Mahatma K. H. seated before
the altar on the same low stool as before. We all prostrated before him, and
thus ended this interesting vision.
About the latter part of last August I was in prayers as usual when the
golden ray of light having appeared the Mahatma stood in it in all his glory.
He receded again, and I followed him close, and after traversing the same path
over mountains as before, he disappeared at the lake. There were no persons
living on the borders of the lake and the houses were all empty. Without
knowing the why or the wherefore I tried to reach the rock temple, but I missed
my way.
After traversing many mountains and dangerous valleys, I came upon a
broad tableland and at some distance I perceived a cluster of fine tall trees
beneath the shadow of which there stood a neat house facing eastward. Thither I
went, and at its entrance I saw Mahatma K. H. seated alone, and my mind told me
it was his own house. I mentioned this curious vision to Mr. Damodar K.
Mavalankar, and he told me that I must try and see what more I can; and this
resolve I at once made (3).
Three or four days after this interview, the same vision appeared to me,
and facing the house of the Mahatma K. H. there appeared another cluster of
trees with a house under, with a distance of about a mile or two between the
houses; and there was also a small temple with a circular dome half way between
them. This other or second house I learnt by intuition belonged to another
Mahatma (4).
There was no exchange of words between the Mahatma and myself in any one
of the visions.
I am sorry I am not an artist or I would have sent you a sketch of the
scenery of the two houses with the picturesque temple half way between the
houses.
C. RAMIAH
MADRAS,
4th September, 1884.
»
The editor (Blavatsky) added the
followings endnotes:
- The correspondent probably means an altar and not a shrine. But the details he gives of the Jyoti (flame) seem to correspond to what is alleged to exist in a certain temple in Thibet. The flame symbolises what the Hindu philosophers know as paramjyoti, which is sometimes represented by the Buddhists as the "yellow Sun in the lotus."
- The correspondent could not have described the place more accurately, if he had seen it physically. If he had persevered a little and gone further, only a short distance, he might have seen a certain place allowed to be visited only by initiates. Perhaps to prevent his approaching it his course might have been diverted on the way.
- This is a correct description, as far as it goes, of the house of the Mahatma.
- This description corresponds to that of the house of the other Mahatma, known to Theosophists.
(Ramiah’s
testimony was published in Supplement to The Theosophist, September, 1884,
p.125-126, and October, 1884, p.138-139)
TESTIMONY OF FRANZ HARTMANN
Another member of the Theosophical Society who also reported having visited
this place was the writer Franz Hartmann who wrote the following:
« In the year 1886, after my return from India, I made,
accidentally, the acquaintance of the wife of a German laborer. This woman was
without any better education that than of her class, but in possession of
extraordinary occult powers.
She could cure diseases at a distance, could heal wounds, ulcers, and
sores, and could stop bleeding without seeing the patient, merely by
“sympathetic” remedies, for instance by putting a blood-stained rag, coming
from the patient, into a pot which contained sulphate of iron, after which the
bleeding would cease.
This woman had never heard of what is called “psychometry,” so I
concluded to try an experiment. I gave her a letter which I had received in a
mysterious manner in India. It was a so-called “occult” letter, supposed to
come from a Mahatma in Tibet, and was received through H.P. Blavatsky.
I asked the woman to hold the letter to her forehead and tell me what
she saw. She did so and gave me a description of a Buddhist temple with a
gilded roof, inscriptions, etc., and also of people whose dress she described.
All this was afterwards published in the Theo sophist and verified by
Blavatsky.
The event seemed very inexplicable to me, especially as I at that time
had some cause to doubt the genuineness of at least some of the “occult letters”
received by me at Adyar. I remembered afterwards, that, some months before, I
had seen myself during a “dream” in a Buddhist temple in Tibet, and this vision
was so vivid, that on the moment of awakening I still seemed to hear the voices
of the white-robed persons with whom I had spoken in that place. »
(Occult Review, May 1907, p.280-281)
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