Where have we got to so far? We have an isolated population, that is a genetic mixture of Ancient Semitic, Toltec and Akkadian blood. Their core was situated on the White Island but spread into a magnificent urban metropolis known as the City of the Bridge. From the small beginning around 60,000 B.C.E., there grew up a thickly populated kingdom, surrounding the Gobi Sea and gradually obtaining dominion over many neighbouring nations, including the Turanians who had so mercilessly massacred its forefathers. This was the rootstock of the original Root Race, from which all the branches or sub-races went out as emigrations. The rootstock is usually called the first sub-race; the first sub-race is also sometimes called the Hindu or the Hindu-Âryan sub-race, to describe more particularly the emigrants that went into India. Many huge bands of conquering emigrants marched into India, subdued the land and possessed it. The last remnants of the root-stock left their home and joined their forerunners in India only shortly before the sinking of Poseidonis in 9,564 B.C.E., being sent away from the Gobi Sea to escape the ruin wrought by that tremendous cataclysm.
As we shall see presently, the parent race sent out no less than four migrations westward, the first of these forming the second sub-race, the second migration forming the third sub-race, and so on. From 60,000 B.C.E. to 40,000 B.C.E., the parent race, the Hindu, grew and flourished, reaching its zenith about 45,000 B.C.E. It conquered China and Japan, peopled chiefly by Mongols, the seventh Atlantean sub-race; going northward and eastward until stopped by the cold. It added to its empire Formosa (Taiwan), populated by Turanians and Tlavatli, the fourth and second Atlantean sub-races, respectively. It also colonised Sumatra and Java and the adjoining islands, which were then not as broken up as they are now. For the most part, they were welcomed in these regions by the people, who looked on the fair-faced strangers as Gods and were more inclined to worship than to fight them.
There is still left in Celebes, an island to the east of Borneo, a hill tribe called Toala, which is a remnant of one of these settlements. They spread also over the Malay peninsula, the Philippines, the Liu-Kiu Islands, the Eastern Archipelago, Papua, the islands on the way to Australia; and Australia itself, then still thickly populated with Lemurians.
Ranging over the huge Empire, with its many kingdoms, the Manu was suzerain; whether He was in incarnation or not, the Kings ruled in His name, and He sent directions from time to time for carrying on the work. The general characteristics of the Race, and its civilisation, are worth studying. Beginning, as it did, with hundreds of thousands of years of Atlantean civilisation behind it and having spent thousands of years under its own Manu in Arabia and northern Asia, it was in no sense primitive. We are told that the whole population could read and write; I doubt this. I think this is looking at the Root Race through rose-tinted glasses and the authors were looking at the centres of authority, where the occurrence of literacy would be much higher. All work was considered honourable, no matter what it was, being done for the Manu. Especially cultivated was the feeling of the brotherhood of the Race, a wonderful fundamental equality; and a mutual courtesy. Whilst personal merit was fully recognised; there was respect and gratitude for those who were more evolved and a complete absence of rude self-assertion. The people trusted one another, gave each other credit for good intentions and therefore did not quarrel. This was very different from the elaborate and luxurious Atlantean civilisation, where each sought their comfort and recognition for themselves, where people distrusted each other and were mutually suspicious. With the Âryans, a person’s word was sufficient; it would be un-Âryan to break it. Everyone seemed to know large numbers of other people. The knowledge of a large number of people was one of the qualifications for a person to be an official.
The feeling of brotherhood, however, did not extend outside the Âryan Race itself, as, for example, to the Turanians, who were of different stock, different culture, crafty, cunning, and were not to be depended on. Towards these the Âryans showed a marked and dignified reserve, though they were not hostile to foreigners, nor did they despise them. People of other nations were allowed only into the outer courts of houses; for the lodging of strangers, of whom there were few, special houses and courtyards were set apart.
In governing foreign nations, whilst not cruel or oppressive, the first sub-race was stern and somewhat hard. A man was an Âryan, a ”noble man,” and this fact imposed on him a certain code of behaviour. The children of the Manu were aristocrats, in the true sense of the word, proud of their high descent and fully recognising the demands it made upon them. For them “noblesse oblige”, which means “privilege that entails responsibility”, was no empty phrase. The civilisation was bright and happy, with much music, dancing and gaiety, its religion being one of praise and thanksgiving. The people were constantly singing hymns of praise and recognised Devas behind natural forces. The Dawn-Maidens were joyously hymned each morning, and the Spirit of the Sun was the chief object of worship.
The four Kumâras were regarded as Gods, and Their Presence was felt by a people so near to nature as to be sensitive and psychic. The planet Venus also was an object of worship, perhaps because of the tradition that the Lords of the Flame had descended from Venus. The Sky itself was worshipped, as was the Atom as the origin of all things and a manifestation of the Deity in miniature.
An annual ceremony may serve as an example of one of their greater religious festivals.
There was held every Midsummer Day, in the City of the Bridge, the Festival of the Sacred Fire. Numbers of men, women and children marched in procession at an early hour along the converging streets into the crescent facing the Bridge. Flags were flown from the buildings, the roads were strewn with blossoms, incense was burnt, and the people were clad in coloured silks, often heavily jewelled, wearing splendid coral ornaments and wreaths and garlands of flowers. They marched with clashing of metal plates and blasts of horns. In silence, they crossed the Bridge and went on into the central Hall. There stood the great throne, cut out of the living rock, gold-encrusted, richly jewelled, covered with golden symbols. Before it stood an altar piled high with fragrant woods. Above it, an immense golden Sun, a half sphere, projected from the wall. High in the vault above, the planet Venus hung in the air.
When the people were assembled, the three Manus entered, in their robes of office, the Mahâguru (the future Gautama Buddha) standing behind Vaivasvata; behind him stood Sûrya (the future Lord Maitreya), and nearest to the throne the three Kumaras. In the air, in a semicircle, were gorgeous purple and silver Devas, attendant, watchful. Could this be seen by everyone? I don’t know, but those who could witness it would have been impressed. Those around the throne softly chanted an invocation to the King to come among them. A single silvery note rang out, the golden Sun blazed, and below it, just over the throne, flashed out a brilliant star. The supreme Lord of the Hierarchy appeared, seated on the throne and all fell on their faces, hiding their eye from the blinding glory of His Presence. Quite how Sanat Kumara managed to pull off this trick I do not know. The King softened the glory so that all might see Him, the Sanat Kumâra, the ”Eternal Virgin” in all the beauty of His unchanging Youth, who was yet the Ancient of Days. (It should be noted that the Sanskrit term translated Virgin has a masculine termination). He stretched forth His hands towards the altar, and fire blazed upon it. Then He disappeared; the star vanished, and the golden Sun glowed but faintly, only the Fire burnt on. The priests then reserved glowing fragments of wood for the altars of the various Temples, these being given to them and the heads of households, in vessels with lids. The processions re-formed and passed out to the City with great rejoicings. The sacred fire was placed on the family altars and kept alive during the ensuing year; wooden splints lighted from these altar fires were taken to those who had been unable to attend.
Some of the people studied deeply and reached great proficiency in occult science, in order to devote themselves to certain branches of the public service. They became clairvoyant and gained control of various natural forces, learning to make thought forms and to leave their physical bodies at will. Remembering the evil in Atlantis, the instructors chose their pupils with great care, one of the lieutenants of the Manu supervising the classes.
Instead of newspapers, clairvoyants obtained news as required, from any part of the Empire, as we do in modern days by radio or the internet. Considering the Atlantians had a form of aeroplane, it is not a stretch to imagine some sort of universally accessible communication system. Occasionally, if the Manu was unable to impress His instructions on one of His distant rulers, He would bid one of the trained students to leave his physical body, travel in their emotional body to the ruler, materialise himself on arrival and deliver the message. In this way, the Manu remained the real Ruler throughout the whole Empire. Writing was done on various substances, for example, with a sharp instrument on a waxy surface, the script being afterwards filled with a liquid which hardened. Machinery was simpler than in Atlantis, and there was more artisanal work. The Manu evidently wished to avoid the extreme luxury of Atlantis.
By 40,000 B.C.E., the Empire began to decline, the islands and outer provinces asserting a barbarian independence. The Manu still occasionally incarnated, but usually directed operations from higher planes. Being trapped in a physical body is not all that it is cracked up to be. The central kingdom, however, remained a splendid civilisation for another 25,000 years and more, whilst the later sub-races were spreading in all directions.
So what happens next? Tune in and find out next week.