Initiates of the Flame (1922)
Shamballa, a sacred city in the Gobi Desert, is believed to be the spiritual headquarters of the Great White Brotherhood, a group of enlightened beings who guide humanity.
The city of Shamballa symbolizes the highest spiritual consciousness and the ultimate goal of the soul's pilgrimage.
The journey to Shamballa is depicted as a spiritual quest where the aspirant must pass through various trials, purifying the lower aspects of their being until they reach the heights of divine understanding.
Beginning of the 5th Root Race
Jupiter was the ruler of the province — if we may so call the whole settlement of the embryonic Eace numbering about seven thousand souls — wielding an authority which was delegated to him by the Manu, the recognised King of the community, residing at Shamballa.
Much excitement was caused some years later by the Manu, who was then a very old man, sending for Jupiter, Corona, Mars and Vajra; on their return, obeying His order, they selected some children from the settlement, and sent them over to Shamballa ; these children were the best in the community and have since risen to the position of Masters.
A few women were sent with them to take care of them, and the children were brought up in Shamballa; in due course Saturn married Surya, and the Manu was reborn as their eldest son, to restart the Race on a higher level.
Mars returned earlier, and was born in Shamballa as a younger brother of the Manu, while Viraj was His sister.
When the Race had again grown to the proportions of a small nation, there was another determined onslaught of the Turanians, and finally another massacre, with only, once more, a few children and their nurses saved and brought up in Shamballa.