Shambhal .1

                                    

                                          
Of all the predicted birth places of Kalki, the common and popular name is Shambhal, not to be confused by Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh though a lot of people claim it to be the auspicious place where Kalki will be born. Anyways, today we'll be taking a closer look at the mythical kingdom of Shambhal located somewhere in lap of the majestic Himalaya. A lot of individual expeditions were launched to pinpoint the land of white waters but none had gotten any actual success. 
                          
The belief surrounds that Shambhal is covered by a dense layer of fog which protects it and keeps it away or rather it keeps the intruders who aren't worthy enough away. It is said that when time comes, like when Kalki has completed his education and when he's ready to wage a war against Kali, the fog will lift and reveal the splendid city of happiness. 
                          
Geographically, Shambhal's capital will be Kalapa surrounded by eight mountains like a lotus somewhere in Dhauldhar range and Mcleodganj, Dharamshala. 
                          
5 APRIL, 2014 - 14:03 Mysteries of the Kingdom of Shambhala  
                          
Shambhala, which is a Sanskrit word meaning "place of peace" or "place of silence", is a mythical paradise spoken of in ancient texts, including the Kalachakra Tantra and the ancient scriptures of the Zhang Zhung culture which predated Tibetan Buddhism in western Tibet. According to legend, it is a land where only the pure of heart can live, a place where love and wisdom reigns and where people are immune to suffering, want or old age.
                          
Shambhala is said to be the land of a thousand names. It has been called the Forbidden Land, the Land of White Waters, Land of Radiant Spirits, Land of Living Fire, Land of the Living Gods and Land of Wonders. The Hindus call it Aryavartha ('The Land of the Worthy Ones); the Chinese know it as Hsi Tien, the Western Paradise of Hsi Wang Mu; and to the Russian Old Believers, it is known as Belovoyde.  But throughout Asia, it is best known by its Sanskrit name, Shambhala, Shamballa, or Shangri-la.
                          
Shambhala is described as a land of paradise. 
                          
The legend of Shambhala is said to date back thousands of years, and reference to the mythical land can be found in various ancient texts. The Bön scriptures speak of a closely related land called Olmolungring. Hindu texts such as Vishnu Purana mention Shambhala as the birth place of Kalki, the final incarnation of Vishnu who will usher in a new Golden Age. The Buddhist myth of Shambhala is an adaptation of the earlier Hindu myth. However, the text in which Shambhala is first discussed extensively is the Kalachakra.
                          
The Kalachakra refers to a complex and advanced esoteric teaching and practice in Tibetan Buddhism. Shakyamuni Buddha is said to have taught the Kalachakra on request of King Suchandra of Shambhala.
                          
As with many concepts in the Kalachakra, the idea of Shambhala is said to have outer, inner, and alternative meanings. The outer meaning understands Shambhala to exist as a physical place, although only individuals with the appropriate karma can reach it and experience it as such. The inner and alternative meanings refer to more subtle understandings of what Shambhala represents in terms of one's own body and mind (inner), and during meditative practice (alternative). These two types of symbolic explanations are generally passed on orally from teacher to student.
                          
As the 14th Dalai Lama noted during the 1985 Kalachakra initiation in Bodhgaya, Shambhala is not an ordinary country:
                          
Although those with special affiliation may actually be able to go there through their karmic connection, nevertheless it is not a physical place that we can actually find. We can only say that it is a pure land, a pure land in the human realm. And unless one has the merit and the actual karmic association, one cannot actually arrive there.
                          
The Prophecy of Shambhala
                          
The concept of Shambhala plays an important role in Tibetan religious teachings, and has particular relevance in Tibetan mythology about the future.  The Kalachakra prophesies the gradual deterioration of mankind as the ideology of materialism spreads over the earth. When the "barbarians" who follow this ideology are united under an evil king and think there is nothing left to conquer, the mists will lift to reveal the snowy mountains of Shambhala. The barbarians will attack Shambhala with a huge army equipped with terrible weapons. Then the king of Shambhala will emerge from Shambhala with a huge army to vanquish "dark forces" and usher in a worldwide Golden Age.
                          
Though the Kālachakra prophesies a future war, this appears in conflict with the vows of Buddhist teachings that prohibit violence. This has led some theologians to interpret the war symbolically – the Kālachakra is not advocating violence against people but rather refers to the inner battle of the religious practitioner against inner demonic tendencies.
                          
Shambhala's hidden location
                          
Over many centuries, numerous explorers and seekers of spiritual wisdom have embarked on expeditions and quests in search of the mythical paradise of Shambhala, and while many have claimed to have been there, no one has yet provided any evidence of its existence or been able to pinpoint its physical location on a map, however most references place Shambhala in the mountainous regions of Eurasia. 
                          
Ancient Zhang Zhung texts identify Shambhala with the Sutlej Valley in Punjab or Himachal Pradesh, India. Mongolians identify Shambhala with certain valleys of southern Siberia. In Altai folklore, Mount Belukha is believed to be the gateway to Shambhala. Modern Buddhist scholars seem to conclude that Shambhala is located in the higher reaches of the Himalayas in what is now called the Dhauladhar Mountains around Mcleodganj.  Some legends say that the entrance to Shambhala is hidden inside a remote, abandoned monastery in Tibet, and guarded by beings known as the Shambhala Guardians.
                          
According to Buddhist traditions, Shambhala is located in the Himalayan Mountains. Photo source: .
                          
For some, the fact that Shambhala has never been found has a very simple explanation – many believe that Shambhala lies on the very edge of physical reality, as a bridge connecting this world to one beyond it.
                          
While many disregard Shambhala as the fanciful subject of myth and legend, for others, a belief in Shambhala stirs an inner yearning to one day find this utopian kingdom.
                          
By : April Holloway

                          
Source : ancient-origins.net 
                          
In the above article Shambhal is also called Shangri-La but I don't think they should be confused as one. The Shambhal kingdom is real in pages not in vision however Shangri-La is an actual place somewhere between India and China hidden by some of the highest peaks of Himalaya. Several curious seekers have reached Shangri-La before and it has been extensively documented but not Shambhal. It is still a matter of belief and whether you believe its existence or not it's upto you. But you cannot deny the existence of Shangri-La.
                          
If you're interested in the secrets that Shangri-La gaurds, here's a little national geographic video about it. youtube.com/watch?v=D6idE9w3fHY