Beasts, Men, and Gods: Ossendowski's Journey and the Mystery of the King of the World
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Ferdinand Ossendowski was a Polish explorer, scientist and writer who, amid the chaos of the Russian Revolution, embarked on an epic journey through Central Asia. Fleeing the Bolsheviks, he traversed Siberia, Mongolia and Tibet, recording not only the challenges of his escape but also the mysteries and beliefs that permeated these lands. The result of this incredible adventure was the book Beasts, Men and Gods, published in 1922, in which he describes his experiences and the enigmatic tales he heard about a mysterious entity known as the King of the World.
This legendary figure, according to Ossendowski, was the guardian of a hidden civilization located in an underground kingdom called Agartha. The idea of a hidden kingdom beneath the mountains of Asia resonates in various esoteric and religious traditions, arousing the interest of mystics, occultists and explorers. But who was the King of the World, in fact? And to what extent do Ossendowski's accounts reflect a lost truth, or a myth?
Ossendowski’s Escape and Arrival in Mongolia
Ossendowski began his journey as a scientist and politician, but his escape from the Bolsheviks led him on a path far beyond politics and science. As he traversed the frozen Siberia and the vast deserts of Mongolia, he encountered nomads, Buddhist lamas, and spiritual leaders who shared ancient secrets about the hidden forces that governed the fate of the world. Amid the political instability of the time, Ossendowski witnessed rituals and heard stories that seemed more in the realm of mysticism than the material world.
Upon arriving in Mongolia, he met Baron Roman von Ungern-Sternberg, an eccentric military leader who saw himself as an instrument of destiny. Ungern believed deeply in the prophecies of the East and in the existence of higher spiritual forces that guided humanity. It was in this context that Ossendowski began to hear more detailed accounts of Agartha and its enigmatic ruler, the World King, an entity that the Mongols believed directly influenced events on the surface. In the book, Ossendowski describes his encounter with Ungern-Sternberg as something almost surreal. He portrays the baron as a terrifying figure, an ascetic warrior who despised comfort and lived in a constant state of battle, surrounded by fanatical Mongol and Tibetan soldiers. Ungern-Sternberg is said to have consulted lamas and oracles to make strategic decisions, and his aura of mysticism gave him an almost supernatural power over his followers.
The Baron managed to capture Urga (present-day Ulaanbaatar) from the Chinese in 1921 and restored the rule of the Bogd Khan, the last Buddhist ruler of Mongolia. However, his reign was short-lived. A few months later, he was captured by the Red Army, tried and executed.
The King of the World and the Subterranean Kingdom of Agartha
The King of the World, according to Tibetan and Mongolian traditions related to Ossendowski, was an enlightened figure, ruling an advanced civilization hidden deep within the Earth. In his book, he describes how monks and sages believed that this sovereign exerted a direct influence on the political and spiritual leaders of the outside world. From time to time, he would send telepathic messages or subtle manifestations to guide humanity at critical moments in history.
The idea of a subterranean kingdom like Agartha is not unique to Ossendowski's accounts. Hindu traditions speak of Shambhala, a hidden kingdom of wisdom, and the French writer Saint-Yves d’Alveydre himself had already popularized the concept of Agartha before Beasts, Men and Gods. However, Ossendowski claimed to have heard these stories from direct sources in the East, making his testimony one of the most intriguing pieces of this enigma. Ossendowski’s concept of Shambhala is very close to Nicholas Roerich’s thinking, but the latter’s vision of the hidden kingdom is closer to Buddhist traditions. In his work Shambhala: In Search of the New Land, Roerich tells of his own expedition through Tibet, Mongolia and India, searching for traces of this sacred land.
While Ossendowski portrays Agharta as a center of power that rules the world in secret, Roerich sees Shambhala as a promise of spiritual evolution, connected to the New Age and the advent of a more enlightened civilization.
Some excerpts from the book with accounts by the author himself impressed me. Whether they are true or fiction, I leave it up to you to think, research and decide:
…This kingdom is called Agharta, and it extends throughout all the subterranean passages of the entire world. I heard a wise Chinese Lama tell the Bogdo Khan that all the subterranean caves of America are inhabited by ancient people who disappeared beneath the Earth. There are still traces of them on the surface of the Earth. These people and these subterranean domains are governed by chiefs who acknowledge the sovereignty of the King of the World. There is nothing extraordinary in this. You know that in the two great oceans of the East and the West, in ancient times there were two continents (Atlantis and Mu). They were swallowed up by the waters, but their inhabitants were carried away to the subterranean kingdom. Those deep caves are illuminated by a special light that allows cereals and vegetables to grow and gives the inhabitants a long and disease-free life. There are many peoples, many tribes there. An old Buddhist Brahmin from Nepal was fulfilling the will of the gods, traveling to the ancient kingdom of Genghis Khan, Siam, when he met a fisherman who asked him to get into his boat and row out to sea…
- Prince Chultun Beyli
“Has anyone ever seen the King of the World?” I asked.
“Yes,” the Lama replied. “The King of the World appeared five times during the ancient Buddhist festivities in Siam and India. He rode in a splendid chariot drawn by white elephants adorned with gold, precious stones and silk; he wore a white cape and a red circlet on his head, from which diamond fringes fell down to cover his face. He blessed the people with a golden apple topped with a lamb. The blind could see again, the deaf could hear again, the sick could walk again and the dead came out of their graves wherever the King of the World went. One hundred and forty years ago he appeared in Erdeni-Dzu and later also visited the monasteries of Sakkia and Narabanchi Kure.
One of our Incarnate Buddhas and the Tashi Lama received from him a message written in unknown letters on gold tablets. No one could decipher the writing. The Tashi Lama entered the temple, placed the tablets on his head, and began to pray. Through the prayer, the thoughts of the King of the World entered his brain, and he was able to understand and carry out the message of the King of the World, even though he did not understand the letters.
“How many people have managed to reach Agharta?” I asked him.
“Many people have already been there,” the Lama told me. “But they have all kept the things they have seen secret.”
Evidence or Myth? The Debate About Ossendowski
Ossendowski's work caused a great impact at the time of its publication, but it also generated controversy. Some researchers have pointed out similarities between his descriptions and the ideas of Saint-Yves d'Alveydre, suggesting that he could have been influenced by Western writings. Others, however, emphasize that his journey and the encounters he had are well documented, and that accounts of the King of the World already existed long before his arrival in the East.
Furthermore, several expeditions and investigations throughout the 20th century attempted to find evidence of the existence of Agartha, without success. However, the cultural impact of Ossendowski's account remained strong, influencing occultists, writers and even Nazis who searched for subterranean civilizations during World War II. What is certain is that his book keeps alive one of the most fascinating legends in history, inspiring generations to continue exploring the mysteries of the world.
The Fascination with the Occult and Ossendowski's Legacy
The legacy of Beasts, Men and Gods goes beyond the debates about its veracity. The book is a testament to a time of drastic change, where mysticism and reality were mixed amid the chaos of revolutions and wars. Ossendowski offers us a vision of a deeply spiritual East full of secrets that defy our understanding.
Whether the King of the World is a myth or a hidden truth is an open question. What cannot be denied is that Ossendowski's journey and his book continue to instigate the imagination and curiosity of those who seek the great mysteries of humanity. Perhaps the answer lies not only in the words he wrote, but in the journey that each of us chooses to take in search of the unknown.
The truth is out there! Until next time!