James Churchward's Mu

Popular Science magazine (March 1928) had an article entitled “Swastika May Trace Races to Lost Pacific Continent” that quoted James’ theory on the lost Pacific Ocean continent that he called, “Mu”.

The text reads as follows:

Popular Science March 1928
“Swastika May Trace Races to Lost Pacific Continent”
Many thousands of years ago there stood in the Pacific Ocean a continent where thrived a remarkable civilization. In a tremendous earth upheaval the continent vanished, swallowed by the waters. But before the catastrophe, adventurers from that lost land drifted to other continents and left their marks.
Such is the fascinating theory advanced by Col. James Churchward, of India, to explain the origin of mysterious symbols found carved and painted on rocks.
Most famous of the symbols is the swastika cross found on rocks in America, Asia, Europe, and Africa. In North America the rock writings, or petroglyphs, have been generally attributed to comparatively recent tribes of Indians. Colonel Churchward, however, contends that many of them are very ancient, and that their original source was the lost continent. With the aid of key symbols discovered in India, he claims ability to translate some of the mysterious writings.
Interest in tracing the family tree of modern man has been heightened by the recent statement of Dr. Ales Hrdlicka, noted anthropologist, that the low-browed grisly Neanderthal man, who lived 40,000 years ago, may have been our direct ancestor, instead of a distant cousin of a different species. The belief has been that this prehistoric race was exterminated by the later Cro-Magnon men and left no descendants, however Dr. Hrdlicka finds new evidence that he formed a definite link in the long chain of human evolution.

The article is in the Google archives at http://books.google.com/books?id=ZScDAAAAMBAJ

The recent discovery that another human-like species walked the earth would have probably been dismissed by James Churchward, the author of the series of books on the Lost Continent of Mu.

James was a product of his age. Born a member of the British Empire in sleepy village in England in 1851, he was adamantly opposed to the idea of evolution. Although probably not the primary motivation for publishing his series on Mu, James’ beliefs did color the presentation. Take the following examples:

1. James postulated the the Lost Continent of Mu was the wellspring of humanity – placing all evidence of our origins out of the reach of today’s scientists and researchers.

2. James believed that Man experienced savagery as a result of civilization, as evidenced by this passage from the Lost Continent of Mu Motherland of Man from page 267:

I do not stand alone when I say that savagery came out of civilization, not civilization out of savagery. It is only those who know nothing of savages who maintain that civilization emerged from savagery.”

My interpretation is that James believed that originally, Man was without sin (or without worldly influence) since he had been created by the Supreme Being and when the worldly influences played a greater role in people’s lives, savagery ensued. Since Man was created by the Supreme Being, he(she) could not have evolved or been involved in evolution.

3. James had also considered evidence of non-human ancestors, as evidenced in the following from The Lost Continent of Mu Motherland of Man from page 171:

In their excitement over the discovery of a few old human bones, such as the Neanderthal, Piltdown, and Heidelberg man, scientists, in both Europe and America, have completely ignored and cast aside the remains of ancient man in North America. That the European remains were those of idiots and degenerates is obvious from the abnormal shapes of their skulls. Doubtless they were outcasts from civilized communities.
From Valmiki, Druidical works, the Popol Vuh and other ancient writings we learn that such characters were driven into the forests, there to live and die like the beasts. It would appear from many ancient writings that the usual method of disposing of bodies was by cremation, consequently there remained no trace of those whose bones had been consumed by fire.

James had been provided the scientific data that evidenced a new species of human in his day and chose to reject it. Today’s scientific data may have been enough for him to change his mind if he had been exposed to it, but we will never know.

The recent podcast “Genetics and the Lost Continent of Mu“, compared the theories of James Churchward’s Lost Continent of Mu and the genetic evidence for the Out of Africa theory. In the presentation, my personal observation was that, given the evidence, the Out of Africa theory was more credible, however, some people disagreed and posted (unedited) comments like:

Whites and other non-blacks never came from Africa, that out of Africa theory is to? coverup the truth; Caucasians and all other non-blacks are a different spieces, that came from very cold caucasus mountains in Europe ; their something TOTALLY .different to ordinary Black African humanity; melanin is NOT in their makeup

Given thoughts like that, I guess it is quite possible that James could have brushed off the evidence for another species of human, just as the commenter did.

In case you haven’t seen the latest podcast video:

When I originally started on the “James Churchward & ‘The Christ Conspiracy‘” video podcast, it was my intent to simply state that my great-grandfather, James Churchward, would not have endorsed the theories of Acharya S (also known as Dorothy M. Murdock).

The reason for this assertion was that wikipedia, in the article for James Churchward, has the following as part of the entry:

“He is also a source of information for Acharya S, in her two books, The Christ Conspiracy: The Greatest Story Ever Sold and Suns of God: Krishna, Buddha, and Christ Unveiled.”

As I researched further, I discovered two examples of what I considered to be intellectual dishonesty in the use of James Churchward’s quotes. The quotations were taken out of context and if the entire passage had been included from James, the meaning would be changed significantly, enough to contradict Ms. Murdock.

Subsequently, I wrote the podcast and released it in November 2007. The nasty emails started almost immediately and I shut down the comments section of my blog and set the comments on moderate for YouTube. Everything I wrote was true when it was written. My corporate firewall had categorized her website as ‘hate speech’ but that has since changed.

This entire affair culminated in YouTube removing the video of the podcast due to ‘inappropriate content.’ For six months, it was watched by almost 800 folks, but suddenly it became inappropriate in late May 2008. It seems almost humorous for a person who claims censorship (for examples please google acharya s censorship) to use such measures against others.

I hold no ill will against Ms. Murdock or her followers and believe that I have wasted more than enough time and energy on her and her theories. I am not a quitter, but this isn’t my fight.

Jack Churchward
Clearwater, Florida

Mu-Mu.com: Podcast Eight – James Churchward and Space Aliens
Link to Ipod Video format – Podcast Link

In researching my great-grandfather James Churchward, I am sometimes confronted with references to his works. In some cases, the proposals supported by James words agree in principle with the world view espoused by James. In other cases, such as video games and Science Fiction adventure films, the references to his works are meant as a lark and not part of a scholarly work. Another category encompasses those academic theories that associate James’ words and theories with a theory that he did not espouse. This podcast documents yet another example of the use of James Churchward’s views. Today I want to address a concept that has leapt from God-knows-where to intersect my time-space continuum. This commentary addresses the links between James Churchward and Space Aliens.

It is true that James Churchward mentions flying cars‚ or vimana in his 1931 book, “Children of Mu,” but these accounts were quoted from documents he had seen in India and the ancient tome known as the Ramayana. This ageless book (quoted extensively by James) was, according to legend, written by the sage Valmiki as told to him by Narada about the life story of the Hindu deity, Rama. Please note that although James mentions the aircraft being able to ‘circle the earth continuously’, at no juncture does he state, imply, infer or otherwise conjecture that these devices leave the atmosphere. Also, there is no mention of extra-terrestrial beings anywhere in any of his published works, neither have I found reference to extra-terrestrial beings in his newspaper clippings. Whatever James thought about Space Aliens or UFOs, he did not write about them.

Now to the event that brought this concept into my space-time continuum. A few years ago I organized a public function and was approached by what appeared to be a quiet, polite young man. He immediately wanted to know if I was ‘Jack Churchward’ and if I was related to James Churchward. I said yes and continued on with the plans for the function, not thinking that he had further questions. After about ten minutes, I became aware that the nice, polite young man had not left my side and was still following me around. I asked him if there was anything else he needed from me. Imagine my surprise when he, with a completely straight face, asked me if I could put him in touch with the alien mothership that was parked on the other side of the moon with all the Ascended Masters, including James. I told him that I did not know what he was talking about, but my guess is that was the wrong thing to say (or the right thing to say if I did know and was trying to hide the fact.) I gave no further thought to his question and continued working. It took about twenty minutes before I realized that my new best friend was shadowing me and would not relinquish his place behind me. His demeanor and behavior was unnerving. I asked him to please stand someplace else and when he refused, his friends thankfully intervened. It was unfortunate that he was unable to cease his fixation on my person and the location of the mothership because after a short while it became necessary to call the police. I later learned that the young man was eventually admitted to the hospital for psychological evaluation.

I imagine at this point it would be necessary to explain my positions on the young man and Space Aliens. First, had my new best friend backed off and not followed me around so closely, I would have gladly given him some time later to discuss whatever was on his mind. It was not his beliefs, only his behavior, that caused his friends to have him committed. As far as UFOs and/or Space Aliens, I have no first hand knowledge of the mothership on the other side of the moon, neither have I been contacted or personally seen anyone that convinced me that they were extraterrestrial. Having said that, the universe is a big place and it would be awful arrogant to think that humans from earth are the only intelligent species in the vastness of the space.

So how does James Churchward get linked in with the mothership and the Ascended Masters?
I never got to speak with the young man again to find out how James was connected to the mothership, so either it was a product of his deluded psyche, there was some basis in literature or a combination of the two. Therefore, what references to the mothership are out there and what about the Ascended Masters that are on board?

First, allow me to state that before I started looking into this subject, I had no idea that it was such a hot topic on the internet. I have found Galactic histories that go back millions of years, lists of the extraterrestrial beings already here on earth, and the channeled messages from the aliens. The pages where this information is presented appears to be treated seriously by those who wrote them and do not appear to be a fictional representation of any form of game. The source for much of these materials seems to be from channeling, which, unlike James’ publications, is the result of the alien being speaking through a human here on earth. There does not appear to be any shortage of material involving the Ascended Masters from outer space, including their pictures and conspiracy theories, but how is James Churchward connected?

It is true that some of James’ theories may have been influenced by Madame Blavatsky and Theosophy and that some of her channeled messages come from extra-terrestrial sources, but James never mentioned that he was in contact with or was contacted by masters from another planet. He does reference his encounters with the Rishi, but never suggests that the Rishi was anything but human.

Now in the 1953 book, “Flying Saucers Have Landed”, by George Adamski & Desmond Leslie, the passages mentioned above from the “Children of Mu” and the Ramayana is mentioned and quoted. The authors also quote from the “Cosmic Forces of Mu” to establish their points, however, there is no mention that James Churchward talked about their extra-terrestrial origin.

Therefore, if there is further data that shows the connections between the Mothership and my great-grandfather James, I would like to read it and publicize it. It will help me understand where the young man was coming from and bring closure to a bizarre experience

Jack Churchward
Clearwater, Florida

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In my research, I have gathered together portions of the Ramayana that James quotes in the “Children of Mu” and added them to the end of this blog entry. The reference to a flying car is incredible for a document so old. Additionally, I have also placed some other incredible things that are mentioned in the Ramayana, such as Hanuman (the Monkey King,) leaping from India to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) or the land bridge that was built by monkeys between Ceylon and India in five days. The story is also told of Hanuman going from Ceylon to the Himalayas and bringing back a mountain for it’s healing herbs (and returning it.) Also mentioned is the ten-thousand year reign of Rama as King of Ayodhya.
These incredible feats are in the same text as the more mundane ‘flying cars,’ and yet the mention of vimanas are provided as a connection between humans and extra-terrestrial beings. Certainly, if the veracity of the Ramayana on the subject of flying vehicles thousands of years ago was trusted, then the feats of the Monkey King Hanuman and his legion of monkey followers should not be in doubt either. If someone believes that vimanas zipped about and unleashed terrible devastation on enemies, then it should also be easy to believe that mountains can be picked up and moved thousands of miles and then put back or that a monkey king can leap hundreds of miles in a single stride.

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Research on passages about ‘flying cars’ in James Churchward’s books

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Starting on page 186 of the “Children of Mu”, James Churchward wrote about the advanced civilization of India and points to some records of ancient ‘cars’ that are self-powered and can fly. Here are excerpts from the original documents that were quoted:

Book VI – SITA-HARANA – (Sita Lost)

Chapter VII

RAVAN’s TRIUMPH

Vain her threat and soft entreaty, Ravan held her in his wrath,
As the planet Budha captures fair Rohini in his path,

By his left hand tremor-shaken, Ravan held her streaming hair,
By his right the ruthless Raksha lifted up the fainting fair!
Unseen dwellers of the woodlands watched the dismal deed of shame,
Marked the mighty-arméd Raksha lift the poor and helpless dame,

Seat her on his car celestial yoked with asses winged with speed,
Golden in its shape and radiance, fleet as INDRA’s heavenly steed!

Angry threat and sweet entreaty Ravan to her ears addressed,
As the struggling fainting woman still he held upon his breast,

Vain his threat and vain entreaty, “Rama! Rama!” still she cried,
To the dark and distant forest where her noble lord had hied.
Then arose the car celestial o’er the hill and wooded vale,
Like a snake in eagle’s talons Sita writhed with piteous wail,

Dim and dizzy, faint and faltering, still she sent her piercing cry,Source:
The Ramayana And The Mahabharata Condensed Into English Verse By Romesh C. Dutt (1899)

Quotation from the Ramayana: Book VI – SITA-HARANA – (Sita Lost). (2007, May 14). In Hinduwebsite.com. Retrieved 18:12, May 14, 2007, from http://www.hinduwebsite.com/sacredscripts/hinduism/ramayana/bk06.asp

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Another quotation:

Book VI – SITA-HARANA – (Sita Lost)

VII

RAVAN’s TRIUMPH

Vain her threat and soft entreaty, Ravan held her in his wrath,
As the planet Budha captures fair Rohini in his path,By his left hand tremor-shaken, Ravan held her streaming hair,
By his right the ruthless Raksha lifted up the fainting fair!

Unseen dwellers of the woodlands watched the dismal deed of shame,
Marked the mighty-arméd Raksha lift the poor and helpless dame,

Seat her on his car celestial yoked with asses winged with speed,
Golden in its shape and radiance, fleet as INDRA’s heavenly steed!Angry threat and sweet entreaty Ravan to her ears addressed,
As the struggling fainting woman still he held upon his breast,

Vain his threat and vain entreaty, “Rama! Rama!” still she cried,
To the dark and distant forest where her noble lord had hied.

Then arose the car celestial o’er the hill and wooded vale,
Like a snake in eagle’s talons Sita writhed with piteous wail,Dim and dizzy, faint and faltering, still she sent her piercing cry,

Source: The Ramayana And The Mahabharata Condensed Into English Verse By Romesh C. Dutt (1899)

Quotation from the Ramayana: Book VI – SITA-HARANA – (Sita Lost). (2007, May 17). In www.sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 19:12, May 17, 2007, from http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/dutt/rama06.htm

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Book X – The War in Ceylon

Chapter XI

RAVAN’S THIRD BATTLE AND FALL
Long and dubious battle lasted, shook the ocean, hill and dale,
Winds were hushed in voiceless terror and the livid sun was pale,

Still the dubious battle lasted, until Rama in his ire
Wielded BRAHMA’S deathful weapon flaming with celestial fire!

Weapon which the Saint Agastya had unto the hero given,
Winged as lightning dart of INDRA, fatal as the bolt of heaven,
Wrapped in smoke and flaming flashes, speeding from the circled bow,
Pierced the iron heart of Ravan, lain the lifeless hero low,

Quotation from the Ramayana: Book X – YUDDHA – (The War in Ceylon). (2007, May 14). In Hinduwebsite.com. Retrieved 18:15, May 14, 2007, from http://www.hinduwebsite.com/sacredscripts/hinduism/ramayana/bk10.asp

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Another quotation:

Book X – The War in Ceylon

Chapter XI

RAVAN’S THIRD BATTLE AND FALL
Long and dubious battle lasted, and with fury wilder fraught,
Wounded, faint, and still unyielding, blind with wrath the rivals fought,

Pike and Club and mace and trident scaped from Ravan’s vengeful hand,
Spear and arrows Rama wielded, and his bright and flaming brand!Long and dubious battle lasted, shook the ocean, hill and dale,
Winds were hushed in voiceless terror and the livid sun was pale,

Still the dubious battle lasted, until Rama in his ire
Wielded BRAHMA’S deathful weapon flaming with celestial fire!Weapon which the Saint Agastya had unto the hero given,
Winged as lightning dart of INDRA, fatal as the bolt of heaven,

Wrapped in smoke and flaming flashes, speeding from the circled bow,
Pierced the iron heart of Ravan, lain the lifeless hero low,

Quotation from the Ramayana: Book X – YUDDHA – (The War in Ceylon). (2007, May 17). In www.sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 19:15, May 17, 2007, from http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/dutt/rama10.htm

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When morning dawned, Rama, taking the car Pushpaka given to him by Vibhishana, stood ready to depart. Self-moving was that car, and it was very fairly pointed and large; two stories it had, and windows and flags and banners and many chambers, and it gave forth a melodious sound as it coursed along the airy way.Quotation from the “Ramayana. The story of Rama”, as translated and retold by Professor Ananda K. Coomaraswamy. (2007, May 14). In galileolibrary.com. Retrieved 18:19, May 14, 2007, from http://www.galileolibrary.com/ebooks/as10/ramayana_page_41.htm

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Other things mentioned in the Ramayana:

• Hanuman leaps from India to Ceylon to find Sita.
  

  Then Hanuman roused himself, and the monkey host rejoiced. Swelling with pride and might, he boasted of the deed he would accomplish. Then he rushed up the mountain Mahendra, shaking it in his wrath and frightening every beast that lived in its woods and caves. Intent upon achieving a hard task, where no friend could help and no foe hindered, Hanuman stood with head uplifted like a bull, and praying to the sun, to the mountain wind, to the Self-create and to all beings, he set his heart in the work to be accomplished. He grew great, and stood, like a fire, with bristling hair, and roared like thunder, brandishing his tail; so he gathered energy of mind and body. “I will discover Sita or bring Ravana away in chains,” he thought, and therewith sprang up so that the very trees were dragged upward by his impetus and fell back again behind him. He hurtled through the air like a mountain, his flashing eyes like forest fires, his lifted tail like Sakra’s banner. So Hanuman held his way across the ocean. Nor, when the friendly ocean lifted up Mounta Mainaka, well wooded and full of fruits and roots, would Hanuman stay to rest, but, rising up, coursed through the air like Garuda himself. Then a grim rakshasi named Sinhikha rose from the sea and caught him by the shadow, and would devour him; but he dashed into her mouth and, growing exceeding great, burst away again, leaving her dead and broken. Then he perceived the farther shore, and thinking his huge form ill-fitted for a secret mission, he resumed his natural size and shape, and so alighted on the shore of Lanka, nor was he ever so little wearied or fatigued.Quotation from the “Ramayana. The story of Rama”, as translated and retold by Professor Ananda K. Coomaraswamy. (2007, May 14). In galileolibrary.com. Retrieved 18:01, May 15, 2007, from http://www.galileolibrary.com/ebooks/as10/ramayana_page_20.htm

   

• The bridge from India to Ceylon was built in five days by monkeys.
  

  Now all the monkeys, following Nala’s orders, gathered trees and rocks and brought them from the forests to the shore, and set them in the sea. Some carried timber, some used the measuring-rods, some bore stones; huge was the tumult and noise of crags and rocks thrown into the sea. The first day fourteen leagues were made, and on the fifth day the bridge was finished, broad and elegant and firm — like a line of parting of the hair on Ocean’s head. Then the monkey host passed over, Rama and Lakshman riding upon Sugriva and Angada. Some monkeys went along the causeway, others plunged into the sea, and others coursed through the air, and the noise of them drowned the sound of the ocean waves.Quotation from the “Ramayana. The story of Rama”, as translated and retold by Professor Ananda K. Coomaraswamy. (2007, May 14). In galileolibrary.com. Retrieved 18:06, May 15, 2007, from http://www.galileolibrary.com/ebooks/as10/ramayana_page_25.htm

   

• Hanuman goes from Ceylon to Himalaya and brings back a mountain for its healing herbs. Then, he brings the mountain back to its original location.
  

  Then Hanuman roared and sprang; and he passed across the sea and over hills and woods and rivers and cities till he came to Himalaya and beheld its hermitages. He ranged the mountain, but the herbs were hidden from him; and angered and impatient, Hanuman rooted up the whole mountain and sprang with it into the air and returned to Lanka, welcomed by all the host. And the slain and wounded monkeys rose up whole, as if from restful sleep, healed by the savour of the four medicinal herbs. But all the slain rakshasas had been cast into the sea. Then Hanuman took the mountain-peak again to Himalaya and returned to Lanka.Quotation from the “Ramayana. The story of Rama”, as translated and retold by Professor Ananda K. Coomaraswamy. (2007, May 14). In galileolibrary.com. Retrieved 18:11, May 15, 2007, from http://www.galileolibrary.com/ebooks/as10/ramayana_page_33.htm

   

• Rama ruled as King of Ayodhya for ten thousand years. 
  

  Then Rama governed Ayodhya for ten thousand years; and at length it came to pass that Sita had conceived. Then Rama asked her if she had any longing, and she replied that she desired to visit the hermitages of the sages by the Ganges; and Rama said: “So be it”; and the visit was fixed for the morrow.Quotation from the “Ramayana. The story of Rama”, as translated and retold by Professor Ananda K. Coomaraswamy. (2007, May 14). In galileolibrary.com. Retrieved 18:16, May 15, 2007, from http://www.galileolibrary.com/ebooks/as10/ramayana_page_45.htm

   

Flying cars are mentioned in the Ramayana, but there are no references to leaving the atmosphere or travelling to different planets. Along with the terrible weapons and flying cars, they also ascribe to other magical phenomena, as indicated above. If the references to flying cars are to be taken seriously, then the examples of extraordinary behavior cited above (and the ones not cited in the text) are to be taken seriously as well. If the flying cars are real, then so are the other fantastic claims.
© 2008 Churchward & Company, Inc.

In researching my great-grandfather James Churchward, I am sometimes confronted with references to his works. In some cases, the proposals allegedly supported by James’ works agree in principle with the world view espoused by James. In other cases, such as video games and Science Fiction adventure films, the references to his works are meant as a lark and not part of a scholarly work. Another category encompasses those academic theories that use James’ words to prove something that contradicts James’ world views and beliefs. This is the subject of this commentary podcast. While there are numerous examples, today I want to address a specific instance of an author using James’ works to prove a theory that he himself (that is, James Churchward) did not espouse. Therefore, please watch this video rebuttal entitled:

James Churchward and
“The Christ Conspiracy: The Greatest Story Ever Sold”

The video was removed by the folks at YouTube because after six months it became ‘inappropriate content’ when ‘someone’ flagged it. However, the folks at MySpace have not yet banned it, so here is a link: Video Podcast

If you believe that the author’s work did not deserve this scrutiny or that I have somehow offended someone’s sensibilities (or heaven forbid, been politically incorrect,) please leave a comment on the my-mu.com blog at jameschurchwardsmu.blogspace.com. If you wish to respond with a video comment of your own, please post a link to it on the same blog. Angry or insulting comments will be ignored (and perhaps removed.)