KALIMPONG
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In 1949 Helena and George Roerich moved to Kalimpong, India, in the Eastern Himalayas. They settled in a small house, whose windows opened on a beautiful view of the five-headed summit of Kanchenjunga — a sacred mountain that tradition connects with Shambhala.
From the Great Teacher, Helena Roerich learned that soon she and George would move to Russia to complete the Mission entrusted to them. This move was planned for the beginning of the ’50s, but the conditions in Russia were still unfavorable for fulfilling their plans. Helena Roerich worked a great deal and in much tension in Kalimpong, sleeping not more than five hours out of twenty-four — for she wanted to do as much as possible. By this time, fourteen of the Agni Yoga Books had been already published.
In addition, correspondents from different countries of the world, who were reading the Teaching, were waiting for answers to their letters. Eight volumes of Helena Roerich’s letters have been published in our time. They are of enormous and invaluable help to those who study Agni Yoga.
In this way, without interruption, Helena Roerich accomplished a gigantic work. And on October 5, 1955, she left our earthly world for the spheres of the Fiery World. At the time she was seventy-six. Shortly before her leaving, Helena told her eldest son that he would be going to Russia alone and would remain there for three years. No one at that time understood the deep significance of these words.
The Great Teacher called Helena Roerich “the Mother of Agni Yoga.” All the great that she has done for our planet will be estimated for its true worth by others only after a lapse of thousands of years. Today we are able to understand only a small part of her Fiery Exploit. But even now there are sensitive people who, not so much with their mind but more with their heart, can understand it.
Here is evidence of this: The last eight years of her life, Helena Roerich led a secluded life; she very rarely associated with anyone. However, the bier that carried her body to the place of cremation was accompanied by a great many people, including Indians, Tibetans and Gurkhas. Nobody had informed them of the ceremony, nobody had invited them. Obeying some mysterious inner call, they came to accompany, on her last earthly path, this Russian woman about whom they knew almost nothing.
At the place of Helena Roerich’s cremation was placed a beautiful snow-white stupa. And on an area that was previously deserted just near the stupa, one can now see a beautiful Buddhist temple.
