Navel of the earth

Daniel Mamyev
Haven’t found Shambala yet but am getting close. I visited Karakol valley, the centre or navel of the world according to Altaians and one of the most sacred places in the Altai. In its centre a ring of kurgans – ancient and circular graves made from thousands of stones – hold the magnetic axis of the world in place. The stones were selected for their magnetic properties and are aligned to produce a powerful magnetic field. The snow-capped mountain on the far end of the valley is considered to be the fontanel of the earth, it connects directly with the cosmos and from it, so Altaians believe, comes all the knowledge we humans need.

Now, had anybody told me this story in advance, I would have politely nodded and left it at that. But Daniel Mamyev, the guardian of the valley, is not a softie and when he tells you about the kurgans and their power, he casts a magic spell. Whether you want it or not: you come to trust the man and his words. The way indigenous people see the world is different from ours, but are their ideas and beliefs therefore less valid? I’d like to explore this question in the months to come.

I have been to Karakol valley with friends and also with a group of scientists, among whom a member of the Russian Academy of Science. Although the scientists didn’t share the beliefs of Daniel, they value him as a visionary and support him in his efforts to keep the valley intact and unspoiled.

Daniel Mamyev has the good looks of a Native American Indian. Trained as a geologist, he worked all over Central Asia. After perestroika he helped relocate the land in his region (Karakol valley and surroundings) and decided to protect the sacred valley from privatization. Thanks to him the navel of the earth is a protected site and a pristine valley with blossoming flowers. The mountain and the kurgans watch over us and help to keep the earth in balance.

Comments

[Luis Dafos]

very interesting post