Shambhala

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In Tibetan Buddhist tradition, Shambhala (Sanskrit: शम्भल, IAST: Śambhala),^[1] also spelled Shambala or Shamballa (Tibetan: བདེ་འབྱུང, Wylie: Bde'byung; Chinese: 香巴拉; pinyin: Xiāngbālā), is a spiritual kingdom. Shambhala is mentioned in the Kalachakra Tantra.^[2]^[3] The Bon scriptures speak of a closely related land called Tagzig Olmo Lung Ring.^[4]

The Sanskrit name is taken from the name of a city mentioned in the Hindu Puranas, probably in reference to Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh.^[1] The mythological relevance of the place originates with a prophecy in Vishnu Purana (4.24) according to which Shambhala will be the birthplace of Kalki, the next incarnation of Vishnu, who will usher in a new age (Satya Yuga);^[1]^[5] and the prophesied ruling Kingdom of Maitreya, the future Buddha.^[6]

^ ^a ^b ^c Śambhala also Sambhala, is the name of a town between the Rathaprā and Ganges rivers, identified by some with Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh. In the Puranas, it is named as the place where Kalki, the last incarnation of Vishnu, is to appear (Monier-Williams, Sanskrit-English Dictionary, 1899).
^ Hiltebeitel, Alf (1999). Rethinking India's Oral and Classical Epics. University of Chicago Press. pp. 217–218. ISBN 978-0-226-34050-0.
^ The Tantra by Victor M. Fic, Abhinav Publications, 2003, p.49.
^ The Bon Religion of Tibet by Per Kavǣrne, Shambhala, 1996
^ LePage, Victoria (1996). Shambhala: The Fascinating Truth Behind the Myth of Shangri-La. Quest Books. pp. 125–126. ISBN 978-0835607506.
^ Cite error: The named reference arch was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[MW-1] Śambhala also Sambhala, is the name of a town between the Rathaprā and Ganges rivers, identified by some with Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh. In the Puranas, it is named as the place where Kalki, the last incarnation of Vishnu, is to appear (Monier-Williams, Sanskrit-English Dictionary, 1899).

[2] Hiltebeitel, Alf (1999). Rethinking India's Oral and Classical Epics. University of Chicago Press. pp. 217–218. ISBN 978-0-226-34050-0.

[3] The Tantra by Victor M. Fic, Abhinav Publications, 2003, p.49.

[4] The Bon Religion of Tibet by Per Kavǣrne, Shambhala, 1996

[Hindu-5] LePage, Victoria (1996). Shambhala: The Fascinating Truth Behind the Myth of Shangri-La. Quest Books. pp. 125–126. ISBN 978-0835607506.

[arch-6] Cite error: The named reference arch was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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