I´ve written about Nicolas Roerich before, most notably in my review of "Red Shambhala", but the link below contain some information I haven´t seen before. For instance, that Roerich´s wife Helena Shaposhnikova played a central role in Agni Yoga. Not just in its leadership structure, but also in its actual teachings. Helena was "the Mother of the World" and a cosmic savior-figure! Today, icon-like paintings of Helena Roerich are used in some Agni Yoga groups. Agni Yoga (alias Living Ethics) is the strongly sectarian Theosophical group founded by the Roerichs. I assumed they had cordial relations with Adyar, but it seems the opposite was the case.
The similarity between the names Roerich and Rurik always struck me, and the legend of Roerich´s ancestry from the old Viking founding father of Russia is apparently an important part of Agni Yoga´s message. It also stresses Helena Roerich´s aristocratic ancestry. In Latvia, where the author of the linked article carried out field work, there are several Roerich groups. The reason? It seems the *real* ancestry of Roerich is Balto-German...
For some reason, the author doesn´t tell us about the current political orientation of the Roerich groups. Too hot? Are they pro-Putin, Latvian nationalists, or what? The author does claim that Raisa Gorbacheva was a supporter of Agni Yoga?!
Still, an interesting contribution. Note the references at the end of the essay!
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