This is My-Mu.com podcast # 34 asking the question 'what is the difference between Lemuria and Mu?'

One of the reasons I have been conducting research into the Lost Continent of Mu is because my great-grandfather James wrote a series of books on the subject in the 1920s and 30s and his books are still in print and widely referenced, even after more than eighty years. Any judgement as to the veracity of any of the theories mentioned in this podcast are left to the viewer.

One of the many questions I have been asked is, "what is the difference between Lemuria and Mu?" At first, I didn't know the answer other than to say, "James called it Mu, never mentioned Lemuria." However, upon further reading, I realized it is not such an easy answer. I have found two authors that proclaim that Lemuria and Mu are the same thing, so maybe there is a link, but then again, maybe not.

Starting with the theories of a lost continent named Lemuria, the scientific theories set forth in the late 19th century were created to explain the wide distribution of fossils. Since similar fossils had been discovered on different sides of open seas, it was postulated that an ancient continent once existed to allow these creatures to travel from one place to another, but it had since sunk. This continent was named Lemuria by Philip Sclater in 1864 and the scientific community continued to embellish the attributes of his creation. Ernst Haeckle proposed in 1870 that anthropoid apes rose not fully human from Lemuria, eventually populated the planet, and evolved into the humans of today. This scientific theory of Lemuria was dismissed when evidence of Gondwanaland, Plate Tectonics, and continent drift all became accepted scientific facts.

Subsequent theories of a sunken continent named Lemuria were no longer confined by the rigors of science and eventually took on many different definitions.

For instance, Theosophy believed that Lemuria existed millions of years ago and was the home of the 3rd root race. They were seven and a half foot tall, egg-laying, mentally undeveloped humanoids. The gods saw that they were engaging in bestiality and sunk Lemuria millions of years ago.

The Rosicrusians place the rise of Lemuria to be 200,000 years ago and postulate that as waves of change crossed the globe from east to west, the eastern coast of Lemuria wedged into the western coast of North America where it still survives. Also surviving are some of the enhanced humans with paranormal powers that once populated Lemuria; under Mount Shasta in western California.

The Indian Ocean continent of Kumari Kandam was sunk at the end of the last Ice Age with the rising sea levels and had reached the height of human achievement 50,000 years ago.

One category of Lemuria theories is evoked through the interaction with non-corporal entities, beings from other planets, or dolphins. My research has not undertaken their study.

These are just a few examples of the different definitions of Lemuria and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to recognize that there is no one definition of Lemuria or what it means to different people.

The theory of Mu, as a Pacific Ocean continent, was proposed by James Churchward. Earlier references to 'Mu' or 'Moo' by Brasseur de Bourbourg and Le Plongeon respectively are in reference to the Atlantic ocean sunken continent, Atlantis.

Churchward's Mu was created, he wrote, from his translation of tablets he alone saw in India in the 1860s. It covered almost the entire Pacific Ocean and existed for hundreds of thousands of years until it was sunk in a cataclysm 12 to 14,000 years ago. It was a Utopian society, peopled with advanced human beings with paranormal powers that spread across the globe and began civilization for all of humanity.

Later writers have borrowed the name. One version says that Mu was sunk in an atomic war against Atlantis and another details alien involvement with the people of Mu.

Are Lemuria and Mu the same as proposed in some books or does it even matter? Examining the question from the purist viewpoint, they are not the same. On the other hand, a sunken continent discussion over a few beers and they are easily the same. The bottom line is that each of us have our own concept of these lost lands and have to answer the question for yourself.

Thanks for listening and have a great day.