Bahai House Of Worship

The Báb : On May 23, 1844, in Shiraz, Persia, a young man known as the Báb announced the imminent appearance of the Messenger of God awaited by all the peoples of the world. The title Báb means "the Gate." Although Himself the bearer of an independent revelation from God, the Báb declared that His purpose was to prepare mankind for this advent.

Swift and savage persecution at the hands of the dominant Muslim clergy followed this announcement. The Báb was arrested, beaten, imprisoned, and finally on July 9, 1850 was executed in the public square of the city of Tabriz. Some 20,000 of His followers perished in a series of massacres throughout Persia. Today, the majestic building with the golden dome, overlooking the Bay of Haifa, Israel, and set amidst beautiful gardens, is the Shrine where the Báb's earthly remains are entombed.

Founder of the Bahá'í Faith: Born in 1817, Bahá'u'lláh was a member of one of the great patrician families of Persia. The family could trace its lineage to the ruling dynasties of Persia's imperial past, and was endowed with wealth and vast estates. Turning His back on the position at court which these advantages offered Him, Bahá'u'lláh became known for His generosity and kindliness which made Him deeply loved among His countrymen.

This privileged position did not long survive Bahá'u'lláh's announcement of support for the message of the Báb . Engulfed in the waves of violence unleashed upon the Bábís after the Báb's execution Bahá'u'lláh suffered not only the loss of all His worldly endowments but was subjected to imprisonment, torture, and a series of banishments. The first was to Baghdad where, in 1863, He announced Himself as the One promised by the Báb. From Baghdad, Bahá'u'lláh was sent to Constantinople, to Adrianople, and finally to Acre, in the Holy Land, where He arrived as a prisoner in 1868.

From Adrianople and later from Acre, Bahá'u'lláh addressed a series of letters to the rulers of His day that are among the most remarkable documents in religious history. They proclaimed the coming unification of humanity and the emergence of a world civilization.

The kings, emperors, and presidents of the nineteenth century were called upon to reconcile their differences, curtail their armaments, and devote their energies to the establishment of universal peace.

Bahá'u'lláh passed away at Bahjí, just north of Acre, and is buried there. His teachings had already begun to spread beyond the confines of the Middle East, and His Shrine is today the focal point of the world community which these teachings have brought into being.

`Abdu'l-Bahá: From earliest childhood, `Abbas Effendi, the eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh , shared His father's sufferings and banishments. He took as His title `Abdu'l-Bahá, the "servant of Bahá." Bahá'u'lláh appointed Him the one authorized interpreter of the Bahá'í teachings and as Head of the Faith after His own passing. In `Abdu'l-Bahá was seen a perfect example of the Bahá'í way of life.

While `Abdu'l-Bahá was still a prisoner of the Ottomans the first Bahá'í pilgrims from the western world arrived in Acre in 1898. After His release in 1908, `Abdu'l-Bahá set out on a series of journeys which, in 1911-1913, took Him to Europe and America. There He proclaimed Bahá'u'lláh's message of unity and social justice to church congregations, peace societies, the members of trade unions, university faculties, journalists, government officials, and many public audiences.

`Abdu'l-Bahá passed away in 1921, having consolidated the foundations of the Bahá'í Faith and greatly expanded its reach. The northern rooms of the Shrine of the Báb, where He is interred, are a place of pilgrimage for Bahá'ís visiting the World Centre of their Faith.

The Guardianship:`Abdu'l-Bahá in His Will and Testament appointed His grandson, Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith and interpreter of its teachings. Shoghi Effendi served until his death in 1957. During these thirty-six years the Guardian translated many of the writings of Bahá'u'lláh and `Abdu'l-Bahá into English, expounded their meanings, encouraged the establishment of local and national Bahá'í institutions, and guided a series of plans aimed at diffusing Bahá'í ideals throughout the world.

In the Holy Land, the Guardian's enduring memorial is the magnificent setting he created for the World Centre of the Bahá'í Faith. The completion of the Shrine of the Báb was his work as was the construction of the International Bahá'í Archives building. It was also Shoghi Effendi who designed and laid out the beautiful gardens at Bahjí and on the slopes of Mount Carmel.

The Universal House of Justice, ordained by Bahá'u'lláh as the legislative authority in the Bahá'í Faith, came into existence in 1963. It is a nine-member body elected at five-year intervals by the entire membership of the national governing institutions of the Bahá'í world.

The House of Justice directs the spiritual and administrative affairs of the Bahá'í International Community. It serves, as well, as custodian and trustee of the Bahá'í Holy Places and other properties in the Holy Land. Endowed by Bahá'u'lláh with the authority to legislate on all matters not specifically laid down in the Bahá'í scriptures, the House of Justice is the institution that keeps the Bahá'í community abreast of an ever-changing world.
History of the Bahá'í Faith in India: The history of the Bahá'í Faith in India started with the inception of the Faith in Iran when the Báb (literally, the Gate) inaugurated a new era in the history of the human race. The Báb Himself had appointed one of the Indian believers as the 'Letter of Living' in 1844-45, the first year of His Ministry. Since then, India is spiritually connected with the Bahá'i Faith.

As foretold by the Báb, the Promised One of all ages and peoples, Bahá'u'lláh (literally the Glory of God) revealed Himself in 1863. He, Himself, dispatched one of the distinguished Bahá'í teachers, Jamal Effendi, to teach the Cause of God in the years 1874-75. Jamal Effendi (left) travelled to many States and was successful in attracting many learned people and few Navaabs (ruler of the states) including the Navaab of Rampur State (now in U.P.) to the Faith. One young man who accepted was Syed Mustafa Roumi who later became distinguished in his manifold services and was appointed as a Hand of the Cause of God. Some of them accepted Bahá'u'lláh as the Universal Manifestation of God whose advent has been prophesied in all the Holy Scriptures. The other teachers who came to India during Bahá'u'lláh's Ministry included Mishkin Qalam, the distinguished Bahá'í Calligrapher. A series of teachers from the East and the West continued visiting India and travelling throughout the country during the time of 'Abdu'l-Bahá (literally, the Servant of Bahá), the much-loved Master of the Bahá'í Faith. Prominent among them were Mirza Mahram and Mirza Mahmud Zarqani.

First Hindu Background Bahá'í

Narayenrao Rangnath Shethji is believed to be the first Baha'i from Hindu Background. Better known as Vakil, was born in a well-known Hindu family in Nawsari. He learnt about the Bahá'í Faith from Mirzá Mahram. To him giving the Message of Bahá'u'lláh to others was an essential duty. He became a Bahá'í in 1909.
Mr. Vakil became a graduate in Law, of the Bombay University in 1911. He was an advocate of the Bombay High Court and one of the senior lawyers of Surat. People came from different towns and cities for his advice and benefited from his services. He was always fair towards his opponents.

The most important event in his life was his pilgrimage to the Holy Land where he met the Master, 'Abdu'l-Bahá. He said to Vakil "you will be eternally confirmed." He was elected chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of India and Burma in 1923. He always set aside a portion of his income for the Cause. He helped to deepen the understanding of his fellow believers or giving the Message to others. He passed away on 2nd May 1943.

First Sikh Background Bahá'í

Professor Pritam Singh is believed to be the first member of the Sikh community in India to accept the Bahá'í Faith, and the first to publish a Bahá'í weekly magazine in India. He was born on November 16th, 1881, in Punjab.
Prof. Pritam Singh obtained his B. A. degree in History, Economics and Political Science with distinction. In 1905, he became a teacher in Achison College, Lahore. He received his Master's degree in Economics from the university of Calcutta. He was appointed Professor of Economics and joined the University of Punjab. He was a Linguist and knew Hindi, Urdu, Gurmukhi, Persian and English.

He received the message of Bahá'u'lláh from Mirzá Mahmud soon after his graduation in 1904. He undertook teaching trips alone, and with Ms Martha Root and Dr. G. Y. Chitnis. He resigned from his profession to work for the Cause of God. He had simple habits. For the last few years of his life he pioneered to Amritsar where there were no other Bahá'ís at that time. He was one of the earliest secretaries of the National Spiritual Assembly of India and Burma. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on August 25th, 1959.

Mode of Worship

The Bahá'ís pray to the one true God, the Creator of the universe. The act of praying is described as 'a conversation with God'. It is obligatory for every Bahá'í to pray and meditate on the Words of God every day.

In the Bahá'í Holy Writings, there are prayers for all occasions. Prayers can be offered individually or collectively. Great importance is given to prayers revealed in all Scriptures.

However, the Bahá'í Writings specify that the mere act of praying is not sufficient. The inspiration drawn from one's prayers must be translated into actions that promote the well being of humanity.

Basic Teachings

The Bahá'ís believe in the oneness of mankind, oneness of God and oneness of religion. Their lives are centered around these three cardinal principles. Wherever they live they try to create harmony and peace.
The Bahá'ís work for the removal of prejudices based on caste, creed, religion, sex, colour, race and language. The Bahá'í teachings state this can be achieved through universal education and the inculcation of a scientific outlook.

An independent investigation is essential to arrive at truth. True religion conforms to reason. The Bahá'ís are free from superstitions, outdated ceremonies, rituals and dogmas.

"The divine Prophets came to establish the unity of the Kingdom in human hearts. All of them proclaimed the glad tidings of the divine bestowals to the world of mankind."

Oneness of Religion

Bahá'ís believe that throughout history the Creator has educated humanity through a series of Divine Manifestations. These Manifestations include: Krishna, Buddha, Abraham, Moses, Zoroaster, Jesus and Muhammad.

The Manifestations of God appear in the world from age to age. In this age, God has revealed Himself through Bahá'u'lláh, whose name means 'The Glory of God'. His appearance was foretold in all the holy scriptures and heralded by another Prophet known as the Báb, meaning 'The Gate'.

The Manifestations are perfect mirrors of God's attributes and perfection, providing a pure channel for the communication of God's will for humanity.

"The divine Manifestations since the day of Adam have striven to unite humanity so that all may be accounted as one soul. The function and purpose of a shepherd is to gather and not disperse his flock. The prophets of God have been divine shepherds of humanity. They have established a bond of love and unity among mankind, made scattered peoples one nation and wandering tribes a mighty kingdom. They have laid the foundation of the oneness of God and summoned all to universal peace."

- Bahá'í Holy Writings

 

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