Eternal India Encyclopedia

KHL1GI0NS

Eternal India encyclopedia

BAHAI

Baha'i Faith teaches : * God is one. * All religions come from the same source. * Mankind is one. * Aims : The oneness of mankind on this planet. A new religious and administrative system to carry forward an ever advancing civilisation V CHRONOLOGY * 1817 - Baha'u'llah (His Holiness Mirza Husayn Ali) born in Teheran. * 1819 - The Bab (His Holiness Mirza Ali Muhammad) born in Shiraz. * 1844 - The Bab declares His mission in fulfilment of past prophecies and to prepare the people for the coming of the Promised One of all religions. v The Bayan, the Holy Book of the Bab is revealed. * 1850 - With a dedicated follower (Aqa Muhammad) the Bab was executed by a Muslim firing squad in Tabriz. * 1852 - Baha'u'llah, imprisoned for His acceptance of the Bab, receives His Revelation in the Siyah Chal dungeon in Teheran. Banished to Iraq. * 1863 - Baha'u'llah declares His mission in Baghdad (Ancient Babylon.) * 1868 - Proclamation to all the kings and ecclesiastical leaders of the earth. "O kings of the earth! He Who is the Sovereign Lord of all is come. The kingdom is God's, the Omnipotent Protector, the Self-Subsisting..." * Baha'u'llah is exiled to the prison colony of Acca. * 1873 - Revelation of the Kitab-i-Aqdas, the Most Holy Book. * 1879 - Baha'u'llah shifts from the Prison of Acca to the Mansion of Bahji. * 1892 - After 40 years of imprisonment, Baha'u'llah passes away. He appoints His eldest son, 'Abdu' 1-Baha as the Centre of His Mighty Covenant and the true Interpreter of His Words. * 1907 - The remains of the Bab are installed on the slopes of Mount Carmel. * 1908 - 'Abdu' 1-Baha is freed after 56 years of imprisonment. * 1911 - 'Abdu'1-Baha undertakes His journeys to Europe and the West to spread the Message of Baha'u'llah. * 1921-Abdu'l-Baha passes away. His eldest grandson, Shoghi Effendi, appointed as the Guardian of the Baha'i faith. * 1948 - The Baha'i Faith is accredited to the United Nations as a Non Governmental Organisation. * 1952 - The Baha'i ten year plan begins to spread the Message of Baha'ullah to all parts of the world. * 1953 - The shrine of the Bab is completed. * The First Baha'i House of worship of the West (Illinois, USA) dedicated to humanity. * 1957 - Shoghi Effendi passes away. The Hands of the Cause, appointed by him take up the leadership of the Baha'i Faith and faithfully complete his plans.

Origin : 19th Century

Place : Iran

Symbol of the Greatest Name The symbol comprises three levels The world of God, the world of the Manifestation, the world of man.

Founders

: THE BAB AND BAHA'U'LLAH

Global Following : 5,742,000 (0.1%) Global Spread : All Continents (220 countries) Predominant : Asia Africa Asia Europ e South America

North America

Oceania

All joined by the Manifestation of God. The five pointed stars represent the twin Prophets of this Day: The Bab and Baha'u'llah. The symbol emphasises the basic belief of all religions that God through His Messengers guides mankind at all times.

J

591

2,774

91

830

370

1963 - The Universal House of Justice, the supreme institution of the Baha'is of the world is elected, by the members of the National Spiritual Assemblies. Every town or village elects its own Local Spiritual Assembly every year. No propaganda or canvassing for votes is permitted. The Universal House of Justice is elected every five years. * 1968 - The centenary of Baha'u'llah's proclamation to the kings celebrated by presentation of the book, "The Proclamation of Baha'u'llah," to all rulers of earth. * 1985 - The year of peace, The Baha'i Message, "The Promise of World Peace," is presented to all the governments and peoples of the world. * 1986 - The Baha'i House of Worship, New Delhi is dedicated to the peoples of the world. The Lotus shaped Mashriqu'l- Adhkar becomes the most visited monument on this planet with an average in 1993 of 2,83,955 visitors per month. * There are seven Houses of Worship all over the world. * 1992 - The centenary of the Ascension of Baha'u'llah is commemorated all over the world. * India 2.5 million. * Uttar Pradesh 8 lakhs; Madhya Pradesh 6 lakhs, Bhind (M.P) 1 lakh . TEACHINGS * The essential nature of God is beyond human comprehension. God comprehends all things. He cannot be comprehended. * The universe is without beginning in time. It is a perpetual emanation of the First Great Cause - God. * There is no such thing as positive evil. A bad man is a man with the higher side of himself yet undeveloped. He needs to be educated. * Life in this world is only the embryonic stage of man's spiritual progress. Death is nothing but a change of state. The soul of man lives eternally. * The reality of man is his thought. If a man's thought is forever aspiring heavenwards, he becomes saintly. * Heaven and hell are states of mind. Heaven is a state of perfection, whereas hell is imperfection. * People must search for truth inspite of all prejudices, customs and traditions. * People must systematically rid themselves of all prejudices which divide them today. These include economic, racial, colour, caste, creed and national prejudice. * People must recognise that religion and science are in harmony and work together for the progress of mankind. BAHAI'S IN INDIA