Birth of the Baha'u'llah

[Postmaster]

Did anything significant happen during his birth? Any astronomical coincidences? Any wise men come to visit? Was anyone other then the Bab and his followers expecting him? Any proof of this? This is a sincere question.

[Popeyesays]

Originally Posted by Postmaster

Did anything significant happen during his birth? Any astronomical coincidences? Any wise men come to visit? Was anyone other then the Bab and his followers expecting him? Any proof of this? This is a sincere question.

The Bab wasn't there. The Bab was two years younger than Baha`u'llah. (The Bab was born in 1819, Baha`u'llah in 1817. This does match a Shi'ih prophecy of the Mihdi saying "I am two years younger than my Master.)

Hand of the Cause, William Sears wrote two books about the mystic and historical aspects of the advent of the Bab and Baha`u'llah and both discuss the comets of 1843 and 1846:
"This appearance is reported in Our First Century as follows: 'The
Comet of 1843 is regarded as perhaps the most marvelous of the
present age, having been observed in the daytime even before it was
visible at night -- passing very near the sun, exhibiting an enormous
length of tail; and arousing interest in the public mind as
universal and deep as it is was unprecedented.'
The New York Tribune, and the American Journal of Science devoted
special sections to this great comet of 1843, the Journal of
Science identifying i in those very words: 'The Great Comet of
1843.'
I found an even more dramatic story told in the heavens during
this same period. It was the story of still another comet. It was
seen in the skies in 1845. It appeared to be quite an ordinary
comet in a year in which some 300 comets had appeared. It had been
studied many times in the past. In 1846, the comet was still
visible.
However, at this period in its history, it became one of the rare
comets of history. It was now entering what were to be the last
dramatic moments of its life. It was called Biela's comet, after
the original discoverer. The Encyclopedia Americana (1944 ed.)
gives the following account of this event: 'It was found again late
in November 1845, and in the following month an observation was
made of one of the most remarkable phenomena in astronomical
records, the division of the comet. It put forth no tail while this
alteration was going on. Professor Challis, using the
Northumberland telescope at Cambridge, on January 15th, 1846, was
inclined to distrust his eyes or his glass when he beheld two
comets where but one had been before. He would call it, he said,
a binary (twin) comet if such a thing had ever been heard of
before. His observations were soon verified, however.'
Sir James Jeans has written of this same comet, saying: 'The most
interesting story is that of Biela's comet which broke in two while
under observation in 1846.' [Through Space and Time, Sir James
Jeans, 1934, p. 154.]
Professor Challis was wrong. It was not the only binary comet
in history, just as Sirius was not the only double-star, nor the
Star of Bethlehem the only bright star, or novae, or conjunction
of planets in astronomical history. It was not the uniqueness of
the event that made it important in prophecy, but its remarkable
timing.
Biela's comet disappeared in 1846. It returned in August, 1852.
This was the very month and year in which Bahá'u'lláh was cast into
an underground prison in Teheran. It was the beginning of the
forty years of his Mission which ended in Israel in 1892 with his
death; the forty years foretold by Micah during which God would
show to the Messiah 'wonderful things'.
The year 1852 was also the beginning of the year 1269 of the
Persian calendar. It was the ninth year following the Báb's
prophecy concerning the coming of Bahá'u'lláh. The Báb had
written,
'In the year nine ye will attain unto all good...in the year nine
ye shall attain unto the presence of God.' [Epistle to the Son of
the Wolf, p. 141.]
When the single comet which had now become a twin comet
reappeared in August 1852, one half had receded far into the
background. The other half now dominated the sky. So the Báb, the
Herald of Bahá'u'lláh, had now passed into history through
martyrdom, and the one whose coming he had foretold, Bahá'u'lláh,
had now assumed his Mission.
An account of the reappearance of the comet states: 'Late in
August 1852, the larger came into view and three weeks later the
smaller one, now much fainter than its former companion.'
[Encyclopedia Americana,1944 ed., Vol. iii, p. 690.]
Sir James Jeans confirms this, saying that in 1852, the two
pieces were one and a half million miles apart.
Bahá'u'lláh has written of that hour when the twin-comets rode
the skies. He laid chained in an underground prison. Of that
moment, he has said:
'lo, the breezes of the All-Glorious (God) were wafted over Me,
and taught Me the knowledge of all that hath been. This thing is
not from Me, but from One Who is Almighty and All-Knowing. And He
bade Me lift up My voice between earth and heaven....' [God Passes
By, p. 102.]"
(William Sears, Thief in the Night)

Take it for what you will.

As to remarkable childhoods, the early years of both are discussed in some detail in Dawnbreakers.

Regards,
Scott

[arthra]

Originally Posted by Postmaster

Did anything significant happen during his birth? Any astronomical coincidences? Any wise men come to visit? Was anyone other then the Bab and his followers expecting him? Any proof of this? This is a sincere question.

Hello Postmaster!

Baha'u'llah was born on November 12, 1817 and few years before the birth of the Bab....

About that time of year the Leonid meterior shower occurs and in the nineteenth century it was particularly pronounced... Not every "shower" is as visible... The symbology of the meteors or stars falling has been suggested to symbolize the fall of the previous ecclesiastical establishment in the heaven of religion.

Also in the lunar calendar the bithdays of the Bab and Baha'u'llah are a day apart.

What people were expecting at the time though in Shiah Islam was the Return of the Twelfth Imam which we believed was fulfilled by the Bab and the appearance of the Qayyum which was like a messianic expectation not unlike the preparation for the Christ in expecting Messiah and the expected Return of Christ which many Christians believed would occur around 1844.

On p. 112 of the Dawn Breakers the following is related by a Mujtahid after Baha'u'llah visited his school:

Later on, when Baha'u'llah had departed, the mujtahid related to his disciples two of his recent dreams, the circumstances of which he believed were of the utmost significance.

"In my first dream," he said, "I was standing in the midst of a vast concourse of people, all of whom seemed to be pointing to a certain house in which they said the Sahibu'z-Zaman dwelt. Frantic with joy, I hastened in my dream to attain His presence. When I reached the house, I was, to my great surprise, refused admittance. `The promised Qa'im,' I was informed, `is engaged in private conversation with another Person. Access to them is strictly forbidden.' From the guards who were standing beside the door, I gathered that that Person was none other than Baha'u'llah.

"In my second dream," the mujtahid continued, "I found myself in a place where I beheld around me a number of coffers, each of which, it was stated, belonged to Baha'u'llah. As I opened them, I found them to be filled with books. Every word and letter recorded in these books was set with the most
exquisite jewels. Their radiance dazzled me. I was so overpowered by their brilliance that I awoke suddenly from my dream."


From "Baha'u'llah and the New Era":

Birth and Early Life


Mirza Husayn Ali, Who afterwards assumed the title of Baha'u'llah (i.e. Glory of God), was the eldest son of Mirza Abbas of Nur, a Vazir or Minister of State. His family was wealthy and distinguished, many of its members having occupied important positions in the Government and in the Civil and Military Services of Persia. He was born in Tihran (Teheran), the capital city of Persia, between dawn and sunrise on the 12th of November, 1817.

He never attended school or college, and what little teaching He received was given at home. Nevertheless, even as a child He showed wonderful wisdom and knowledge. While He was still a youth His father died, leaving Him responsible for the care of His younger brothers and sisters, and for the management of the extensive family estates.

On one occasion Abdu'l-Baha, the eldest son of Baha'u'llah, related to the writer the following particulars about His Father's early days: --

From childhood He was extremely kind and generous. He was a great lover of outdoor life, most of His time being spent in the garden or the fields. He had an extraordinary power of attraction, which was felt by all. People always crowded around Him. Ministers and people of the Court would surround Him, and the children also were devoted to Him.

When He was only thirteen of fourteen years old He became renowned for His learning. He would converse on any subject and solve any problem presented to Him. In large gatherings He would discuss matters with the Ulama (leading mullas) and would explain intricate religious questions. All of them used to listen to Him with the greatest interest.

When Baha'u'llah was twenty-two years old, His father died, and the Government wished Him to succeed to His father's position in the Ministry, as was customary in Persia, but Baha'u'llah did not accept the offer. Then the Prime Minister said:

"Leave him to himself. Such a position is unworthy of him. He has some higher aim in view. I cannot understand him, but I am convinced that he is destined for some lofty career. His thought are not like ours. Let him alone."



From the Dawn Breakers p. 119 of Nabil's Narrative:

When Baha'u'llah was still a child, the Vazir, His father, dreamed a dream. Baha'u'llah appeared to him swimming in a vast, limitless ocean. His body shone upon the waters with a radiance that illumined the sea. Around His head, which could distinctly be seen above the waters, there radiated, in all directions, His long, jet-black locks, floating in great profusion above the waves. As he dreamed, a multitude of fishes gathered round Him, each holding fast to the extremity of one hair. Fascinated by the effulgence of His face, they followed Him in whatever direction He swam. Great as was their number, and however firmly they clung to His locks, not one single hair seemed to have been detached from His head, nor did the least injury affect His person. Free and unrestrained, He moved above the waters and they all followed Him.

The Vazir, greatly impressed by this dream, summoned a soothsayer, who had achieved fame in that region, and asked him to interpret it for him. This man, as if inspired by a premonition of the future glory of Baha'u'llah, declared:

"The limitless ocean that you have seen in your dream, O
Vazir, is none other than the world of being. Single-handed and alone, your son will achieve supreme ascendancy over it. Wherever He may please, He will proceed unhindered. No one will resist His march, no one will hinder His progress. The multitude of fishes signifies the turmoil which He will arouse amidst the peoples and kindreds of the earth. Around Him will they gather, and to Him will they cling. Assured of the unfailing protection of the Almighty, this tumult will never harm His person, nor will His loneliness upon the sea of life endanger His safety."

Additional information about the early life of Baha'u'llah can be found at

The Birth of Baha'u'llah


So these are some of the portends and dreams reported.

- Art

[Postmaster]

I'm especially interested in the The Millerite Prediction Baha'i Beliefs on the Return of Jesus Christ

The star of Bethlehem was even recorded by ancient Chinese astronomers. I'm just wondering how significant these comets coming and going during the lives of the Bab and Baha'u'llah really were. As there has been bigger and greater ones after there lives.

[Postmaster]

How strange.. Last night I had a dream that I was in Cyprus (my parents home land) and i was traveling in the car with with my cousin. We past a very old house with the words Baha'i faith engraved in brick on top of the door. I realised it was a historical building and asked my cousin if he was interested in buying the property with me and restorating it. We went out about fixing it up, in which he fell out of window and injured himself in the process.

This morning reading through Baha'i Beliefs on the Return of Jesus Christ

I seen this phrase
A group known as the German Templars sold their worldly possessions, moved to the Holy Land, and set up housekeeping on Mt. Carmel, with the words "God is nigh" emblazoned over their doors. (The colony is now being restored as part of the Bahá'í WorldCenter.) And there are many more examples.

and made me remember my dream. First time I came across the information.

[Popeyesays]

Originally Posted by Postmaster

I'm especially interested in the The Millerite Prediction Baha'i Beliefs on the Return of Jesus Christ

The star of Bethlehem was even recorded by ancient Chinese astronomers. I'm just wondering how significant these comets coming and going during the lives of the Bab and Baha'u'llah really were. As there has been bigger and greater ones after there lives.

The 'star' was, from the point of view of the Magi (who were Zoroastrian philosophers and considered magicians--we even draw the word 'magic' from the Magi) not a star or a single light, but the entrance into a new Zodiacal age, their own sacred writings led them to Palestine. 'Following the star' was following the Zodiacal prediction concerning the Constellation ruling the throne of Israel.

This is not to say there wasn't a comet, or a conjunction of planets or the light of a distant nova in the sky at the time. There probably was, but that was a small sign of a greater change in the heavens to the Magi.

Regards,
Scott

[Postmaster]

Magi in Greek translates to magician/s in English. I'm all too aware of the 3 wise men being of Zoroastrian origin.
Yep there must have been a comet, but it must have been significant enough for the Chinese to write about it at that time in history?

I guess secretly I'm a Baha'i, but when it seems like im attacking the faith, I’m infact attacking all religions in general. Simply because they are made to be more romantic then they come across. That’s not to say that significant, meaningful, spiritual events don't happen, it’s that all the bad stuff seems to be forgotten, and the lies were made to believe. Like Christianity, we have Paul’s (Greek name) version of the bible? Whereas Im sure if we had Johns (Hebrew name) version it would have been much less romantic, maybe less anti-Semitic too. John probably had a more accurate version, since he was Jesus brother. Yet my faith in the bible is 100%.

And just as Christianity it seems as history rhymes itself we have the same effect in the Baha'i faith. Baha'i awareness im sure exposes some of these truths.

[Popeyesays]

I find it interesting about you Cyprus dream. Were you aware that Famagusta might have been the location of Baha`u'llah's incarceration? As it was when the Sultan sent Baha`u'llah to Akka, he also sent Mirza Yahya (Subhi-Azal) to Famagusta. The Sultan intended to send Baha`u'llah to Akka by Himself, but baha`u'llah paid His own family's way to Akka rather than take the Sultan's money for the trip to gaol. A small number of Mirza Yahya's followers were sent with Baha`u'llah's entourage to keep informers available and two of the Baha`i's were sent with Subhi Azal to Famagusta.

Mirza Yahya finally passed away, alone and without any followers to tend his burial, so he was put in a pauper's grave with an Islamic service (see: http://bahai-library.com/index.php5?...th_mirza_yahya for the relavant document translated and published by E. G. Browne).

It seems 'Baha`i Awareness' has shut down or imranshaykh has temporarily put it on hiatus pending his return from the Haj. Wikipedia decided to delete its link to Baha`i Awareness as being non-authoritative on the Baha`i faith.

Regards,
Scott

[Postmaster]

Yes I was aware of Cyprus being part of Baha'i history, I'am 3rd generation Greek Cypriot living in the UK. Were from the south legitimate state. But I dont think my dream has anything to do with that, I think it is more to do with the information I read in the morning as I pointed out, maybe some clarification that its correct. But who knows. Its not the only dream I've had regarding this faith. Some of the Baha'is sent to Cyprus one of them converted to Christianity?

[arthra]

Actually as I recall it was a son of Mirza Yahya that converted to Christianity. He was not a Baha'i. The Baha'is who were sent to Cyprus later returned to Baha'u'llah.

For a good review of this see

http://bahai-library.com/index.php5?..._cyprus_exiles

- Art

[arthra]

There is an essay that may be of interest to those curious about this called:
"Astronomical Events and Millennial Zeal in the Nineteenth Century"
by
Fritz Kersting
Naw Ruz, 153 (March 21, 1996)

at

Astronomical Events and Millennial Zeal in the Nineteenth Century

[BruceDLimber]

Hi again!

Originally Posted by Postmaster

I'm all too aware of the 3 wise men . . .

For the record, this is a common fallacy:

The number of Magi / "wise men" is unknown.

All scripture records is that there were three gifts.

Regards,

Bruce

[Postmaster]

i knew that christ got 3 gifts from them so it was always assumed there was 3. very true And te night they were going to leave, one of them had a dream warning them of a plot to be captured by the king. And they took an other path. great stroy.

[imranshaykh]

Originally Posted by Popeyesays

The Bab wasn't there. The Bab was two years younger than Baha`u'llah. (The Bab was born in 1819, Baha`u'llah in 1817. This does match a Shi'ih prophecy of the Mihdi saying "I am two years younger than my Master.)

Regards,
Scott

Dear Scott:

Hope all is well.

Can the Bahais produce any documentary proof from any Shiite book for the saying quoted above.

Regards
Imran

[arthra]

The date of His birth confirmed the truth of the saying attributed to the Imam Ali, the Commander of the Faithful: "I am two years younger than my Lord." The mystery of this utterance, however, remained unrevealed except to those who sought and recognised the truth of the new Revelation.

From the Dawn Breakers translated by Shoghi Effendi

The saying is attributed to the Imam Ali...so apparently is based on a Hadith.

- Art