Port Blair, Oct 15: For centuries, the peoples of the world have awaited the Promised Day of God, a Day when peace and harmony would be established on earth. The dawn of this new Day witnessed the appearance of not one but two Manifestations of God, the Bab and Baha’u’llah, Whose Revelations released the spiritual forces destined to transform society.
A “Manifestation of God” is a Baha’i concept used to define an intermediary between God and humanity, or what is commonly referred to as a Messenger or Prophet. The term “Twin Manifestations” refers to the unprecedented Revelation of the Bab and Baha’u’llah in rapid succession of one another.
The Babi Faith burned bright for six years, until the martyrdom of its Founder, the Bab, in 1850 plunged the young Faith into disarray. Though the Bab was a Manifestation of God and the Founder of a great religion, He also perceived Himself to be a forerunner and had ardently urged His followers to seek out the second Manifestation, cryptically referred to as “He Whom God shall make manifest,” who would emerge “in less than the twinkling of an eye” after His own mission, to complete the unique appearance of twin Manifestations in a single age.
Amongst the devoted followers of the Bab was Mirza Husayn-Ali, who later took the title of Baha’u’llah, meaning the Glory of God. Baha’u’llah and the Bab never met and only ever exchanged letters.
It was not until 1863, nineteen years after the inception of the Babi Faith (thirteen since the Bab’s death), that Baha’u’llah publicly declared Himself as not only the One promised by the Bab, thus yielding that Faith’s “destined fruit and revealing its ultimate purpose” but indeed, He proclaimed to be the Promised One of all Ages.
With the birth of the Baha’i Faith the realization of two related but independent religions arising within one age was actualized. The notion of “Twin Manifestations of God” is a concept fundamental to Baha’i belief, as the mission of the Bab and Baha’u’llah are inextricably linked: the Bab’s mission was to prepare the way for the coming of “He Whom God shall make manifest,” who eventually appeared in the person of Baha’u’llah. For this reason, both the Bab and Baha’u’llah are revered as central figures of the Baha’i Faith. Together these twin Luminaries would usher in an age of peace and justice promised in all the world’s religions.
Further cementing the bond between these two Manifestations is the celebration of their Twin Birthdays or the Twin Holy Days during which the Baha’is all across the globe gather together to share and reflect upon the extraordinary life of these manifestations. These Holy Days are celebrated every year as per the Baha’i calendar also known as the Badi calendar. As per the Baha’i calendar, this year the Birth anniversaries of the Bab & Baha’u’llah will be celebrated globally on the 16th & 17th of October respectively.
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