Significance of the Shrine of the Báb
Origins of the Shrine of the Bab
The Shrine of the Bab in Haifa, Israel was constructed to accommodate the remains of the Bab. The Bab was a Persian (now Iran) religious leader who is credited to have found Babiism, and is held with high esteem in the Bahai faith. The shrine of the Bab’s origins include the Bab’s life, the designation of his burial site, and the planning and construction of the shrine itself.
The life of Bab
The Bab was a Persian businessman in the mid 1800s. He received and started announcing the message of God. In the message he urged people to carry out moral and spiritual reforms. While preaching the message he picked some enemies who did not accept the message and so he was killed for that cause in 1850. His disciples were called Babis.
The burial site of the Bab – The shrine of the Bab
In 1891 Bahaullah directed his son Abdul- Baha where to construct the Bab’s tomb on Mount Carmel. The Babis body was hidden for over 50 years before being buried in 1909. It is important to bring to your attention some details about Bahaullah who was originally a disciple of of the Bab and that he became a prominent leader within the Babi community after the killing of the Bab. Later on Bahaullah claimed to have received his own divine revelation, thus establishing the Bahai faith which is seen as an advancement of the Babi teachings.
Construction of the Bab shrine
For the construction of the Shrine of the Bab, Abdul Baha planned for the shrine. The grandson, Shoghi Efendi designed and completed the shrine in 1953. The shrine of the Bab is constructed with such great beauty and that it preserves the remains of an important person in the Bahai faith. Given the importance of the preservation of the people’s culture UNESCO recognized it as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.
Significance of the shrine of the Bab
The shrine of the Bab is a sacred site for the Bahai faith and is considered the second holiest site in the Bahai Faith. The shrine which is the resting place of the Bab who in the Bahai faith was a messenger of God and the forerunner of Bahaullah.
Spiritual Significance
The Shrine is a symbol of the triumph of the Bab matter over those who martyred him. The Shrine of the Bab is a tangible expression of the Bahai values, beliefs and their teachings. The Shrine is a place for pilgrimage, meditation, contemplation for the Bahai around the world. The shrine inspires all onlookers including modern architects.
Cultural Significance
The shrine of the Bab has its influence to many faiths in the world and the cultural significance of the shrine of the Bab includes its role as a place for pilgrimage, the architectural style, and its symbol of the Bab doctrine. The Shrine being a pilgrimage site makes it possible for visitors come from all corners of the world as pilgrims and tourists. Moreover, the architectural techniques that blend the Eastern and Western styles makes the shrine a unique landmark.
Pilgrims Attractions
The Shrine of the Bab is itself an attraction to the pilgrimage due to its spiritual significance. The Bab is a significant figure in the Bahai faith. This fact explains its power to attracting pilgrims from all corners of the world to come for meditation and spiritual renewal.
Moreover, the beautiful scenario at the shrine of the Bab is an attractive feature that pulls pilgrims and tourists from around the world. The Shrine is surrounded by 19 beautiful garden terraces which stretch up to about one kilometer from the shrine.
Services to pilgrims
Pilgrims at the Shrine of the Bab in Haifa, Israel can have several services such as contemplation, meditation, prayer and can do that in the shrine and in its gardens. The pilgrims and tourists can have access to other historical sites related to the Bahai faith.
The services at the Shrine of the Bab
Pilgrims are invited to show respect by kneeling down in reverence with their forehead on the threshold of the Shrine. Pilgrims can pray in the rooms organized for that purpose in the rooms of the Bab and Abdul-Baha. All pilgrims can follow a prayer that is led by a member of the Universal House of Justice
Moreover, for those who wish to go for pilgrimage at the Shrine of the Bab they can buy their tickets online at pilgrimage.bahai.org. Furthermore, there is a film service that all pilgrims including you can watch it online and experience the pilgrimage feeling at their official website at : pilgrimage.bahai.org
The Pilgrimage Experience
The pilgrimage experience in most cases deals with spiritual renewal which makes a person feel like a completely new individual. At the Shrine of the Bab the situation is the same; pilgrims feel rejuvenated and feel inspired to share their experiences with other people. At the Bahai world center, pilgrims are given a great significance as they are seen as the life blood of the shrine.
Economic benefits to the local population
The Shrine of the Bab is a place of worship that is accepted and recognized world wide as it is the second holiest site of the Bahai Faith. The Shrine of the Bab is pulls a large number of pilgrims and tourists from all corners of the world. The Shrine of the Bab is a pilgrimage site that brings in revenues and contributes to the city and the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through pilgrims and tourists.
The visitors who come to the site need services that they pay for them such as accommodation in lodges, meals in restaurants, and in other services. Moreover, the visitors influence job opportunities creation in the pilgrimage and tourism industry such as cooks, drivers, guides and much more.
Conclusion
It is my hope that the article has shed more light on this subject of the Shrine of the Bab. The Shrine of the Bab has become a pilgrimage site for those who profess the Bahai faith. Moreover it is a site where people from other cultures may learn more from the Bahai faith.
The shrine of the Bab as we have seen is the second holiest site for those in the Bahai faith. It is the burial place of the Bab who started the faith of the Babiism and was the forerunner of Bahaullah who became the founder of the Bahai faith.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Shrine of the Bab is an interesting topic that is searched by readers online. The topic has great importance in the spiritual dimension as those in the Bahai faith regard the shrine of the Bab as a holy place for pilgrimage but culturally, architects especially modern ones can learn from this shrine. There are many questions being asked on the subject, here are just a few of those questions:
- What is the shrine of Baha’u’llah?
- Where is the the Bab shrine found?
- How is the Shrine of the Báb interior decorated?
- What do you know about the Báb Faith?
- Where is the Bahá’í Shrine located?
- What is The Báb and Bahá u llah?
- Where are the Bahá’í Gardens found?
- What is the Life of the Báb’s significance to our life today?