MarianaCone66 at 11:08, 18 March 2026

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{{Third-party|date=October 2021}}

{{Hinduism and other religions}}{{Baháʼí Faith and the unity of religion}}
'''Hinduism''' is recognized in the '''Baháʼí Faith''' as one of nine known religions.<ref>Buck, Christopher (1986). ''[http://bahai-library.com/buck_eschatological_interface_messianism A Unique Eschatological Interface: Baha'u'llah and Cross-Cultural Messianism]'', published in: ''In Iran: Studies in Babi and Baha'i History vol. 3'', ed. [[Peter Smith (historian)|Peter Smith]], pp. 157-179. Kalimat Press, Los Angeles.</ref> [[Krishna]] is included in the succession of [[Manifestation of God (Baháʼí Faith)|Manifestations of God]].

==References in the Baháʼí writings==
[[Baháʼu'lláh]] was familiar with Hinduism, which is clear from a [[Tablet (religious)|tablet]] to [[Mírzá Abu'l-Faḍl]], the English translation of which is included in the volume ''[[Tabernacle of Unity]]''. In this tablet Baháʼu'lláh answered questions about [[Hinduism]] and [[Zoroastrianism]] by [[Maneckji Limji Hataria]]. The subjects include [[comparative religion]], and constitute, while much remains implicit, a dialogue of Baháʼu'lláh with Hinduism and the other religions discussed, giving an understanding of what Baha'u'llah meant with the [[Baháʼí Faith and the unity of religion|unity of the world religions]].<ref name="cole-hindu-zoro">[[Juan Cole|Cole, Juan R. I.]] ''[http://bahai-library.com/bahaullah_cole_questions_manakji Baha'u'llah on Hinduism and Zoroastrianism: The Tablet to Mirza Abu'l-Faḍl Concerning the Questions of Manakji Limji Hataria]''.</ref>

In another tablet (published in ''[[Gleanings from the Writings of Baháʼu'lláh|Gleanings]]'', section LXXXVII) Baháʼu'lláh discussed the absence of records about history before Adam. Here he refers to the ''Jug-Basisht'' which is the Persian translation of the ''[[Yoga Vasistha]]'', a [[syncretism|syncretic]] philosophic text.<ref name="cole-hindu-zoro" /> The translation was done during the [[Mughal Dynasty]] in the sixteenth century A.D. and became popular in Persia among intellectuals with [[Indo-Persian culture|Indo-Persian interests]] since then.<ref>[[Juan Cole|Cole, Juan R.I.]] "Iranian Culture and South Asia, 1500-1900". in: [[Nikki R. Keddie|Keddie, Nikki]] (ed.). (2002). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=CdzFJIE7f5oC Iran and the Surrounding World: Interactions in Culture and Cultural Politics]''. pp. 22-23</ref> In the ''[[Contents and stories of the Yoga Vasistha#Section Six: On Liberation|Story of Bhusunda]]'', a chapter of the ''Yoga Vasistha'', an ancient sage, Bhusunda, recalls a succession of epochs in the earth's history, as described in [[Hindu cosmology]]. [[Juan Cole]] states that this means that in [[dating Creation]], Baháʼu'lláh promotes the theory of a long chronology over a short one.<ref name="cole-hindu-zoro" />

In a letter written on behalf of [[Shoghi Effendi]], published in the ''Dawn of a New Day'', p. 198, it is stated that:<ref>[https://bahai-library.com/writings/shoghieffendi/dnd/dndall.html#198 ''Dawn of a New Day'', p. 198]</ref>

{{Quote frame|"As regards your study of the Hindu religion. The origins of this and many other religions that abound in India are not quite known to us, and even the Orientalists and the students of religions are not in complete accord about the results of their investigations in that field. The Bahá'í writings also do not refer specifically to any of these forms of religion current in India. So, the Guardian feels it impossible to give you any definite and detailed information on that subject. He would urge you, however, to carry on your studies in that field, although its immensity is well-nigh bewildering, with the view of bringing the Message to the Hindus...."}}

==Teachings==

===God===
{{see also|God in the Baháʼí Faith|God in Hinduism}}
In Hinduism, [[Brahman]] is believed to be the Absolute Reality. Followers of [[Vedanta]] see Brahman as an impersonal reality, of which each soul ([[Ātman (Hinduism)|ātman]]) is a part. The theistic traditions of Hinduism, which include [[Vaishnavism]] and [[Shaivism]], consider Brahman as a [[personal God]], whom they call [[Bhagwan]] or [[Ishvara]] (Lord).<ref>{{Harvnb|Momen|1990|pp=ix}}</ref> According to the Baháʼí teachings, these differing views are all valid and represent different points of view looking at the Absolute Reality.<ref>{{Harvnb|Momen|1990|pp=1–5}}</ref>

===Avatars and Manifestations of God===
Both Hinduism and the Baháʼí Faith teach that God manifests himself at different times and places. These messengers are termed [[Avatar]]s in Hinduism and [[Manifestation of God (Baháʼí Faith)|Manifestations of God]] in the Baháʼí teachings.<ref>{{Harvnb|Momen|1990|pp=5–9}}</ref> However the difference is that Hinduism teaches that Avatars are God himself in human form and are thus divine while Baháʼí teachings stress that the Manifestations of God are not God but his representatives.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}

===Deities and images===
In Hinduism many [[Hindu deities|deities]], depicted in images and [[murti]] (statues), are worshipped. Many Hindus believe that all these deities represent different aspects of the one God, Brahman. The Baháʼí teachings state that in this day, when mankind is reaching the state of maturity, images are not needed anymore to form an idea of God.<ref>{{Harvnb|Momen|1990|pp=11–12}}</ref>

===Ethical and moral teachings===
There are many similarities in the ethical and moral teachings of Hinduism and the Baháʼí Faith. These include subject as contemplation, detachment, faith, love, non-violence, purity, respect for parents, righteousness, self-control, right speech, not stealing, truth, virtue, work as worship.<ref>{{Harvnb|Momen|1990|pp=13–21}}</ref>

==Adaptation of Baháʼí teachings to Hindu context==
[[File:Bahai-house-of-worship-delhi2.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[Lotus Temple|Baháʼí House of Worship]], [[New Delhi]], [[India]].]]
The speedy growth of the [[Baháʼí Faith in India|Indian Baháʼí community]] since the 1960s was influenced by adapting the [[Baháʼí teachings]] for presentation in a clearly [[Hindu]] context familiar to the people of the countryside - using principles and language familiar to them:<ref name="smith-indian-religions">{{cite encyclopedia|year=2000|title=Indian religions|encyclopedia=A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith|publisher=Oneworld Publications|location=Oxford|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pYfrAQAAQBAJ|last=Smith|first=Peter|author-link=Peter Smith (historian)|pages=195|isbn=1-85168-184-1}}</ref><ref name="garlington-india">Garlington, William. ''[http://www.h-net.org/~bahai/bhpapers/india1.htm The Baha'i Faith in India: A Developmental Stage Approach]'', Occasional Papers in Shaykhi, Babi and Baha'i Studies, No. 2 (June, 1997).</ref>
:*emphasizing the figures of [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]] and [[Krishna]] as past [[Manifestation of God (Baháʼí Faith)|Manifestations of God]] or [[Avatar]]s;
:*references to Hindu scriptures such as the [[Bhagavad Gita]];
:*the substitution of [[Sanskrit]]-based terminology for [[Arabic]] and [[Persian language|Persian]] where possible (i.e., Bhagavan Baha for Baháʼu'lláh), and the incorporation in both song (''[[bhajan]]'')<ref name="garlington-bhajans">Garlington, William. ''[http://www.h-net.org/~bahai/bhpapers/vol2/india2.htm The Baha'i Bhajans: An example of the Baha'i Use of Hindu Symbols]'', Occasional Papers in Shaykhi, Babi and Baha'i Studies, Vol. 2, No. 1 (January, 1998).</ref> and literature of Hindu holy places, hero-figures and poetic images;
:*Hindi translations of Baha'i scriptures and prayers that appeared during this period which are so heavily Sanskritized as to make it difficult to recognize their non-Hindu antecedents.

==See also==
* [[Baháʼí Faith and Buddhism]]
* [[Baháʼí Faith and Zoroastrianism]]
* [[Religion in India]]
* [[Baháʼí Faith in Nepal]]
* [[Baháʼí Faith and the unity of religion]]
* [[Hinduism and Islam]]
* [[Indo-Persian culture]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
*{{cite book |last=Momen |first=Moojan |author-link=Moojan Momen |year=1990 |title=Hinduism and the Baháʼí Faith |publisher=George Ronald |location=Oxford, UK |isbn=0-85398-299-6 |url=http://bahai-library.com/momen_hinduism_bahai}}

==Further reading==
* Khursheed, Anjam (1997). [http://bahai-library.com/khursheed_hindu_concept_god The Hindu Concept of God: Unity in Diversity], in Singapore Baháʼí Studies Review, vol. 2, pp. 3–49.
* Merchant, A.K. (2005). ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20120202163233/http://www.lifepositive.com/spirit/world-religions/bahai/bahaiconceptatam.asp The Concept of Atman (Human Soul) in Vedic & Baháʼí Scriptures]''.
* Buck, Christopher (1980). ''[http://bahai-library.com/buck_mystery_sworded_warrior The Mystery of the Sworded Warrior in Hindu Apocalypse: Was Kalki Visnuyas Baháʼu'lláh?]''.
*{{cite book |last=Gandhimohan |first=M.V. |year=2000 |title=Mahatma Gandhi and the Baháʼís |publisher=Baháʼí Publishing Trust |location=New Delhi, India |isbn=81-86953-82-5 |url=http://bahai-library.com/gandhimohan_gandhi_bahais_nonviolence}}
*{{cite book |last=Munje |first=Dr. H.M. |year=1997 |title=The Reincarnation Mystery Revealed |publisher=Baháʼí Publishing Trust |location=New Delhi, India |isbn=81-86953-02-7}}
* Sarwal, Anil (1996). ''[http://bahai-library.org/books/miracles/prophets.html Miracles in Religion]''. Baháʼí Publishing Trust, New Delhi, India.
* Sarwal, Anil (2001). ''[http://bahai-library.com/sarwal_sri_aurobindo Sri Aurobindo Movement and the Baháʼí Faith]''.
* Sarwal, Anil (2025). ''Tagore and the Baha’i Faith: Towards Creative Unity.''
*{{Cite book |last=Sours |first=Michael |title=Without Syllable or Sound: The World's Sacred Scriptures in the Baháʼí Faith |chapter=Hindu and Buddhist Scripture in Baháʼí Scripture |publisher=Kalimat Press |location=Los Angeles, United States |isbn=1-890688-06-1 |year=2000 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PWcBYX64PowC}}
* Terry, Peter (1992, 2015) ''[https://bahai-library.com/terry_tagore_encounters_bahais Rabindranath Tagore: Some Encounters with Baháʼís]''.

==External links==
* [[ʻAbdu'l-Bahá]] and [[Shoghi Effendi]]. ''[http://bahai-library.com/compilation_buddha_krishna_zoroaster Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster and Related Subjects]'', compiled by Research Department of the [[Universal House of Justice]].
* [http://bahai-library.com/?file=uhj_reincarnation_rebirth_progress Memorandum] and [http://sites.google.com/site/akbweb/lettersandmemorandums compilation] on reincarnation, rebirth and the progress of the soul (25 April 1995)
* [https://bahaiteachings.org/bahaullah-hindu-kalki-avatar Article series about Hindu prophecies] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929013057/https://bahaiteachings.org/bahaullah-hindu-kalki-avatar/ |date=2021-09-29 }}, by Christopher Buck
* [http://prophecy-fulfilled.com/#hindu Prophecy Fulfilled: Hindu Prophecies]
* [https://bahaiprayers.net BahaiPrayers.net ] - Baháʼí prayers in several Indian languages
* [http://sites.google.com/site/akbweb/bah%C3%A1%C3%ADsongsinhindi Baháʼí Songs in Indian Languages]

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[[Category:Baháʼí Faith and other religions|Hinduism]]
[[Category:Hinduism and other religions]]
[[Category:Mahatma Gandhi]]
[[Category:Rabindranath Tagore]]

Baháʼí Faith and Hinduism - Revision history

MarianaCone66 at 11:08, 18 March 2026