Bahá'í symbols: Encyclopedia - Bahá'í symbols

Bahá'í symbols

The official symbol of the Bahá'í Faith is the five-pointed star, as mentioned by Shoghi Effendi:

There are also three other symbols commonly used: the nine-pointed star, the ringstone symbol, and calligraphy of the Greatest Name.

Bahá'í symbols - The Haykal

The haykal (Arabic for temple, sanctuary), a five-pointed star, was introduced and established by the Báb. He wrote many letters, tablets, prayers (such as the Prayer for Protection) and more in the shape of a 5-pointed star. The haykal represents the Manifestation of God of the time, and is used in this way in the ringstone symbol. Also, many of Bahá'u'lláh's Writings were written in the shape of a haykal (such as the Súratu'l-Haykal).

Bahá'í symbols - Nine Pointed Star

The most commonly used symbol is the 9 pointed star. No particular design is more desirable than others, as long as it has 9 points.

The significance of the number "nine" comes from several sources. One of the sacred languages of the Bahá'í holy texts is Arabic, whose alphabet can be used to represent numbers, attaching a numerical value to words. The numerical value of Bahá’ is 9.

The word Bahá’ (Arabic بهاء) is the root word for Bahá'í, Bahá'u'lláh, and Yá Bahá'ul 'Abhá. Bahá'u'lláh often referred to Bahá'ís in his writings as "the people of Bahá’", and in addition, the Báb sent a tablet to Bahá'u'lláh with 360 derivatives of the word Bahá’, fulfilling a Shi'i Muslim tradition that the Promised One would reveal the secret "hundredth name of God".

Bahá'í symbols - The Ringstone Symbol

Designed by `Abdu'l-Bahá , the ringstone symbol, as its name implies, is the most common symbol found on rings worn by Bahá'ís, but it is also used on necklaces, book covers, and paintings. It consists of two stars (representing the "twin manifestations") interspersed with a stylized Bahá’ (Arabic for "Splendor", although the translation "Glory" is also used.) The lower line is said to represent humanity, the upper line God, and the middle line represents the special station of Manifestation of God. The position of Manifestation of God in this symbol is said to be the linking point to God, through which humanity can achieve perfection.

This symbol can be found in the architecture of the Shrine of the Báb.

Bahá'í symbols - The Greatest Name

The Greatest Name, or more fully, the calligraphy of the Greatest Name of God, is an Arabic calligraphic rendering of "Yá Bahá'ul 'Abhá" (يا بهاء الأبهى usually translated as "O Glory of the Most Glorious!"). This rendering was originally drawn by the eminent early Bahá'í calligrapher Mishkin Qalam, and later adopted by Bahá'ís everywhere.

It is generally considered to be the more revered of the symbols, and therefore tends not to be used in a casual manner.

Categories: Bahá'í practices | Symbols

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Bahá'í symbols", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki