The Mansion of
Bahá'u'lláh. Note the Turkish style paintings above the
windows.
The Bahá'í World Center Audio/Visual Department
The Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh and its gardens. The gold
circle on the portico is inscribed with the Greatest Name.
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The
Holy Family's move out of 'Akká marked the end of Bahá'u'lláh's forty years of
exile and imprisonment. His eldest son, Abdu'l-Bahá rented a small house north of
'Akká for Him called Mazra'ih (C-106). Some years later They rented a mansion in an
area of Bahjí. Bahjí, which means "Delight," is located on the northern
plain of 'Akká (D-42). Around the Mansion of Bahá'u'lláh there were some other
houses, an olive grove and plenty of vegetation. Bahá'u'lláh lived modestly here
in relative peace for the last twelve years of His life.
On the May, 29th in 1892,
Bahá'u'lláh's Spirit ascended from this mansion. That day 'Abdu'l-Bahá placed His
sacred remains in the floor an adjacent house. The house was then the Qiblih of the
Bahá'í Faith where each day Bahá'ís face in prayer and devotion (C-123).
'Abdu'l-Bahá later added a protective stone wall around that room, which is
seen in the lower photo in the upper right hand side behind a pine tree. Since then
the Shrine has been prepared for the steady stream of pilgrims who visit it.
The roof of the Shrine is tile, and
its outer walls are local stone plastered and painted white. Under the atrium is a
prayer room with a small ornamental garden surrounded by Persian rugs. As pilgrims
pray they face the tomb of Bahá'u'lláh in adoration. Abdu'l-Bahá's grandson,
Shoghi Effendi, later added the front portico and expanded formal gardens around both the
Mansion and Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh. The ornaments and design of the Bahjí gardens
hold no spiritual significance in themselves but serve in their beauty to prepare people
for the bounty of visiting the Shrine.
Bahjí Gardens |