CHAPTER V BAHÁ'U'LLÁH'S JOURNEY TO MAZINDARAN |
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THE first journey Bahá'u'lláh undertook for the purpose
of promoting the Revelation announced by
the Báb was to His ancestral home in Núr, in the
province of Mazindarán. He set out for the village
of Tákúr, the personal estate of His father, where He owned a
vast mansion, royally furnished and superbly situated. It
was my privilege to hear Bahá'u'lláh Himself, one day, recount
the following: "The late Vazír, My father, enjoyed a most
enviable position among his countrymen. His vast wealth,
his noble ancestry, his artistic attainments, his unrivalled
prestige and exalted rank made him the object of the admiration
of all who knew him. For a period of over twenty years,
no one among the wide circle of his family and kindred, which
extended over Núr and Tihrán, suffered distress, injury, or
illness. They enjoyed, during a long and uninterrupted period,
rich and manifold blessings. Quite suddenly, however, this
prosperity and glory gave way to a series of calamities which
severely shook the foundations of his material prosperity. The
first loss he suffered was occasioned by a great flood which,
rising in the mountains of Mazindarán, swept with great
violence over the village of Tákúr, and utterly destroyed half
the mansion of the Vazír, situated above the fortress of that
village. The best part of that house, which had been known
for the solidity of its foundations, was utterly wiped away
by the fury of the roaring torrent. Its precious articles of
furniture were destroyed, and its elaborate ornamentation
irretrievably ruined. This was shortly followed by the loss
of various State positions which the Vazír occupied, and by
the repeated assaults directed against him by his envious
adversaries. Despite this sudden change of fortune, the
Vazír maintained his dignity and calm, and continued, within
the restricted limits of his means, his acts of benevolence and
charity. He continued to exercise towards his faithless associates
[Illustrations: APPROACH TO, AND RUINS OF, BAHÁ'U'LLÁH'S ORIGINAL HOME IN TAKUR, MAZINDARAN] |
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Bahá'u'lláh had already, prior to the declaration of the
Báb, visited the district of Núr, at a time when the celebrated
mujtahid Mírzá |
3 | Later on, when Bahá'u'lláh had departed, the mujtahid related to his disciples two of his recent dreams, the circumstances of which he believed were of the utmost significance. "In my first dream," he said, "I was standing in the midst of a vast concourse of people, all of whom seemed to be pointing to a certain house in which they said the Sáhibu'z-Zamán dwelt. Frantic with joy, I hastened in my dream to attain His presence. When I reached the house, I was, to my great surprise, refused admittance. `The promised Qá'im,' I was informed, `is engaged in private conversation with another Person. Access to them is strictly forbidden.' From the guards who were standing beside the door, I gathered that that Person was none other than Bahá'u'lláh. |
4 | "In my second dream," the mujtahid continued, "I found myself in a place where I beheld around me a number of coffers, each of which, it was stated, belonged to Bahá'u'lláh. As I opened them, I found them to be filled with books. Every word and letter recorded in these books was set with the most exquisite jewels. Their radiance dazzled me. I was so overpowered by their brilliance that I awoke suddenly from my dream." |
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When, in the year '60, Bahá'u'lláh arrived in Núr, He
discovered that the celebrated mujtahid who on His previous
visit had wielded such immense power had passed away.
The vast number of his devotees had shrunk into a mere
handful of dejected disciples who, under the leadership of
his successor, Mullá |
6 |
None dared to contend with His views except His uncle
Azíz, who ventured to oppose Him, challenging His statements
and aspersing their truth. When those who heard
him sought to silence this opponent and to injure him, Bahá'u'lláh
intervened in his behalf, and advised them to leave
him in the hands of God. Alarmed, he sought the aid of the
mujtahid of Núr, Mullá |
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Those who attained the presence of Bahá'u'lláh and heard
Him expound the Message proclaimed by the Báb were so
much impressed by the earnestness of His appeal that they
forthwith arose to disseminate that same Message among
the people of Núr and to extol the virtues of its distinguished
Promoter. The disciples of Mullá [Illustrations: EXTERIOR OF THE ROOM OCCUPIED BY BAHÁ'U'LLÁH IN TAKUR, MAZINDARAN; INTERIOR OF BAHÁ'U'LLÁH'S ROOM KEPT IN ITS ORIGINAL CONDITION; EXTERIOR OF THE ROOM OCCUPIED BY `ABDU'L-BAHÁ IN TAKUR, MAZINDARAN; INTERIOR OF THE ROOM OCCUPIED BY `ABDU'L-BAHÁ] |
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On being informed, upon their arrival in Tákúr, that Bahá'u'lláh
had departed for His winter resort, the representatives
of Mullá |
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The news of the sudden conversion of the chosen envoys
of the mujtahid of Núr spread with bewildering rapidity
throughout the district. It roused the people from their
lethargy. Ecclesiastical dignitaries, State officials, traders,
and peasants all flocked to the residence of Bahá'u'lláh. A
considerable number among them willingly espoused His
Cause. In their admiration for Him, a number of the most
distinguished among them remarked: "We see how the
people of Núr have risen and rallied round you. We witness
on every side evidences of their exultation. If Mullá |
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Desirous of giving effect to His words, Bahá'u'lláh, accompanied
by a number of His companions, proceeded immediately
to that village. Mullá |
11 | One day, in the course of one of His riding excursions into the country, Bahá'u'lláh, accompanied by His companions, saw, seated by Me roadside, a lonely youth. His hair was dishevelled, and he wore the dress of a dervish. By the side of a brook he had kindled a fire, and was cooking his food and eating it. Approaching him, Bahá'u'lláh most lovingly enquired: "Tell Me, dervish, what is it that you are doing?" "I am engaged in eating God," he bluntly replied. "I am cooking God and am burning Him." The unaffected simplicity of his manners and the candour of his reply pleased Bahá'u'lláh extremely. He smiled at his remark and began to converse with him with unrestrained tenderness and freedom. Within a short space of time, Bahá'u'lláh had changed him completely. Enlightened as to the true nature of God, and with a mind purged from the idle fancy of his own people, he immediately recognised the Light which that loving Stranger had so unexpectedly brought him. That dervish, whose name was Mustafá, became so enamoured with the teachings which had been instilled into his mind that, leaving his cooking utensils behind, he straightway arose and followed Bahá'u'lláh. On foot, behind His horse, and inflamed with the fire of His love, he chanted merrily verses of a love-song which he had composed on the spur of the moment and had dedicated to his Beloved. "Thou art the Day-Star of guidance," ran its glad refrain. "Thou art the Light of Truth. Unveil Thyself to men, O Revealer of the Truth." Although, in later years, that poem obtained wide circulation among his people, and it became known that a certain dervish, surnamed Majdhúb, and whose name was Mustafá Big-i-Sanandaji, had, without premeditation, composed it in praise of his Beloved, none seemed to be aware to whom it actually referred, nor did anyone suspect, at a time when Bahá'u'lláh was still veiled from the eyes of men, that this dervish alone had recognised His station and discovered His glory. |
12 | Bahá'u'lláh's visit to Núr had produced the most far-reaching results, and had lent a remarkable impetus to the spread of the new-born Revelation. By His magnetic eloquence, by the purity of His life, by the dignity of His bearing, by the unanswerable logic of His argument, and by the many evidences of His loving-kindness, Bahá'u'lláh had won the hearts of the people of Núr, had stirred their souls, and had enrolled them under the standard of the Faith. Such was the effect of words and deeds, as He went about preaching the Cause and revealing its glory to His countrymen in Núr, that the very stones and trees of that district seemed to have been quickened by the waves of spiritual power which emanated from His person. All things seemed to be endowed with a new and more abundant life, all things seemed to be proclaiming aloud: "Behold, the Beauty of God has been made manifest! Arise, for He has come in all His glory." The people of Núr, when Bahá'u'lláh had departed from out their midst, continued to propagate the Cause and to consolidate its foundations. A number of them endured the severest afflictions for His sake; others quaffed with gladness the cup of martyrdom in His path. Mazindarán in general, and Núr in particular, were thus distinguished from the other provinces and districts of Persia, as being the first to have eagerly embraced the Divine Message. The district of Núr, literally meaning "light," which lay embedded within the mountains of Mazindarán, was the first to catch the rays of the Sun that had arisen in Shíráz, the first to proclaim to the rest of Persia, which still lay enveloped in the shadow of the vale of heedlessness, that the Day-Star of heavenly guidance had at length arisen to warm and illuminate the whole land. |
13 | When Bahá'u'lláh was still a child, the Vazír, His father, dreamed a dream. Bahá'u'lláh appeared to him swimming in a vast, limitless ocean. His body shone upon the waters with a radiance that illumined the sea. Around His head, which could distinctly be seen above the waters, there radiated, in all directions, His long, jet-black locks, floating in great profusion above the waves. As he dreamed, a multitude of fishes gathered round Him, each holding fast to the extremity of one hair. Fascinated by the effulgence of His face, they followed Him in whatever direction He swam. Great as was their number, and however firmly they clung to His locks, not one single hair seemed to have been detached from His head, nor did the least injury affect His person. Free and unrestrained, He moved above the waters and they all followed Him. |
14 | The Vazír, greatly impressed by this dream, summoned a soothsayer, who had achieved fame in that region, and asked him to interpret it for him. This man, as if inspired by a premonition of the future glory of Bahá'u'lláh, declared: "The limitless ocean that you have seen in your dream, O Vazír, is none other than the world of being. Single-handed and alone, your son will achieve supreme ascendancy over it. Wherever He may please, He will proceed unhindered. No one will resist His march, no one will hinder His progress. The multitude of fishes signifies the turmoil which He will arouse amidst the peoples and kindreds of the earth. Around Him will they gather, and to Him will they cling. Assured of the unfailing protection of the Almighty, this tumult will never harm His person, nor will His loneliness upon the sea of life endanger His safety." |
15 | That soothsayer was subsequently taken to see Bahá'u'lláh. He looked intently upon His face, and examined carefully His features. He was charmed by His appearance, and extolled every trait of His countenance. Every expression in that face revealed to his eyes a sign of His concealed glory. So great was his admiration, and so profuse his praise of Bahá'u'lláh, that the Vazír, from that day, became even more passionately devoted to his son. The words spoken by that soothsayer served to fortify his hopes and confidence in Him. Like Jacob, he desired only to ensure the welfare of his beloved Joseph, and to surround Him with his loving protection. |
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After the death of the Vazír, |
18 | On a number of other occasions, Bahá'u'lláh's ascendancy over His opponents was likewise vindicated and recognised. These personal triumphs achieved by Him served to enhance His position, and spread abroad His fame. All classes of men marvelled at His miraculous success in emerging unscathed from the most perilous encounters. Nothing short of Divine protection, they thought, could have ensured His safety on such occasions. Not once did Bahá'u'lláh, beset though He was by the gravest perils, submit to the arrogance, the greed, and the treachery of those around Him. In His constant association, during those days, with the highest dignitaries of the realm, whether ecclesiastical or State officials, He was never content simply to accede to the views they expressed or the claims they advanced. He would, at their gatherings, fearlessly champion the cause of truth, would assert the rights of the downtrodden, defending the weak and protecting the innocent. |
2. ["His [Bahá'u'lláh's] speech was like a `rushing torrent' and his clearness in exposition brought the most learned divines to his feet." (Dr. T. K. Cheyne's "The Reconciliation of Races and Religions," p. 120.)]