“Recite the Greatest Name at every morn, and turn thou unto the Kingdom of Abhá, until thou mayest apprehend my mysteries.”

— `Abdu'l-Bahá (Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha v3, p. 674)

The Five Star Symbol Yoga Nidra meditation has been especially created to commemorate the Bicentennial Birth of The Báb, it repeats the branding of the five star symbol along the body as a form of symbolic spiritual union with the Haykal, the human and physical living temple of the Manifestations of God.

Photo credit: Saba Mazloum (instagram: @sabamazloum)
*All photos were generously donated to the Bicentenary Meditation Project. Click on the photo for more of Saba Mazloum’s work

Significance of Baha’i Five Pointed Star

An unidentified tablet in the Báb's handwriting.

“The five-pointed star, or haykal (Arabic: temple‎) is the symbol of the Baháʼí Faith as mentioned by Shoghi Effendi, head of the Baháʼí Faith in the first half of the 20th century: "Strictly speaking the 5-pointed star is the symbol of our Faith, as used by the Báb and explained by Him."[1] The five-pointed star has been used as the outline of special letters or tablets by both the Báb[2] and Baháʼu'lláh.[3]

Haykal is a loan word from the Hebrew word hēyḵāl, which means temple and specifically Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem. In Arabic, the word also means the body or form of something, particularly the human body.[4] In the Baháʼí tradition, the haykal was established by the Báb — who told of Baháʼu'lláh's coming — who represented the haykal as a five-pointed star representing the human body as a head, two hands, and two feet.[4][5] The Báb wrote many letters, tablets, prayers and more in the shape of a five-pointed star, including some that included many derivatives of the word Baháʼ (see below).[6][7]

In Baháʼu'lláh's writings, specifically the Súriy-i-Haykal (Tablet of the Temple), while the meaning of temple remains present, the haykal is used mainly to mean the human body, but particularly the body of the Manifestation of God — a messenger from God — and the person of Baháʼu'lláh himself.[4] In the Tablet, the haykal is also used to refer to the word of God, which is revealed by the Manifestations of God.[8] He also says in the same Tablet:

"O Living Temple! We have, in very truth,...ordained Thee to be the emblem of My Cause betwixt the heavens and the earth..."[9]

“

The above excerpt was taken from Wikipedia

Súriy-i-Haykal: The Tablet of The Temple

“The Súriy-i-Haykal (Persian: سورةى هيكل‎) or Tablet of the Temple, is a composite work which consists of a tablet followed by five messages addressed to Pope Pius IX, Napoleon III, Tsar Alexander II of Russia, Queen Victoria, and Naser al-Din Shah Qajar. The messages were written while Baháʼu'lláh was in Adrianople, and shortly after its completion, Baháʼu'lláh instructed the Surih and the tablets to the kings be written in the form of a Haykal (temple), a five-pointed star, and added to it the conclusion:

Thus have We built the Temple with the hands of power and might, could ye but know it. This is the Temple promised unto you in the Book. Draw ye nigh unto it. This is that which profiteth you, could ye but comprehend it. Be fair, O peoples of the earth! Which is preferable, this, or a temple which is built of clay? Set your faces towards it. Thus have ye been commanded by God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.[1]

Shoghi Effendi, who described the tablet as one of Baháʼu'lláh's most challenging works, writes about the Súriy-i Haykal, "words which reveal the importance He attached to those Messages, and indicate their direct association with the prophecies of the Old Testament", referring to the prophecy where Zechariah had promised the rebuilding of the Temple in the End of Times. In the Book of Zechariah it is recorded:

And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
— Zechariah 6:12-13[2]

Shoghi Effendi, in The Promised Day is Come (pp. 47–8), refers to this rebuilding of the temple as fulfilled in the return of the Manifestation of God in a human temple. Throughout the tablet, Baháʼu'lláh address the Haykal ("the Temple") and explains the glory which is invested in it. Baháʼu'lláh, in response to a question, has stated that the Haykal is the person of Baháʼu'lláh. Adib Taherzadeh has written that "[i]t is fascinating to know that the One Who speaks with the voice of God in this Tablet is identical with the One spoken to."

Regarding the Haykal, Baháʼu'lláh writes that it refers to the human or physical temple of the Manifestation of God (prophets of God). He states that the Manifestation of God is a pure mirror that reflects the sovereignty of God and manifests God's beauty and grandeur to mankind. In essence Baháʼu'lláh explains that the Manifestation of God is a "Living Temple" and every time that Baháʼu'lláh addresses the Haykal he shows a new facet of God's revelation.

The Haykal, which represents the Manifestation of God who spreads the Word of God in the form of a human temple, has members each of whom symbolize one of the signs and attributes of God. To the eyes of the Haykal he asks it to not look at the world of creation, but instead to focus on the beauty of God. To the Haykal's ears Baháʼu'lláh asks it to become deaf to the voices of the ungodly and to listen to the Word of God. To the tongue of the Haykal Baháʼu'lláh states that it has been created to mention the name of God. To the hands of the Haykal Baháʼu'lláh asks them to stretch out upon all humankind and hold within their grasp the reins of God. Finally, Baháʼu'lláh states that from the heart of the Haykal knowledge will emerge and raise scientists who will bring about technological achievements.

Another symbol used by Baháʼu'lláh in describing the Haykal is through the four letters (H, Y, K, and L) that compose the word in Arabic. Baháʼu'lláh in the tablet explains the spiritual significance of each letter: H is for Huwiyyah (Essence of Divinity), Y is for Qadír (Almighty), K is for Karím (All Bountiful), and L is for Fadl (Grace).

Regarding the five other messages to the rulers that form the pentacle of the Súriy-i-Haykal, Baháʼu'lláh tells them he is the Manifestation of God for this day, and that they should accept his message. The message to Naser al-Din Shah Qajar, which is the longest message, was delivered to the Shah by Badíʻ, a youth who was killed by the Shah shortly thereafter.”

The above excerpt was taken from Wikipedia

Click on the link to read the Full Tablet: Súriy-i-Haykal: The Tablet of The Temple

What is Yoga Nidra?

Yoga Nidra is a form of a meditative yogic sleep technique.

According to the 8 Limbs of Ashtanga Yoga, it is considered under the umbrella of Step 5, Pratyahara, the type of meditation that focuses on withdrawal of the physical senses.

It is said that 20 minutes of Yoga Nidra meditation is equivalent to 2 —3 hours of sleep, bringing one into a very relaxed state, in between consciousness and unconsciousness, awake and asleep.

The Baha’i Five Star Symbol Yoga Nidra meditation repeats the stamping or branding of the Baha’i five star symbol on each part of the body, as a form of symbolic union with the Haykal, which refers to the human or physical temples of the Manifestations of God. By branding the symbol of the Baha’i five star symbol along the body, it is hoped that the pure mirrors which reflect the sovereignty of God, manifestations of God’s Beauty and grandeur will be illuminated within each cell in your body.

Baha’i Five Pointed Star Symbol Yoga Nidra Meditation Script

The Bicentenary Meditation Project is a community karma-yoga-celebratory project and resource bank, which provides free meditations and their corresponding meditation-scripts based off of the Sacred Writings and Teachings of The Bab & Baha’u’llah for world-wide dissemination and use.

The purpose of the meditations are used primarily to draw a closer spiritual connection through the Manifestations of God to God.

One of the primary principles that The Bab & Baha’u’llah proclaimed is the Oneness of Humanity and how interrelated we are.

As host and coordinator of the project, Yoga Avec Moi would like to kindly request for those who will be downloading the meditations scripts, to used them in circumstances with the utmost dignity, reverence and respect for the Sacred Teachings and Personage of The Bab & Baha’u’llah.

You have permission to use them in devotionals, prayer gatherings, children’s virtues classes, junior youth animator gatherings, meditation classes & retreats, Hatha, Yin, Vinyasa yoga classes and retreats.

If you would like to use them in contexts that have not been mentioned above, please drop us a line at yogiavecmoi@gmail.com to say hi and to double check if in doubt that it would be appropriate.

This is primarily run on an honorary role basis, we have deep love in serving and providing for humanities spiritual needs, we ask that in return you respect our wishes to hold the Personages and Sacred Teachings of The Bab & Baha’u’llah with reverence and utmost dignity .

DOWNLOAD MONGOLIAN MEDITATION SCRIPT

Five Star Symbol Yoga Nidra

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