Bahá’í Twin Holy Day Celebrations at home

Reflections for the Bahai Twin Holy Day Celebrations - The Divine Twin Figures in the Religions of the Past

The next two days (18th and 19th October 2020), Baha'is all around the world celebrate the Twin Holy Birthdays of the Bab and Baha'u'llah who are also known as the Twin Manifestations of the Baha'i Faith. In an event of occurrence that is very rare in human history, Baha'is acknowledge that it is not often that we have the blessings of Two Messengers of God in rapid succession in order to guide humanity towards prosperity.

The Bab, who was also the forerunner of Baha'u'llah was born in accordance with the Islamic Calendar on the 1st Day of Muharram(20 October 1819). Baha'u'llah on the other hand was born on the 2nd Day of Muharram(two years prior, on 12 November 1817). The Birthdays of the Bab and Baha'u'llah are now being observed by Bahais worldwide on the first and the second day following the occurrence of the eighth new moon after Naw-Rúz.

In the Kitáb-i-Aqdas (the Bahai Holy Book), Baháʼu'lláh wrote that His birthday and that of Báb "are accounted as one in the sight of God".

While the concept of the Divine Twin Manifestations is an important concept in the Baha'i Faith, we find that Divine Twin Figures have occurred in the religions of the past as well. Hence, this is not the first time that the Almighty have blessed humanity with Twin Divine Figures.

In Hinduism, one of the world's oldest religions, appeared the Ashvins (the Divine Twin Deities of the Vedas). Associated with the dawn, they are described as youthful Divine Twin horsemen in the Rigveda, travelling in a chariot drawn by horses that are never weary. They are the Vedic Gods for Health and Medicine and are known to have rescued humanity many times. In the Mahabharata, the Pandava twins Nakula and Sahadeva were associated to be reincarnations of the Ashvins, who appeared in order to aid Lord Krishna in the great battle against Duryodhana.

Although not actual twins, two Reincarnations of the Hindu Deity Vishnu have known to appear as Twin Figures. These Twin Figures are none other than Lord Rama (Avatar of Vishnu) with Lakshman as His companion and Lord Krishna (Avatar of Vishnu) with Balarama as His companion. It is explained in the Bhagavata Purana that Lakshman and Balarama are avatars of Shesha, one of the eternal companions of Vishnu and will continue to accompany Him whenever He is reincarnated. It can then be inferred that Shesha will be reincarnated again when the Kalki Avatar (the 10th Avatar of Vishnu) appears.

In Buddhism, the Twin Figures that appeared are the two Chief Disciples of Sakhyamuni Buddha namely Sariputra and Maudgalyāyana. Both of them were the foremost among the disciples of the Buddha and achieved many victories for the Buddhist Religion during their lifetime. The Buddha praised the both of them deeply and often delegated them to carry out discourses on His behalf. Both Sariputra and Maudgalyāyana are often depicted accompanying the Buddha in many artworks.

In Judaism, it was prophecised that the Jewish Nation will be reconciled with the coming of the Twin Figures of the Prophet Elijah and the Messiah. They will unite the Jewish Nation into one whole and bring the Kingdom of God down to earth.

In Christianity, John the Baptist and Jesus Christ are respectively viewed as the return of the Prophet Elijah and the Messiah. They are also prophecised to return again to save not only the Jewish nation but the whole of humanity during Judgement Day.

In Islam, there occurred the Twin Figures of the grandsons of the Prophet Muhammad, Hasan and Husayn. Though not actual twins, Hasan and Husayn were very close brothers that they were often viewed as the Twin Grandsons of the Prophet. They were born about a year apart and the Prophet Muhammad loved both of them dearly and would often spend time with them. In Sunni Islam, they are revered as the family members of the Prophet.

In Shia Islam however, the two are revered to an even higher station and are known as the 2nd and 3rd Imams of Shia Islam. The Martyrdom of Husayn is tragically remembered and commemorated to this day in Shia Islam as the Day of Ashura.

The Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said that "He who loves me and loves these two(Hasan and Husayn), their father (Ali) and their mother(Fatima, daugher of the Prophet), will be with me at my place on the Day of Resurrection."

Islam also prophesied the coming of Twin Figures on the Day of Resurrection, namely the coming of Imam Mahdi and the Messiah (Isa).

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