"Heaven and Hell aren't places but states of being reached when someone does something good or bad respectively..."
- Abdul-Baha: founder of the Baha'i faith.
'Mashriqu-I-Adhkar' or "The dawning place of the praise of God," in Persian, is the Baha'i Temple (House of Worship).
The Baha'i House of Worship in Uganda was named the mother temple of Africa, and sat atop Kikaya Hill on the outskirts of Kampala.
A few minutes from Namugongo, Kikaya Hill on Gayaza road was my next destination on this Afro foot-trail.
A brief background on the Baha'i faith:
Abdul-Baha wrote a series of letters to the followers of religion in the United States, in 1916-1917.
Compiled into a book, these letters became the "tablets of divine plan." To be the divine guide for all the followers of the faith.
Africa was mentioned in the eighth and twelfth of the tablets which were written on 19th April 1916 and 15th February 1917, respectively.
On 3rd August, 1951 Mr. and Mrs. Mùsà Banàni and, their colleagues arrived in Kampala; Banàni was an adult convert to the religion during world war I from a Jewish background.
69 years later, spread over 1951 - 2020, the Baha'i faith managed to rack up more than 200,000 Baha'is in Uganda. Even though it went through some tough times during Idi Amin's reign, when the faith was banned.
In 1958, Joseph Mbogo, Erisha Kiwanuka, and Max Kanyerezi, Ugandan Baha'is had their names inscribed on the deed to the land for the Temple.
Built over 54 years ago, the Baha'i Temple wasn't only a marvel, it's sublime architectural design was based on a spiritual vision.
Like thousands in Uganda, I was enticed to check out its scenic view. Based on the fact that each continent has got only one Baha'i Temple, a visit was a must to Africa's spiritual heart for the Baha'i.
Gorgeous flower beds, perfectly located trees and, neatly kept lawns in columns of gardens surrounded the Temple; narrowing on your ascension from the foothill to the top.
Atop the hill, sat the majestic Temple; open to all but only in accordance to Baha'i principles of NO loud music, flower picking, intoxication, e.t.c beckoning thousands, me inclused, to travel to Africa's only Baha'i temple.
It's 124.6 feet height and 44.2 feet width with a conical dome took into consideration the harmonic Baha'i principles, the kind of harmony I needed in my life so as to attain the Baha'i heavenly state of being on my Afro foot-trail.
9 Major pillars and 28 Minor ones keep the Temple upright; and It has 9 doors that are always open during prayers.
The Temple, in my opinion, was a unification symbol of God's divine uniting force; for it's comprised of parts from differing locales, Timber used to make furniture was from Ugandan trees, the coloured glass was brought from Germany.
Steel, window frames and fittings were Briton. The walls are of Ugandan quarried precast stone; and the green dome is made of tiny Italian glazed mosaic tiles, while the lower roof tiles are from Belgium.
January 1962, after four years of construction, the Temple was successfully open to the public, inspiring piety and at most respect to the almighty in all...
The trail continued...
Image Source: Pinterest
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