During the Ten Year World Crusade, twenty-two acres of land
in New Delhi were acquired as a site for a House of Worship. In the process of
demarcating the boundaries, it was discovered that the land was part of an
ancient village named Bahapur, meaning "the Abode of Baha". In
Hindustani, a dialect of Hindi, Baha means "a channel" or "a
water course". By a happy coincidence, Baha is Arabic for "light",
'splendour", or "glory" and is a form of Bahá'u'lláh's name.
Later the government requisitioned the property for use as a greenbelt area.
After several years of constant negotiation by the National Spiritual Assembly
of India, and upon viewing the beautiful design for the Temple, the government
agreed to release the entire twenty-two acres.
(Footnote to a cablegram from
the Universal House of justice dated 13 October 1977 published in ‘Messages
from the Universal House of justice 1963-1986’)
