page_title: Baháʼí Faith and Hinduism
section_title: Adaptation of Baháʼí teachings to Hindu context
hierarchical_section_title: Baháʼí Faith and Hinduism / Adaptation of Baháʼí teachings to Hindu context
context_page_description: Hinduism is recognized in the Baháʼí Faith as one of nine known religions and its scriptures are regarded as predicting the coming of Baháʼu'lláh. Krishna is included in the succession of Manifestations of God. The authenticity of the Hindu scriptures is seen as uncertain.
context_section_description: The speedy growth of the Indian Baháʼí community since the 1960s was influenced by adapting the Baháʼí teachings for presentation in a clearly Hindu context familiar to the people of the countryside - using principles and language familiar to them:
  the presentation of Baháʼu'lláh as the Kalki Avatar who according to the Vishnu Purana will appear at the end of the Kali Yuga for the purpose of reestablishing an era of righteousness;
  emphasizing  the figures of Buddha and Krishna as past Manifestations of God or Avatars;
  references to Hindu scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita;
  the substitution of Sanskrit-based terminology for Arabic and Persian where possible (i.e., Bhagavan Baha for Baháʼu'lláh), and the incorporation in both song (bhajan)  and literature of Hindu holy places, hero-figures and poetic images;
  Hindi translations of Baha'i scriptures and prayers that appeared during this period which are so heavily Sanskritized as to make it difficult to recognize their non-Hindu antecedents.
caption: Baháʼí House of Worship, New Delhi, India.
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