Panama's Bahai
temple's construction was completed 1972,
serves as the mother temple of Central America.
It was designed by Peter Tillotson. It is
perched on a high cliff overlooking the
canal, and is constructed of local stone
laid in a pattern reminiscent of Native
American fabric designs.
At present
seven Bahai Houses of Worship around
the world, although Bahai communities
own many properties where they plan for Houses of
Worship to be constructed as the Bahai
community grows and develops. Most Bahai
meetings occur in individuals' homes, local Bahai
centers, or rented facilities.
Mashriqu'l-Adhkar
(Arabic: "Dawning-place of the Remembrance of
God") is the name used in the Bahai
writings for Houses of Worship . All Bahai
temples share certain architectural elements, only
two of which are specified by Bahai
scripture, that they are nine-sided and surmounted
by domes. To date all the temples built or planned
have a single, undivided room under the dome. In all
seven, the seats in the auditorium face the Shrine
of Bahai'u'llah in Akka Israel.
The
seven existing Houses of Worship were built as the
regional community could support their construction.
They express local design and culture in their selection
of materials, landscaping and architecture.
Without instrumental
accompaniment the Bahai House of Worship
sings. No sermons or lectures are permitted inside
the House of Worship. As the Bahai
Faith has no priesthood, ordinary members of the community
- men and women, adults and children - read the textsBahai
Houses of Worship are open to people of all faiths
- or of no particular faith. Services focus solely
on the worship of God. There are no collections and
no sermons. Only the Word of God is uttered within
the Temple, with readings from all the Holy Writings
of the earth. The only instrument used is the human
voice, and the choir in any. There are no collections
during the service. Only Bahais are
permitted to contribute to the upkeep of the House
of Worship.
The key element
of a complex of these buildings which facilities such
as schools, hospitals, homes for the elderly, and
other social and humanitarian institutions to serve
the neighborhoods in which they are located.
