Guru Tegh Bahadur

Satnam Shri Waheguru Ji

Human history is full of instances of great men laying down their lives in defence of their faith and their country. But there is probably only one instance in entire history of a great man who gave his head for protecting a faith different from his own! This is the glorious sacrifice of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the 9th Guru of the Sikhs, in defence of Hinduism. The magnificent aspect of Guruji's sacrifice is that he represented a faith (Sikhism) which denounced certain Hindu practices like idol worship, casteism and purdah, but still he offered his life for ensuring that Hindus get to practice their faith!

Guruji was born in Amritsar, Punjab on 1 April, 1621 to the 6th Sikh guru Guru Hargobind. His childhood name was Tyag Mal (Master of Renunciation). He was brought up in Sikh culture and trained in archery and horsemanship. He was also taught the old classics such as the Vedas, the Upanishads and the Puranas. Only 13 years old, he asked his father to take him into battle as his village was attacked by the Mughals. During the battle he had weighed into the enemies with abandon, slashing his sword right and left.

After the battle was won, (the Battle of Kartarpur) the victorious Sikhs returning home honored their new hero with a new "warrior's" name. And so Tyag Mal was renamed Tegh Bahadur (brave sword wielder). The young Tegh Bahadur soon showed a bent in the direction of the earlier Sikhs Gurus who had passed the 'seli' of Nanak (the sacred headgear of renunciation) to each new Guru. He delved into his studies and spent his time in meditation living up to his given name - Master of Renunciation. He preferred prolonged spells of seclusion and contemplation, staying at Bakala.

In March 1664, the 8th Sikh guru - Guru Har Krishan contracted smallpox. When asked by his followers who would lead them after him, he replied Baba Bakala, meaning his successor was to be found in Bakala. Taking the advantage of the ambiguity in the words of the dying Guru, many installed themselves in Bakala, claiming themselves as the new Guru. Sikhs were puzzled to see so many claimants.

There is an interesting story about how the real Guru was found. A wealthy trader, Baba Makhan Shah Labana, had once prayed for his life and had promised to gift 500 gold coins to the Sikh Guru if he survived. He arrived in search of the 9th Guru. He went from one claimant to the next making his obeisance and offering 2 gold coins to each Guru, believing that the right Guru would know that his silent promise was to gift 500 coins for his safety. Every "guru" he met accepted the 2 gold coins and bid him farewell. Then he discovered that Tegh Bahadur also lived at Bakala. Labana gifted Tegh Bahadur the usual offering of 2 gold coins. Tegh Bahadur gave him his blessings and remarked that his offering was considerably short of the promised 500. Makhan Shah Labana forthwith made good the difference and ran upstairs. He began shouting from the rooftop, "Guru ladho re, Guru ladho re" meaning "I have found the Guru, I have found the Guru".

In August 1664 a Sikh Sangat arrived in Bakala and anointed Tegh Bahadur as the 9th Guru of Sikhs. A formal "Tikka ceremony" was performed on Tegh Bahadur conferring Guruship on him.

A poet, a thinker, and a warrior, Guru Teg Bahadur Ji carried forward the light of sanctity and divinity of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and the subsequent Sikh Gurus. His spiritual writings, detailing varied themes such as the nature of God, human attachments, body, mind, sorrow, dignity, service, death, and deliverance, are registered in the form of 116 poetic hymns in the sacred scripture, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. He founded the town of Chak-Nanki in Punjab, later enlarged by the 10th guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, into the city of Sri Anandpur Sahib.

Guru Tegh Bahadur travelled extensively in different parts of the country, including Dhaka and Assam, to preach the teachings of Guru Nanak. The places he visited and stayed in, became sites of Gurudwaras. During his travels, he spread the Sikh ideas and message, as well as started community water wells and langars (community kitchen charity for the poor).

In 1672, Tegh Bahadur traveled through Kashmir and the North-West Frontier, to meet the masses, as the persecution of non-Muslims reached new heights.

In 1675 India was in a dire state. The tyrannical Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb wished to bring the whole of India under the Islamic fold. He unleashed a horrific policy to bring punishment to those who were non-Muslim. Aurangzeb was quick to realise that if he successfully converted the Kashmiri Pandits, who were revered among their community, the rest of the people would follow suite and accept Islam.

In an act of desperation and fear, the Kashmiri Pandits came to the abode of Guruji and explained that they were given the ultimatum to convert to Islam or accept death. Guruji was deeply concerned by their dilemma and saddened to see freedom to practice their dharma being threatened. 

At this point Guruji's young son Gobind Rai (the future 10th Guru Gobind Singh) entered the darbar and asked his father why everyone was in such deep thought. Guruji explained that there was a need for a great soul to face this oppressive regime. Gobind Rai, being only 9 at the time, replied "Who could be more fit than you father?"

Guru Tegh Bahadur then decided that, accompanied by his most trusted Sikhs including Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das and Bhai Dayal Das, he would face Aurangzeb and declared that, if he could convert them, then the Hindus would agree to do the same without resistance. In the summer of 1675, the four of them set out for Delhi. On arrival they were asked to convert to Islam or else face the penalty of death.

Guruji bravely declared that he would rather sacrifice his life than give up his faith or his freedom. He was than kept chained and imprisoned in an iron cage and was tortured using the most horrific methods for 8 days.

Guruji being an enlightened soul kept his mind fixated on God, and he withstood the torture with no sign of grief or complaint. Upon seeing Guruji's resolve, the Emperor looked to break his spirit by executing his companions.

First Bhai Dayal Das was brought in front of the Guru and placed in a cauldron of boiling water, he calmly accepted death and merged his soul back with God (Waheguru).

Mughals then decided to kill Bhai Mati Das. They asked him to embrace Islam and enjoy the pleasures provided by them in this life and in heaven, or else be sawn into two. He replied, "I can sacrifice hundreds of such heavens for my faith. I see all the happiness in the path of my faith."

After his refusal, the qazis asked him his last wish, to which he replied, "When I am being cut with the saw, let my face be towards my mentor so that I may behold my Guru till my last breath and he may keep on seeing me so that he may be convinced how happily I reach my last destination." By the order of the qazis, the executioners sawed Bhai Mati Das in two.

The qazis then asked Bhai Sati Das to convert to Islam and enjoy pleasures. He replied “You cannot understand that my pleasure and happiness lie only in obeying the command of my Guru. It does not lie in saving this life which must end one day."

At this reply, the executioners wrapped Bhai Sati Das in cotton, poured oil over it and set fire to him. Bhai Sati Das remained calm while burning till his last breath and remained true to his Guru.

Finally after peacefully bearing different forms of torture and refusing to show miracles at the request of Aurangzeb, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded in Chandni Chowk, Delhi, India. A note was written by Guruji and placed around his neck which read ‘I gave my head, but not my faith’.

A Gurudwara stands at the place in Delhi where Guruji was executed. The name of the Gurudwara is Sheesh Ganj Sahib.

In Sorath rag, Guru Tegh Bahadur describes what an ideal human being is like:

jo nar dukh mein dukh nahin manney, sukh snehh ar phey nahi ja kai, kanchan maati manney

na nindya nehn usttat ja kai lobh moh abhimana

harakh sog tey rahey niaro nahen maan apmana, aasa mansa sagal tyagey

jagg tey rahey nirasa, kaam krodh jeh parsai nahin the ghatt brahma niwasa

One who is not perturbed by misfortune, who is beyond comfort, attachment and fear, who considers gold and dust alike. Who is neither swayed by slander or praise, and shuns greed, attachments and arrogance. Who is indifferent to ecstasy and tragedy, is not affected by honors or humiliations. Who renounces expectations, greed, and is neither attached to the worldliness, nor lets senses and anger affect him. In such a person resides God. That being, blessed by Guru's grace, understands this way. O Nanak, (S)he merges with the creator, like water with water — Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, Rag Sorath, Ang 633

Without doubt, Guru Tegh Bahadur ji himself is the best example of such an enlightened soul. He remained completely unperturbed with his mind merged in God in the face of extreme emotional, mental and physical torture. His unprecedented sacrifice escalated the consciousness of the Sikh psyche to a new level. It was now not acceptable for God loving people to protect just their own kind, but it was the duty of all God loving people to protect the rights of all the people of God, no matter what their chosen religion may be. Guru Tegh Bahadar put into practise the profound message of Gurbani that had been existant since Guru Nanak Dev's time:

If you desire to play this game of love with Me,

then step onto My Path with your head in your hand.