In memory of Guru Tegh Bahadur, who gave his head and changed the history of freedom in India
Guru Tegh Bahadur was the ninth spiritual master in the lineage of Guru Nanak, the singer of oneness.
Aurangzeb, the last great Mughal emperor, ruled with an oppressive government, marked by the ruthless murder of his own brothers and jailed his father. Aurangzeb had Sufi saint Sarmad beheaded in 1661. Later that decade, in 1669, he ordered the destruction of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi. That same year, he brutally suppressed the Jat revolt in Mathura led by Gokal Jat, and the Satnamis faced eradication. In 1671, Aurangzeb appointed Nawab Iftikhar Khan as the governor of Kashmir, initiating a mission to convert Kashmiri Pandits to Islam, putting the existence of the community in jeopardy.
Amidst these challenges, a 15-member delegation of Kashmiri Pandits, led by Kirpa Ram Dat of Matan, arrived at Anandpur on May 25, 1675. Guru Tegh Bahadur felt a deep sense of compassion and restlessness for the plight of the innocent people. The little Gobind Rai, without any hesitation, supported his
It was then that an eight-year-old Gobind Rai, inquisitive about the prevailing sadness, innocently asked the Guru and the visitors about its cause. The Guru explained that if the old customs and traditions of India were to be kept alive, it would require a holy person to sacrifice their life. The little Gobind Rai, without any hesitation, remarked that there could be no holier person for this sacrifice than the Guru himself. Little did he know, this remark would set profound events into motion.
Upon the Guru's instruction, the Pandits were advised to request the governor to have Tegh Bahadur convert first, with the assurance that they would follow suit. The Pandits conveyed this to the Governor, who then relayed it to Aurangzeb at Hasan Abdal, near the Kashmir borders. Already biased against Tegh Bahadur, Aurangzeb issued an edict to the governor of Lahore, instructing the Guru's arrest and imprisonment until summoned to Delhi.
The Governor of Lahore passed the edict to Abdul Aziz Dilawar Khan, the Faujdar of Sarhind, with discreet execution instructions. Nur Muhammad Khan Mirza, the Kotwal of Rupar, was instructed to quietly arrest the Guru and send him to Sarhind.
On July 11, 1675, Guru Tegh Bahadur, accompanied by three devoted Sikhs, Mati Das, Sati Das, and Dyal Das, left Anandpur. After covering about 40 kms, they halted for the night at Muslim Ranghar village near Rupar. At around 3 o'clock the next morning on July 12, the Guru and his companions were taken prisoners and hurriedly transported to Sarhind.
After four months, the Faujdar placed the Guru in an iron cage on the back of an elephant, while his companions were fettered and handcuffed, taken to Delhi in a bullock cart. Aurangzeb urged the Guru to embrace Islam, but he affirmed his faith, stating that he considered his religion as good as Islam. The emperor ordered severe tortures, and after five days, Aurangzeb attempted to forcibly convert the Guru.
Bhai Dyal Das, steadfast in his refusal, was bound with an iron chain and immersed into a massive cauldron of boiling oil. He endured a gruesome fate, roasted alive into a block of charcoal. Following suit, Bhai Sati Das who also resisted conversion, faced a brutal end, being hacked limb by limb.
Throughout these horrifying events, Tegh Bahadur witnessed it all, continuously uttering 'Waheguru.' Aware that his turn was imminent, he remained stoic, unaffected, and undaunted. Focused on Waheguru, his thoughts, ideas, and emotions concentrated, as a radiant divine light illuminated his face. He understood that such immortal sacrifices would not be in vain; their names would endure forever.
On November 11, 1675, around 11 o'clock in the morning, the appointed time for Guru Tegh Bahadur to respond arrived. Shortly before 11 o'clock, he was brought to the execution site in Chandni Chowk, now the location of Gurdwara Sis Ganj. The Qazi, high officials, and the executioner, Sayyid Jalal-ud-din of Samana, armed with a gleaming broadsword, were already present. Mughal soldiers formed a guard, and a sizable crowd gathered outside the barricade.
Facing the Qazi, Guru Tegh Bahadur was given the choice to perform a miracle, embrace Islam, or meet death. The Guru steadfastly refused to convert. The fatal blow was delivered, and his head rolled onto the floor.
The Guru's body lay at the gate. Jaita slipped out quietly, picked up the head and fled away towards Sabzi Mandi. He tied the head in a sheet, fastened it on his back and covered his body in an old, dirty blanket. Lakhi's son and a servant lifted the body, hid it in cotton and rushed off to Raisina, and to their home in Rakab Ganj village. Lakhi set fire to the house to avoid detection to perform cremation of Guru's body. After two days the Guru's ashes were collected. They were put in a bronze pot, and buried under ground at that very spot. Gurdwara Rakab Ganj marks this site.
Jaita carried the Guru's head, traveling from Azadpur to Sonipat, then Karnal, and finally taking the route to Pehowa, Ismailabad, and Ambala. He arrived at Kiratpur on the afternoon of Tuesday, November 16, 1675, covering a distance of 320 kms in five days. Gobind Rai conducted the ceremonial cremation of the head on November 17.
The common people were profoundly disturbed by the execution of the Guru and his three courageous companions. Guru Tegh Bahadur's death marked a turning point in the history of India. His son and successor, Guru Gobind Singh, reflected on the broader history of India.
From the execution of his great-grandfather, Guru Arjan, in Lahore to the imprisonment of his grandfather, Guru Hargobind, in the Gwalior fort, and the beheading of his father, the sixth Guru, the rulers' attitude remained unchanged over two hundred years. Guru Gobind Singh concluded that if the ruler was oppressive, people must rise in revolt.
Following the Guru's guidance, the Khalsa embraced the profession of arms. The once subjugated populace transformed into formidable warriors. Over the next century, they not only ended foreign rule but also thwarted invasions from the northwest. Aurangzeb became the last great Mughal emperor. The sikhs of Guru Tegh Bahadur can be found around the world.
Shlokas of Guru Nanak:
ਜਉ ਤਉ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਖੇਲਣ ਕਾ ਚਾਉ ॥
jau tau prem khelan kaa chaau ||
If you desire to play this game of love with Me,
ਸਿਰੁ ਧਰਿ ਤਲੀ ਗਲੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਆਉ ॥
sir dhar talee galee meree aau ||
then step onto My Path with your head in hand.
ਇਤੁ ਮਾਰਗਿ ਪੈਰੁ ਧਰੀਜੈ ॥
eit maarag pair dhareejai ||
When you place your feet on this Path,
ਸਿਰੁ ਦੀਜੈ ਕਾਣਿ ਨ ਕੀਜੈ ॥੨੦॥
sir dheejai kaan na keejai ||20||
give Me your head, and do not pay any attention to public opinion. ||20||
Baani of Guru Gobind Singh:
ਤਿਲਕ ਜੰਞੂ ਰਾਖਾ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਤਾ ਕਾ ॥
tilak ja(n)n(j)oo raakhaa prabh taa kaa ||
He protected the forehead mark (tilak) and sacred thread (of the Hindus),
ਕੀਨੋ ਬਡੋ ਕਲੂ ਮਹਿ ਸਾਕਾ ॥
keeno baddo kaloo meh saakaa ||
which marked a great event in this age of Kaljug (era of sin).
ਸਾਧਨ ਹੇਤਿ ਇਤੀ ਜਿਨਿ ਕਰੀ ॥
saadhan het itee jin karee ||
For the sake of Saints,
ਸੀਸੁ ਦੀਆ ਪਰੁ ਸੀ ਨ ਉਚਰੀ ॥੧੩॥
sees dheeaa par see na ucharee ||13||
He laid down His head without even a sign of whimper.
ਧਰਮ ਹੇਤ ਸਾਕਾ ਜਿਨਿ ਕੀਆ ॥
dharam het saakaa jin keeaa ||
For the sake of Dharma (righteousness),
ਸੀਸੁ ਦੀਆ ਪਰ ਸਿਰਰੁ ਨ ਦੀਆ ॥
sees dheeaa par sirar na dheeaa ||
He sacrificed Himself. He laid down His head, remaining uncompromising in His principles.
ਠੀਕਰ ਫੋਰਿ ਦਿਲੀਸ ਸਿਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਪੁਰਿ ਕੀਯਾ ਪਯਾਨ ॥
Theekar for dhilees sir prabh pur keeyaa payaan ||
Breaking the potsherd of his body head of the king of Delhi (Aurangzeb), He left for the abode of the Lord.
ਤੇਗ ਬਹਾਦਰ ਸੀ ਕ੍ਰਿਆ ਕਰੀ ਨ ਕਿਨਹੂੰ ਆਨ ॥੧੫॥
teg bahaadhar see kriaa karee na kinahoo(n) aan ||15||
None could perform such a feat as that of Tegh Bahadur.15.
ਤੇਗ ਬਹਾਦਰ ਕੇ ਚਲਤ ਭਯੋ ਜਗਤ ਕੋ ਸੋਕ ॥
teg bahaadhar ke chalat bhayo jagat ko sok ||
The whole world bemoaned the departure of Tegh Bahadur.
ਹੈ ਹੈ ਹੈ ਸਭ ਜਗ ਭਯੋ ਜੈ ਜੈ ਜੈ ਸੁਰ ਲੋਕ ॥੧੬॥
hai hai hai sabh jag bhayo jai jai jai sur lok ||16||
While the world lamented, the gods hailed his arrival in heavens.16.
Gurbani
ਠੀਕਰ ਫੋਰਿ ਦਿਲੀਸ ਸਿਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਪੁਰਿ ਕੀਯਾ ਪਯਾਨ ॥
ਤੇਗ ਬਹਾਦਰ ਸੀ ਕ੍ਰਿਆ ਕਰੀ ਨ ਕਿਨਹੂੰ ਆਨ ॥੧੫॥
ਤੇਗ ਬਹਾਦਰ ਕੇ ਚਲਤ ਭਯੋ ਜਗਤ ਕੋ ਸੋਕ ॥
ਹੈ ਹੈ ਹੈ ਸਭ ਜਗ ਭਯੋ ਜੈ ਜੈ ਜੈ ਸੁਰ ਲੋਕ ॥੧੬॥
ਠੀਕਰ ਫੋਰਿ ਦਿਲੀਸ ਸਿਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਪੁਰਿ ਕੀਯਾ ਪਯਾਨ ॥
ਤੇਗ ਬਹਾਦਰ ਸੀ ਕ੍ਰਿਆ ਕਰੀ ਨ ਕਿਨਹੂੰ ਆਨ ॥੧੫॥
ਤੇਗ ਬਹਾਦਰ ਕੇ ਚਲਤ ਭਯੋ ਜਗਤ ਕੋ ਸੋਕ ॥
ਹੈ ਹੈ ਹੈ ਸਭ ਜਗ ਭਯੋ ਜੈ ਜੈ ਜੈ ਸੁਰ ਲੋਕ ॥੧੬॥
ਜਉ ਤਉ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਖੇਲਣ ਕਾ ਚਾਉ ॥ ਸਿਰੁ ਧਰਿ ਤਲੀ ਗਲੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਆਉ ॥
ਇਤੁ ਮਾਰਗਿ ਪੈਰੁ ਧਰੀਜੈ ॥ ਸਿਰੁ ਦੀਜੈ ਕਾਣਿ ਨ ਕੀਜੈ ॥੨੦॥
ਤਿਲਕ ਜੰਞੂ ਰਾਖਾ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਤਾ ਕਾ ॥ ਕੀਨੋ ਬਡੋ ਕਲੂ ਮਹਿ ਸਾਕਾ ॥
ਸਾਧਨ ਹੇਤਿ ਇਤੀ ਜਿਨਿ ਕਰੀ ॥ ਸੀਸੁ ਦੀਆ ਪਰੁ ਸੀ ਨ ਉਚਰੀ ॥੧੩॥
ਧਰਮ ਹੇਤ ਸਾਕਾ ਜਿਨਿ ਕੀਆ ॥ ਸੀਸੁ ਦੀਆ ਪਰ ਸਿਰਰੁ ਨ ਦੀਆ ॥
ਠੀਕਰ ਫੋਰਿ ਦਿਲੀਸ ਸਿਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਪੁਰਿ ਕੀਯਾ ਪਯਾਨ ॥
ਤੇਗ ਬਹਾਦਰ ਸੀ ਕ੍ਰਿਆ ਕਰੀ ਨ ਕਿਨਹੂੰ ਆਨ ॥੧੫॥
ਤੇਗ ਬਹਾਦਰ ਕੇ ਚਲਤ ਭਯੋ ਜਗਤ ਕੋ ਸੋਕ ॥
ਹੈ ਹੈ ਹੈ ਸਭ ਜਗ ਭਯੋ ਜੈ ਜੈ ਜੈ ਸੁਰ ਲੋਕ ॥੧੬॥
My Translation
O Prabhu's he saved your tilak and Janeu
He did an amazing feat in this age of Kaljug.
For the sake of Saints,
He laid down His head without even a sign of pain.
For the sake of Dharma (righteousness),
He laid down His head, not His principles.
Breaking the potsherd head of the king of Delhi, He left for the abode of the Lord.
No one else has done what was done by Tegh Bahadur.
The whole world bemoaned the departure of Tegh Bahadur.
While the world Iamented, the gods hailed his arrival in heavens.
Singing oneness!
