Martyrdom anniversary (Shaheedi Diwas) of 9th Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur.

[Singh]

Guru Tegh Bahadur, an epitome of sacrifice​

CHANDIGARH: The martyrdom of the ninth Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur is a very important day in the religious calendar of the Sikhs. The occasion will be celebrated on November 24 by Sikhs all around the world.

Scores of devotees take out huge processions and Kirtans are also sung to pay homage to the Guru. Sermons and lectures are also organized. Chairperson of the department of Guru Nanak studies, Panjab University, Jaspal Kaur said, "The translation of guru's name 'Tegh Bahadur' is 'master of the sword.' However, he was master of the spiritual sword not the political one." The guru always said, "be bold and fearless with others but not God." Amarjit Singh Kang, senior professor, department of Sikh studies, Kurukshetra University said, "Born on April 1, 1621, in Amritsar, the guru was the youngest of five sons of the sixth guru Guru Har Gobind."

Guru Tegh Bahadur's earlier name was Tiyag Mal. He took active part in wars against rulers along with his father Guru. Seeing his valour, his father named him 'Brave of the Sword' - Tegh Bahadur. "Guru Har Gobind institutionalized the concept of - Miri (political sword) and Piri (spiritual sword). He used to wear two swords which represented these two concepts.

One day when the guru lifted young Tegh Bahadur, he grabbed the sword that represented Piri," he added.

During his adult life, the guru came up with a triple formula - Naam, Dan and Isnaan.

While Naam means to meditate (Waheguru), Daan is sharing one's earnings and Isnaan (bath) before the morning prayers. He said those who followed these principles would free themselves from all worldly desires. On the advice of his father, Guru Tegh went into seclusion and meditated for about 25 years at Bakaala village till year 1665 AD, following which he was offered Guruship. Later, the guru travelled up to Bengal and Assam. On the way, he stayed at Patna. It was at Patna that his son 'Gobind Rai' was born. The historian says once the guru played mediator between two rival kings in Assam and avoided bloodshed.

After about 5 years, he came back to Punjab and founded the city of Anandpur Sahib. Amarjit said, "Aurangzeb was the most cruel and dreaded king. He ruled India for over 50 years. He had imprisoned his sister, father (Shah Jahan), murdered all his brothers to become the king. To elevate his position in the eyes of his people, he posed to be a good Muslim." "To please his community, he started converting Hindus to Muslims by force. Those who refused conversion were beheaded," the scholar said.

Though Aurangzeb forcefully stated converting Hindus to Muslim religion in all Southern states, including Bengal, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat etc. He also started the systematic and vigorous conversion of high caste Brahmins of Kashmir.

In 1674 AD, Kashmiri Brahmins requested Guru Tegh Bahadur to save them from Aurangzeb's ruthlessness. It was then that the guru decided that he would sacrifice himself to stop this cruel practice.

Guru Tegh chose his son as the next guru of the Sikhs and offered himself for the supreme sacrifice.

Amarjit said, "In 1675 AD, Guru Tegh Bagadur was arrested in Agra along with few of his followers and brought back to Delhi. He was asked to convert to Muslim religion. He was later asked to prove that he was a godly person and show miracles."

To this, the guru replied, "It is an individual's right to choose the religion he wants to follow. Showing miracles is against the will of god and laws of nature. I don't fear death and am prepared to die."

The guru was imprisoned in an iron cage. Three of his followers were killed in front of his eyes.

"His first follower was cut longitudinally into two pieces with a saw by fixing him in wooden planks, another was boiled in water and the third was burnt in cotton wool. With their face towards the Guru, the three Sikhs sacrificed themselves without any remorse. Yet the guru's stand was firm," the historian said. Following this, the Guru was beheaded in 1675 AD, the very place where Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib now stands in Delhi.

Guru Tegh Bahadur, an epitome of sacrifice - Chandigarh - City - The Times of India

 

[enlightened1]

Horrifying events...there are illustrations in the Golden Temple's museum. Bloody fascists!

 

[F-14]

may the Gurus sacrifice not be in vine he offered himself to protect another community may his actions be our guide for unity and brotherhood anong us

Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal

swami saranam

 

[Jarnee]

Sikh Guru's have special place in Indian history and present, w/o them Aurungzeb would have crushed all other communities.
They are real gods.. who lived as real humans..and sacrificed themselves for protecting innocent. Every Hindu should continue to make their eldest SON as sikh and commit him to the nation

 

[truthfull]

may the Gurus sacrifice not be in vine he offered himself to protect another community may his actions be our guide for unity and brotherhood anong us

Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal

swami saranam

He was a real saint.i am follower of sikh gurus ,although i am a hindu ,even words of ocean in praise of them for their work that have done for humanity
will be less,but i want to say that we have memory in form of guru granth sahib .sarvansh luta kah gaya sikhi da karj chukaya hai.After fighting with mughals he went to lions sleep (guru gobind singh ) but never degraded his own image. Seeing life of sikh gurus i remember those lines of guru nanak that if you want to walk on his path of love then walkby having your head in your palm.From sons mama to uncle to father to grand father of guru gobind singh all were martyred for the sake of dharma.i feel my sef dus of their feet.

By thinking, He cannot be reduced to thought, even by thinking hundreds of thousands of times. By remaining silent, inner silence is not obtained, even by remaining lovingly absorbed deep within. The hunger of the hungry is not appeased, even by piling up loads of worldly goods. Hundreds of thousands of clever tricks, but not even one of them will go along with you in the end. So how can you become truthful? And how can the veil of illusion be torn away? O Nanak, it is written that you shall obey the Hukam of His Command, and walk in the Way of His Will. || 1 || By His Command, bodies are created; His Command cannot be described. By His Command, souls come into being; by His Command, glory and greatness are obtained. By His Command, some are high and some are low; by His Written Command, pain and pleasure are obtained. Some, by His Command, are blessed and forgiven; others, by His Command, wander aimlessly forever. Everyone is subject to His Command; no one is beyond His Command. O Nanak, one who understands His Command, does not speak in ego. || 2 || Some sing of His Power-who has that Power? Some sing of His Gifts, and know His Sign and Insignia. Some sing of His Glorious Virtues, Greatness and Beauty. Some sing of knowledge obtained of Him, through difficult philosophical studies. Some sing that He fashions the body, and then again reduces it to dust. Some sing that He takes life away, and then agains restores it.

 

[sandeepdg]

Such horrific death in front of his eyes... even then The Guru was calm and did not fear death while fighting for what is right... No wonder rarely few people on earth ever become a saint !!