Aurangzeb ascended the throne of India by imprisoning his father and murdering his brothers. Many people due to his cruel nature and evil deeds didn’t like Aurangzeb. So he decided to win over the hearts of Muslim extremists. He sympathized with them and declared that a mission has begun to convert all of India to Islam. He was on a mission to convert by any means necessary; he instilled fear in all, by using violence and mass-murder. He ordered the destruction of Non Muslim temples and schools. Also any one caught practicing any religion apart from Islam was put to death. He committed terror and was responsible for bloodbaths in India. Sher Afghan Khan, the Emperors viceroy in Kashmir, set about converting the Kashmiri Hindus by force and massacred those who opposed to embrace Islam. Even the Muslims who helped Hindus in anyway were put to death. In extreme agony of too much slaughter, the Brahman priests of Kashmir prayed to their gods, the Brahmans heard a supernatural voice saying “Guru Nanak is the spiritual king in this age; Guru Teg Bahadur Ji is now seated on his throne. Go to him, he will protect your honor and your religion.”
A group of Kashmiri Pundits came to Anadpur and with tears of agony narrated their tales of suffering to Guru Teg Bahadur Ji.
The Guru’s 8-year-old son (Guru Gobind Singh Ji-but he was known as Gobind rai at this moment) appeared on the scene and asked his father
why these pundits had tears in their eyes?
He replied, “The emperor of India is converting the Hindus to Islam at the point of the sword and thus there is no end to the misery of these people.”
“What is the remedy, father?” asked the young Gobind rai
Guru Ji replied, “This requires the sacrifice of a holy soul.”
Gobind rai responded “O dear father, who is more holy than you in this age? Go and offer yourself and save these people and their religion.”
On hearing this Guru Ji asked the Kashmiri pundits to go and see the emperor and state the following:
“Guru Teg Bahadur, the 9th Sikh Guru is now seated at the throne of the Great Guru Nanak Dev Ji, who is the protector of faith and humanity. First make him a Muslim and then all the people including ourselves will of our own accord adopt the faith of Islam.”
The pundits obeyed Guru Ji and conveyed the proposal to the emperor. On hearing the proposal the emperor was happy as he thought it is less hassle to gain an Islamic country this way. The emperor therefore sent his messenger to invite Guru Ji to Delhi. Guru Ji received the emperor’s message and replied that he would come there after the rainy season. Guru Ji performed the ceremony and made his young son the next Guru for the Sikhs. The Guru took leave and left for his journey to Delhi with a few devoted Sikhs. But on his way he stopped in many places spreading the message of God to the people. After the rainy season, the emperor again sent his messenger to hasten the arrival of Guru Ji to Delhi. When the messengers were unable to find Guru Ji, they reported to Aurangzeb that the kafir had fled. Orders were issued all over the empire to find and arrest Guru Ji. When they found Guru Ji, he and a few Sikhs were arrested. Guru Ji was put in an iron cage, which was fastened on the back of an elephant. The other Sikhs were handcuffed and were carried in a bullock cart to Delhi. At Delhi they were all imprisoned at Kotwali jail. Guru Ji was brought out into an open place called Chandi chowk. Guru Ji’s cage was highly guarded. The qazi told Guru Ji that he had three choices, if he was to embrace Islam he would be rewarded heavily, if he were to show a miracle he would prove that he is a man of God, and his life would be spared. But if Guru Ji refused to do any of the above he would be publicly beheaded. Guru Ji refused to do the first two, so in order to try and instill fear into Guru Ji so that Guru Ji changed his mind; His three Sikhs were also brought out and made Shaheeds in front of Guru Ji. The first to become shaheed was Bhai Mati Das Ji; he was told that if he chose Islam, he would be spared. But bhai Mati das Ji, s only wish was that he be facing Guru Ji while being sawed in two. He did not alter his principals and his faith. While being sawed, he showed no pain and was peacefully reciting Jap Ji sahib, even after his body was in two parts, Jap Ji sahib was being uttered until completion. Bhai Dyal das was the second to become shaheed, he was told not to make the same mistake as Bhai Mati Das. But Bhai Dyal Das Ji said send me to the same place as you have sent my brother, be quick. Bhai Dyal das Ji was boiled alive, but he showed no pain and only the Gurmantar (WAHEGURU) was being heard. Bhai Sati das was the third to become shaheed, he too was firm in his resolve, he was burned alive, but no screams were heard. Only Sukhmani sahib Ji the paat was heard until it was completed, (even after bhai sahib’s soul left his body). But this didn’t change Guru Ji’s mind he started smiling and was pleased with the courage his Sikhs showed. Seeing this emperor was outraged and ordered Guru JI to be beheaded. The exact location of the beheading is marked by Gurdwara Sis Ganj in Delhi.
After the execution Guru Jis head and body were mounted on an elephant and paraded in the streets of Delhi. The body parts were then kept at kotwali fort after the demonstration. Aurangzeb then ordered that all body parts should be cut and hung around the whole city. However a huge storm erupted so the process was delayed. Jaita and nanu, residents of dilwaligali area of Delhi, held a meeting and decided that such a disrespect of Guru jJs body must be prevented. They were later joined by uda, and they also reached the conclusion that the body must be retrieved at any cost. It was suggested that lakhi lubana was shortly to arrive with a few cartloads of cotton from narnal. They waited a few kilometers away from they city and informed lakhi of the happenings. They walked into the fort with the carts; the head and body of Guru Ji were at the gate of the kotwali fort. Watchmen heavily guarded them. But risking his life, somehow Bhai jaita slipped out and managed to grab Guru Ji’s head and wrapped it in a sheet and fastened it on his back. He then covered himself with a blanket and made a run for it towards Anandpur with nanu and uda. Lakhi’s son lifted the body and hid it under the cotton and made their way home. They cremated the body by setting there whole house on fire. Gurdwara rakab ganj now marks this place of bravery. Young Guru Gobind rai on receiving his father’s head from jaita hugged him close and said “rangrete Guru ka bete”.
It should be remembered that the Gurus did not believe in the practices of the Hindu religion and had issued various holy Shabads denouncing various Hindu practices like Sati, and Idol worship, etc. However, this had no bearing when it came to the decision to protect these Kashmiri Hindus - for the right of a person to freely practice their religion was considered to be predominant over their own personal beliefs and preferences. Humanity, righteousness and justice acted as the motives in the shaheedi of Guru Ji.
“He protected the forehead mark and sacred thread (of the Hindus) which marked a great event in the Iron Age. For the sake of saints, he laid down his head For the sake of Dharma, he sacrificed himself. He laid down his head but not his principals. He burst the bonds of mortal clay and went on to the abode of God.
No one ever performed an act as noble as did Guru Teg Bahadur Ji. With the departure of Guru Teg Bahadur Ji the world was stricken with sorrow. A wail of horror hit the earth, but a victor’s welcome and rejoicing sounded in the heaven”. -Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji
The world is not real like a dream says Nanak,
There is nothing-real init, accept the truth (God)
That which is born shall be destroyed today, tomorrow or the day after,
Nanak sing the lord’s praises and give up all attachments
-Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji- Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
