Last Updated on 21 November 2023 | Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom Day | Guru Tegh Bahadur the ninth Sikh Guru, a man that needs no introduction and was known for his bravery, fierceness and for his belief of religious freedom. Every year 24th November is commemorated as Guru Tegh Bahadur’s Martyrdom Day and marks his death anniversary.
Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom Day Highlights
- Every year 24th November is observed as Guru Tegh Bahadur’s Martyrdom Day. This day is also called Shaheedi Diwas.
- People across the country pay homage to the ninth guru on this day and remember his great struggle.
- On this day in 1675, Guru Tegh Bahadur was executed by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
- Guru Tegh Bahadur believed the right to have religious freedom to every citizen and opposed the forced conversion of people to Islam.
- Guru Tegh Bahadur was known for his contribution of hymns in Holy Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
- Guru Granth Sahib Ji has revealed the identity of God for the people of every community that Shri Nanak Dev Ji expressed.
Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom Day
Every year 24th November is observed as the Martyrdom Day of Guru Tegh Bahadur. On this day in 1675 he was publicly executed by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in Delhi because he refused his conversion to Islam as it was done forcefully at that time. He sacrificed his life to protect the fundamental right to adopt any religious practice for people who did not share the same religion with him. And because of this great struggle, his death anniversary is commemorated even after so many years of his death in various parts of the nation.
What Happened with the Mughals?
In order to safeguard the fundamental right of people to practice the religion of their own choice, Guru Tegh Bahadur along with other 3 people sacrificed their life. It was on the day of 25 May 1675 when the representative of Kashmiri Pandits, Pandit Kripa Ram arrived in Anandpur Sahib and went to Guru Tegh Bahadur ji to ask for help against their forceful conversion to Islam by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Upon hearing their plea Guru Tegh Bahadur went into deep thoughts and realised a sacrifice would be required to stop this butchery and there could be no better man than him to do this sacrifice.
■ Also Read: Guru Nanak Jayanti: Who Is The God Of Guru Nanak Sahib?
Soon Guru Tegh Bahadur ji decided and addressed the Pandits to convey the message to Aurangzeb that if he can convert Guru Tegh Bahadur to Islam, they all will convert otherwise he will have to leave them. When this news reached Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, he summoned his officers to arrest Guru Tegh Bahadur and on 27th July 1675 he was arrested. Guru Tegh Bahadur along with his companions were soon brought to Delhi and were asked to accept Islam or face death penalty.
He was also asked to perform any miracle to show his connection towards God. But they all denied and prefered to sacrifice their life rather than compromising on their faith and freedom. Therefore on orders of Aurangzeb his companions were tortured till death.
Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji was Beheaded
After their rejection to accept Islam Guru Tegh Bahadur ji was brutally tortured continuously for five long days. And on 24th November 1675 Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded under imperial warrant under broad daylight at the most popular place Chandni chowk in Delhi at a public square. This proved to be a wake up call to all those hindus and people of other sects who are being tortured by the Mughals.
At exactly the place of his beheading Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib has been built in Delhi to pay tribute to him. After this incident Guru Tegh Bahadur was given the title of “Hind- Di- Chadar” or the Shield of India.
Facts About Guru Tegh Bahadur
Here are some facts listed below about the man with ultimate bravery who sacrificed his life for other people:
- Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru had his term from 1665 to 1675 till his death.
- He was succeeded by Tenth and Final Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
- The places of his death and cremation have been turned into holy places and are today known as Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib and Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib respectively in Delhi.
- The city of Anandpur Sahib was founded by Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.
- He has made his contribution in setting up community kitchens or langar places where free food is given to common people.
- As a tribute one of the All India Hockey tournaments is named after him which is “All India Guru Tegh Bahadur Gold Cup”.
- Holy Guru Granth Sahib includes 115 hymns from Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.
Guru Tegh Bahadur and the Guru Granth Sahib Ji
Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom Day: Apart from the contributions of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji in bringing up the pride of the Indian community in front of the Mughals, he also made his contribution in the Holy Guru Granth Sahib. There are in total 115 hymns including the slokas by Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji at the end of the Holy Book. He through all his works tried to explain the nature of God, human attachments, sorrow, mind, life and death, etc. But in actual fact, except Guru Nanak Dev Ji, nobody in the Sikh community was aware of the identity of Supreme God and the method of attaining Him. The revelation made in Holy Guru Granth Sahib by Shri Nanak Dev Ji is not being followed at all in Sikh community.
Revelation from Guru Granth Sahib Ji
Shri Nanak Dev Ji has revealed various things about the identity of the Almighty in Holy Guru Granth Sahib Ji that are listed below:
- On page 1189 of Holy Granth Sahib- Rag Basant Mehla, Shri Guru Nanak Ji has specified that the God he met was in form and He gave him the true Naam ‘Satnaam’. Thus it proves God is in form as per Holy Guru Granth Sahib.
Mein avgun man maahi sarira, dhoondhat khojat guru mele beera (Kabira) ||3||
Guru ka shabd das har naavu, jivai tu raakhahee tivey rahawu
- Other evidence of God in form is from Malar Mehla 1, Page 1257, Holy Guru Granth Sahib and Bani by Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Guru Granth Sahib, Page 567. At the places the resemblance of God has been described by Shri Nanak Dev Ji which proves that God is in form.
- The identity of Supreme God who is none other than Kabir Saheb who came to Kashi Banaras, Uttar Pradesh to present the path of True Worship to Nanak Dev ji in the form of a Weaver (Dhanak). The evidence of which is mentioned in Rag Siri Mahla 1, page no 24, shabd no 29. In these shabd he again and again says “Dhanak Roop Raha Kartar” which means the one in the form of weaver is the almighty.
- The other evidence of the identity of Supreme God Kabir is mentioned on page 721 of Guru Granth Sahib Ji in Raag Tilang Mehla 1. Here Shri Nanak Dev ji says:
Yak arj guftam pesh to dar koon kartaar |
Hakka Kabir karim tu beaeb Parvardigaar ||
It clearly indicates that Kabir Saheb is the Supreme God and is the creator of the entire universe. A brief summary from all the Holy Scriptures is to identify the Almighty God Kabir and the path to attain salvation because we are currently entrapped in the Jail of Satan(Kaal Brahm). And the worst part is that we are not able to recognise this as we are busy in the run to collect temporary name and fame which will eventually land us in trouble.
Presently the path enlightened to Shri Nanak Dev Ji by Kabir Saheb is being enlightened by Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj from Haryana and is providing the worship as given to Shri Nanak Dev Ji to attain salvation. So it is a golden opportunity for all of us to attain God as God Himself as descended in the form of Saint Rampal Ji to take us back to our eternal happy abode Satlok (Sachkhand).
