Soon after the joyous celebrations for Guru Nanak,comes the sad event of the martyrdomday of Guru Teg Bahadur,the ninth Sikh Guru. It was at the site of the SisGanj Gurdwara in Delhi's Chandni Chowk where the guru was beheaded in 1675.Guru Teg Bahadur had taken on the mighty Mughals and made the supreme sacrifice of his life to protect the faith and honour of the persecuted and the down trodden. He is called Hind-di-chaddar or sheild of India. The guru was borne in Amritsar in 1621 and named Tyagmal. The name Teg Bahadur,"mighty of sword" was given to him by his father, Guru Hargobind, after he fought with Valour against the Mughals.
Aurangzeb's seized power in 1658 after executing liberal minded brother, Dara Shukoh. Aurangzeb had perceived India as an Islamic Theocracy and sought to convert Hindus to Islam. He decided to begin conversions with the Kashmere Pundits.
In a desperate bit to save their community, Kashmere Pundits led by Pundit Kripa Ram visited Guru Teg Bahadur at Anandpur requesting him to protect their faith. The compassionate Guru heard their request and said "these atrocities can only be stopped with supreme sacrifice of a Mahapurush" and so it was the guru decided to step in knowing fully that he might have to pay with his life. He asked the Kashmere Pundits to tell Aurangzeb that if he could convert guru Teg Bahadur, they would all convert. On hearing this, Aurangzeb had the guru imprisoned and brought to Delhi.
The Mughal first killed his companions captured with him, hoping it would force him into compliance. The Guru witnessed the savagery with Divine calm. When he still could not be persuaded to abandon his faith, he was asked to perform miracle to prove his divinity. The Guru refused and was beheaded at the spot where the Sis Ganj Gurudwara now stands.
Aurangzeb's seized power in 1658 after executing liberal minded brother, Dara Shukoh. Aurangzeb had perceived India as an Islamic Theocracy and sought to convert Hindus to Islam. He decided to begin conversions with the Kashmere Pundits.
In a desperate bit to save their community, Kashmere Pundits led by Pundit Kripa Ram visited Guru Teg Bahadur at Anandpur requesting him to protect their faith. The compassionate Guru heard their request and said "these atrocities can only be stopped with supreme sacrifice of a Mahapurush" and so it was the guru decided to step in knowing fully that he might have to pay with his life. He asked the Kashmere Pundits to tell Aurangzeb that if he could convert guru Teg Bahadur, they would all convert. On hearing this, Aurangzeb had the guru imprisoned and brought to Delhi.
The Mughal first killed his companions captured with him, hoping it would force him into compliance. The Guru witnessed the savagery with Divine calm. When he still could not be persuaded to abandon his faith, he was asked to perform miracle to prove his divinity. The Guru refused and was beheaded at the spot where the Sis Ganj Gurudwara now stands.
