Guru Tegh Bahadur was executed on the orders of Aurangzeb, the sixth Mughal emperor. He sacrificed his life to protect the rights of a community that did not share his religion.
Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom Day is observed every year on November 24 (Photo credit: X/@diljitdosanjh)
New Delhi: Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth of the ten Sikh Gurus, died on November 24, 1675. The day is known as Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom Day. Tegh Bahadur was executed by Aurangzeb, the sixth Mughal emperor, in Delhi. The Sikh holy sites Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib and Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in Delhi mark the places where Guru Tegh Bahadur was executed and cremated.
Humanity owes a great debt to Guru Tegh Bahadur. He was a brave warrior, a spiritual leader and a true lover of his country.
On this day, let us look at some unknown facts about Guru Tegh Bahadur.
Guru Tegh Bahadur: Lesser-known facts about the ninth Sikh Guru
- Tegh Bahadur was born in 1621 in Amritsar, Punjab. He was the youngest son of Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh Guru.
- Tegh Bahadur was a brave warrior known for his principles. He was also a knowledgeable spiritual scholar and a poet.
- Guru Tegh Bahadur wrote 116 hymns in 15 ragas. His son, Guru Gobind Singh, included these hymns in the Guru Granth Sahib.
- He spread the message of brotherhood and religious freedom. He gave up everything for the right cause, his homeland, and the rights of people, no matter their caste or faith. That is why he received the special honour of ‘Hind Di Chadar’.
- In the 1640s, Guru Hargobind, his wife Nanaki, Guru Tegh Bahadur, and Mata Gujri moved to Bakala, Guru Hargobind’s ancestral village. After the death of Guru Hargobind, Guru Tegh Bahadur stayed in Bakala with his wife and mother.
- In 1664, Guru Har Krishan, the eighth Sikh guru, fell ill with smallpox and instructed his followers to seek his successor in Bakala. Many claimed to be the new guru, causing confusion. Baba Makhan Shah Labana, a wealthy trader, tested candidates by giving two gold coins, expecting the true guru to recall his promise of 500 coins. When he met Guru Tegh Bahadur, the guru identified the shortfall, confirming he was the genuine successor. In August 1664, the Sikh community appointed Guru Tegh Bahadur as the ninth guru, led by his brother Diwan Durga Mal.
- Guru Tegh Bahadur travelled widely in India to spread the teachings of Guru Nanak, the first Sikh guru. He visited Dhaka, Assam, Mathura, Agra, Allahabad, and Varanasi.
- Wherever he went, he shared Sikh teachings and set up community water wells and langars, or community kitchens, to help the needy. Many places he visited turned into Sikh temples. In 1664, he made three trips to Kiratpur and later founded Anandpur Sahib in the foothills of the Himalayas.
- His travels and teachings attracted many followers, including soldiers and riders opposed to the Mughals, ultimately leading to his execution in 1675.
- Guru Teg Bahadur’s spiritual legacy is found in the Guru Granth Sahib. His hymns inspire and guide, and his teachings focus on devotion, moral values, and a righteous life.
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