The Great Sacrafice

The Wonderous 1
Jul 1
5 min read

Updated: 4 days ago

The pure belongs to the ‘Wonderous Enlightener'. The victory belongs to the ‘Wonderous Enlightener’.

Continued...

Some sources mention that the Mughals tried different ways to torture Guru Tegh Bahadar Ji but still failed in their attempts to shake his faith. After all efforts to persuade Guru Ji to submit were unsuccessful, ‘Nauranga’ was in rage. He reminded himself continuously how he could not have his way with Guru Ji. He then sent two personnel to give Guru Ji his last ultimatum. The first choice was to accept ‘Islam’. If Guru Ji did not to embrace ‘Islam’, the second choice was to show a miracle (to prove his divine power). If Guru Ji declined the previous two choices, the third option was to accept death. The emperor even presented his daughter before Guru Ji and offered her hand in marriage. Alongside countless other luxuries, Aurangzeb stated that if Guru Ji accepted ‘Islam’, the Mughal empire will accept him as a ‘Peer’ (religious leader) and the entire country would give him obedience as the most superior spiritual leader.

However, Guru Ji (who seemed unaffected by the confinement in the cage), happily justified his final answer. Guru Ji replied “all the enticements that you have offered me do not interest me even the slightest. I will keep my faith and never surrender my principles. ‘Chavgatha’ (Aurangzeb’s surname) is a fool who is talking nonsense. He is an imposter to the world, a sinner and has no honour. Showing a miracle just to save my life before tyrants like him would be equivalent to committing a grave sin. God’s people never have the desire to indulge in miracles because it is like a magician who shows the instant transformation of things just to impress people. Such actions do not please me, hence I have no desire for them in my heart. How can one sit amongst God’s people, without shame of delving in such ‘people pleasing’ acts? For this reason, I decline both your options to ‘stay alive’ and I would rather endure death on my body. Even if you try a million times to persuade me or to befriend me. Even if you repeatidly ask me a million times, I will still choose to protect the beliefs of the country and there is nothing that will alter my morals.”

As a result, the ‘Kazi’ (Islamic Judge) announced the punishment of beheading Guru Tegh Bahadar Ji (as death was Guru Ji's choice of peaceful sacrifice). After hearing the sentence, Guru Ji challenged the emperor to bring the most powerful person and the sharpest blade for this execution, but even then the sword of injustice would fall blunt to affect him. Guru Ji wanted to prove that the ‘Mughals’ may have had the most superior sword, but at the end of the day it represented tyranny and would never be sharp enough to cut the faith of the righteous. As the emperor was informed of Guru Ji’s decision, he ordered his treasurer to bring the highest value blade in their collection. He wanted the sharpest sword, made from ‘Wootz’ steel and created in the cities of ‘Halab/Junab (in Turkey) to be brought for this task. He also chose an executioner who was extremely strong and had the most advanced knowledge of using swords. He had long sturdy arms which was appealing to the emperor for this task. His name is recorded as ‘Jalalu Deen’ in some sources, who was from the city of ‘Samana’.

Meanwhile, with the fear of the Mughals in his heart, a Sikh named Jaita came to visit Guru Ji. He travelled as quick as possible to meet Guru Ji and expressed how he had heard of Guru Ji’s confinement in a cage. According to some sources, Jaita 'Ji’ was one of the three Sikhs that had escaped prison but as he heard of the strict detention Guru Ji was kept in, he returned back to Guru Ji. However, other sources suggest that he was in jail all along with Guru Ji and never had a desire to ever leave. Either way, he was in Delhi at the time and ’Gurpartap Sooraj Parkash’ describes how he travelled extremely fast to see Guru Ji out of pure love. Guru Ji explained to him how the last moments for Guru Ji’s body had approached. This ‘Sikh’ was instructed by Guru Ji stay close to the jail during the execution as Guru Ji’s head would enter his ‘Jholi’. A ‘Jholi’ can be understood in a few ways: making a pouch out of one’s (long) garments, pouching sheets of fabric together or can even be defined as a small sack. Guru Ji instructed ‘Jaita’ Ji to be fearless and avoid wasting any time as soon as he made contact with Guru Ji’s head. The ‘Sikh’ was to start his journey back to ‘Anandpur Sahib’ so that the cremation of the head could be safely conducted there.

After hearing these words from Guru Ji, the ‘Sikh’ broke down into tears and could not believe what he was being told by Guru Ji. Nearby in service was also ‘Gurditta Ji’ who expressed how he will not be able to bear the separation from his Guru and will die quickly after. After listening to his words, Guru Ji instructed him to travel 5 ‘Khoh’ (2.75 miles) to a place where he would safely breathe his last breath. ‘Bhai Budha Ji’ also once stayed at that place when he stopped to feed the animals that carried his group to visit the fort of ‘Gwalior’ (whilst Guru Hargobind Ji was imprisoned there).

Once the news spread that Guru Ji would be executed, thousands of people gathered in the ‘Chandni Chowk’ market to see what would unfold. Guru Ji was given time to perform his last acts of worship before making his way to the spot where he would be martyred. As his cage door was opened and Guru Ji exited the prison, he walked down the big steps of the jail to first bathe using water from a nearby well and started to recite the ‘Jap Ji Sahib' scripture. Noteworthy is that this well still exists within the ‘Sis Ganj’ Gurdwara, present day Delhi, India. Guru Ji then sat under a ‘Bohar’ (banyan tree) whilst continuing to recite Jap Ji Sahib’. This tree was still green until 1930, but soon dried out when the new memorial of ‘Sis Ganj’ began construction. As one ‘Gharri’ (24 minutes) had passed after noon, Guru Ji bowed his head for the completion of the scripture. As Guru Ji raised his head again, the executioner struck his sword to his best ability.

Guru Tegh Bahadar Ji’s head separated from his body and this event was witnessed by many people on Thursday, the 5^th ‘Thith’ of the month ‘Maghar’ in the year 1675. Guru Tegh Bahadar Ji remained steadfast and loyal to his promise and sacrificed himself for not only the country, and it’s people, but for the entire world – for all of humanity!

To be continued...

The pure belongs to the ‘Wonderous Enlightener. The victory belongs to the ‘Wonderous Enlightener’.

References:

1. Guru Granth Sahib Ji

2. Sant Gurbachan Singh - (Katha) 'Shaheedi Saka of Guru Tegh Bahadar Ji' (Parts 1 & 2) 3.Thakur Das - Shaheed Bilas

4. Kavi Santokh Singh - Gurpartap Sooraj Parkash

5. Kahan Singh (Nabha) - Mahan Kosh

6. Giani Pinderpal Singh - (Katha) 'Jeevan Katha Ate Shahadat Guru Tegh Bahadar Ji'

7. Bhatt Vahi

8. Alphabet.Inc - Google

9. Dr Sukhpreet S - (Lectures) 'Guru Tegh Bahadar Ji'

10. Sant Kartar Singh - (Katha) 'Shaheedi Guru Tegh Bahadar Ji'