The Beheading of Guru Tegh Bahadur: Difference between revisions

The Beheading of Guru Tegh Bahadur

The Emperor Aurangzeb who had seen to the death of his brother and arrest of his father had been raised and educated by the fundamentalist ulema who had long been ignored by his more liberal predecessors. His brother Dara Shikoh had been raised by the Sufis and exposed to the more the more universal side of Islam which, though its aim was still to see everyone in the world submit to Islam, they sought to accomplish their goal by peaceful means. The Sikhs and Hindus were on good terms with the Sufis, but Aurangzeb returned the hated Jizia-a tax which took 60% of everthing from the Sikh and Hindu farmers.

Aurangzeb had decided that he would change India into a land where sharia would rule. He had decided that Islam would be the only religion of India. He would allow no new Hindu temples to be built and he gave orders that many be torn down and replaced by Mosques. A plan was hatched to force the respected Kashmiri Panditss to accept Islam, it was thought that if they converted, the rest of the Hindus would follow. They were told that they would accept or be put to the sword. Records of the time record that some of the Pandits made a pilgrimage to Amarnath to thecave with the lingham of Shiva. Their they had a vision of Shiva who told them to travel to see Guru Tegh Bahadur. Guru Tegh Bahadur was the ninth in the line of Guru Nanak and lived at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, Northern India. They resolved to go to him and ask for his protection.

After a long and hard Journey, they arrived at the Guru's court. They told him their sad story. They said, "Your very name has the power to bring comfort to those in need. The purpose of your life is to protect religion. Please help us to save our faith."

As the Guru sat silently absorbed with their request, his son, young Gobind Rai, came in and, seeing his father sitting quietly, went up to him. The Guru said nothing, but tenderly embraced the boy.

Gobind Rai said to him, "Papaji, you are so quiet. What is the matter?"

The Guru looked upon his son with compassion and said, "The Kashmiri Brahmins have come to find the holiest man in the land. If he is willing to give his life for their faith, they will be freed from the tyranny of the emperor."

The boy gazed at his father and said, "Papaji, you are the holiest in the land."

When Guru Teg Bahadur heard these words from his son, he foresaw all that was to happen.

He told the Kashmiri Brahmins to go to Delhi with a proposal for the emperor: "Guru Teg Bahadur, ninth Sikh Guru, is now seated on the throne of the great Guru Nanak. First make him a Muslim and then all the people, including ourselves, will the faith."

adopt So began the course of events which led to the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur. In the end, as he was about to be beheaded, he tied a small note on a string around his neck. With a knowing look, he told the watching crowd that he was about to perform the miracle they had all been waiting for. This string had magical powers: it would prevent the executioner from cutting off his head. Up, then down swung the executioner's axe. Off came Guru Teg Bahadur's head. When his head was severed, the note was read. It said, "I gave my head, but not my faith."

With this Sakhi it learnt the difficult lesson for all Sikhs to protect the weak, even if it means that the head has to be given. The Ninth Guru is because of this sacrifice called "The umbrella of Hindus" - 'Hind di Chader'