Vol. 01 No. 08 Page 23 www.desitribune.

org California Monday 01 December, 2008

Hind Di Chadar :
Shri Guru Teg Bahadur
Guru Tegh Bahadur (1 April 1621 11 November 1675) became the 9th Guru of Sikhism on March 20,
1665, following in the footsteps of his grand-nephew, Guru Har Krishan. Guru Tegh Bahadur was
executed on the orders of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in Delhi.
Guru Tegh Bahadur was the youngest of the five sons of Guru Har Gobind. He was born in Amritsar
in the early hours of April 1st, 1621. The name Tegh Bahadur (mighty of the sword), was given to him by
Guru Hargobind after he had shown his valour in a battle with the Mughals.
Amritsar at that time was the centre of Gursikh faith. Under Guru Hargobind, it had become even
more renowned. By virtue of being seat of the Guru and by its connection with the Sikhs in far flung areas
of the country through the chains of masands it had developed the characteristics of a state capital.
Tegh Bahadur was brought up in the most approved Sikh style. He was trained in the arts of archery
and horsemanship and taught old classics. He is taken to be of deep mystical temperament with his
prolonged spells of seclusion and contemplation.
He was given great affection by his father, Guru Hargobind, and was often seated by the latter by his
side. Guru Hargobind remarked that Tegh Bahadur can suffer what no other can, his forbearance
unsurpassed.
Tegh Bahadur was married on February 4, 1633 , with Gujri.
Nearing his end, Guru Hargobind asked Nanaki, mother of Tegh Bahadur, to go and live in the village
of Bakala. She departed with Tegh Bahadur and Gujri to make home in Bakala, which was the native pace
of the mother of the Sixth Guru.

333th Martyrdom Day - Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji

November24

“Dharam Het Saaka Jin Keeya ; Sees Diaa Par Sirar Naa Deeya”
This year, the World observed the 333th Shaheedi Diwas [Martyrdom] of 9th Guru of Sikhs, Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji.
Importance:-
The Delhi Emperor, Aurangzeb always treasured the ambition of converting India into a land of Islam. This
philosophy was also pleaded by Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi (1569-1624), leader of the Naqashbandi School, to counter the
liberal policies of Akbar's reign.
The Emperor carried out its first experiment in Kashmir. The viceroy of Kashmir, Iftikar Khan (1671-75) carried out
the policy vigorously and set about converting non-Muslims by force.
A group of Kashmiri Pandits approached Guru Tegh Bahadur and asked for help. They, on the advice of the Guru,
told the Mughal authorities that they would willingly accept Islam if their Guru, Tegh Bahadur, did the same.
Orders of the arrest of the Guru were issued by Aurangzeb, who was in present day North West Frontier Province of Kashmiri pandits meeting Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji
Pakistan subduing Pushtun revolt. The Guru was arrested at a place called Malikhpur near Anandpur after he had
departed from Anandpur for Delhi. Before departing he nominated his son, Gobind Rai (Guru Gobind Singh) as the next Sikh Guru. He was arrested, along with some of his followers, by Nur
Muhammad Khan of the Rupnagar police post at the village Malikhpur Rangharan, in Ghanaula Parganah, and sent to Sirhind the following day. The Faujdar (Governor) of Sirhind, Dilawar Khan,
ordered him to be detained in Bassi Pathana and reported the news to Delhi. His arrest was made in July 1675 and he was kept in custody for over three months. He was then cast in an iron cage
and taken to Delhi in November 1675. The Guru was put in chains and ordered to be tortured until he would accept Islam. When he could not be persuading to abandon his faith to save himself from
persecution, he was asked to perform some miracles to prove his divinity. On his refusal, Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded in public at Chandni Chowk on November 11, 1675. Guru Ji is also
known as “Hind Di Chadar” ie to save hinduism , Guru Ji gave his life.
Guru Gobind Singh has written about the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur in Bachitra Natak:
“Tilak Janjhu Rakha Prabh Taaka ; Keeno Bado Kaloo Maih Saaka”
“Guru Tegh bahadur was the protector of the tilak (ointment) and janeu (sacred thread) of the Hindus. In the land of the gods rang shouts of high regard.”
Guru Tegh Bahadur was martyred in Delhi by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. The Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Chandni Chowk, Delhi, was built over where the Guru was beheaded, and
Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, also in Delhi, is built on the site of the residence of Lakhi Shah Vanjara, a disciple of the Guru, who burnt his house in order to cremate the Guru's body.

Punjab Governor remembers Guru Teg Bahadur ji
CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Governor and Administrator, Union Territory, Chandigarh,
Gen. (Retd.) S.F. Rodrigues, in his message on the occasion of Shaheedi Divas of Sri Guru
Teg Bahadur Ji, called upon the people to follow the high ideals of secularism, humanism and
spirit of sacrifice, preached and practiced by Hind Di Chaddar, the ninth Guru.
General Rodrigues said that Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji laid down his life to protect the right
of freedom of worship and for preserving human and secular values. He said that Guru Ji's
supreme sacrifice is unique and un-paralleled in the history of mankind and symbolized the
triumph of good over evil. The Vani of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji in Sri Guru Granth Sahib
shows the path of oneness of mankind, universal brotherhood, courage and compassion.
Our real homage to the great Guru would be to follow his message, in letter and spirit, and to
re-dedicate ourselves to serve society, especially poor and downtrodden, with devotion and
dedication, rising above considerations of caste, creed and religion. General Rodrigues
appealed to the people to participate collectively in the observance of this occasion, in a spirit
of harmony, social cohesion and to contribute to the unity and integrity of our Country.
Punjab CM callS upon people to follow teachings of
Guru Teg Bahadur ji
CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal called upon the people
to follow the high ideals of secularism, humanism and spirit of sacrifice as preached and
practiced by 'Hind Di Chaadar' - the ninth Guru Sri Guru Teg Bahadur ji.
In his message on the occasion of Shaheedi Divas of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur ji, the Chief
Minister said that Guru ji laid down his life to protect the right of freedom to worship and
preserve human and secular values. He said: "Guru ji's supreme sacrifice is unique and un-
paralleled in the history of mankind and symbolized the crusade against tyranny and
oppression". The Bani of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur ji in Sri Guru Granth Sahib preaches
oneness of mankind, universal brotherhood, valour, righteousness and compassion. "Our
real homage to the great Guru would be to follow his teachings in true spirit and re-dedicate
ourselves to serve society especially the poor and downtrodden with dedication and
missionary zeal rising above the petty considerations of caste, colour, creed and religion",
said Mr. Badal.