Teg Bahaadur sii kriaa karii na kin-huun aan — A deed similar to Teg Bahadur, none else can ever do”
On the night of the 23rd of the month of Har in 1635, Tyag Mal, a young Sikh lad of 14 years was ready with his sword unsheathed. He, along with 1800 valiant Sikhs stood guarding the village of Kartarpur in Punjab, vehemently led by the sixth Sikh guru, Tyag Mal’s father — Guru Hargobind. They were anticipating an attack from the Mughals, and lo, in no time, 20,000 soldiers of the imperial Mughal army thronged the village. Under the basalt-black sky, gleaming lances clinked and clashed. With one sword and lots of passion, Tyag Mal displayed extraordinary valor. His mother Nanaki swelled with pride as she watched her son vanquish enemy troops. The Sikh army emerged decisively victorious in the battle. Tyag Mal, on account of his display of undaunted spirit in the battle, was bestowed upon a new name by his father and guru — Tegh Bahadur — might of the sword.
The gurus of the lineage hadn’t always carried weapons. It was after the execution of the fifth guru, Guru Arjan (Guru Tegh Bahadur’s grandfather) that his son Guru Hargobind initiated the militarization of the Sikhs. He held two swords — Piri and Miri, symbolizing Bhakti and Shakti. They said, “Arms mean protection to the poor and destruction of the tyrant.”
Much as he was a fierce warrior, ready to move the worlds for the sake of Dharma, he was withdrawn from worldly pleasures and spent much time in meditation and contemplation. Observers described him as ‘Externally a prince and internally a hermit’. Even as a child and a young boy, he delighted in solitude. He said, “Jis ki deg us ki teg” (one who is charitable commands the sword) and preferred the name ‘Deg Bahadur’, on account of his constant patronage of the Langar.
He was under the tutorship of Bhai Buddha and was trained in Shaastras (Vedas, Upanishads, and Puranas), Shastravidya (Archery and horsemanship), and other subjects like music and arithmetic.
His life and travels
In 1644, when Tegh Bahadur was 23, Guru Hargobind departed from the mortal world. He left with Mata Nanaki his weapons, including the famous sword having the engraving of Devi Kali, to be passed on to Tegh Bahadur when he became the Guru later. With his wife Gurjari and his mother, Tegh Bahadur lived in the village of Bakala for 26 years. He spent his time in worship and prayer. It was during this time that he undertook a pilgrimage for seven years, to various shrines in Kurukshetra, Gaya, Varanasi, Haridwar, and Prayagraj.
In 1664, following the death of the eighth guru, Bal Guru Har Krishan, chaos descended on the community as many people claimed to be the next guru. Makhan Shah, a wealthy merchant who set out on a quest for the ninth guru based on a silent promise. Inevitably, having found Tegh Bahadur and convinced that he was indeed the true guru, he cried “Guru ladho re, Guru ladho re”. Thus, the tilak ceremony was performed and Guru Tegh Bahadur occupied the Gurugaddi.
In the year 1665, he once again set out for a pilgrimage with his family and followers. By this time the Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb had already started to become vary of Guru Teg Bahadur. Taking advantage of this, the guru’s enemies and usurpers to the gaddi, Dhir Mal and Ram Rai got the guru arrested by Aurangazeb. Raja Ram Singh, who represented Guru Tegh Bahadur in the court, pleaded his innocence, stood as a surety, allowing the Guru to continue on the pilgrimage.
They went to Mathura, Vrindavan, Etwah and reached Prayagraj, where he took sacred dips and performed charity. It was here, that a very joyous moment occurred, as his son, Gobind Das (the future Guru Gobind Singh) was born when Guru Tegh Bahadur was 45 years old. From Gaya, Guru Tegh Bahadur proceeded to Assam, on the behest of Raja Ram Singh, where he played his part in mediating peace during the famed Assam-Mughal wars.
As he started his return journey to Punjab, Raja Ram Singh gifted to him bearer cheques worth seven lakh rupees. With these, the Guru later started the construction of the beautiful city of Anandpur.
His teachings and compositions
Guru Tegh Bahadur’s compositions deeply reflect his vast knowledge and his spiritual experience. Evincing the traditions of Sanatani philosophy and the transcendental knowledge of Vedanta, his hymns talk about the view of mind, consciousness, cosmos, civilization, Self, and Brahman, they provide true answers to ultimate Reality. He composed 59 Padas and 57 Sholkas that are part of the Guru Granth Sahib.
He warns the men about maya thusly :
O man, grasp this Truth firmly in your soul. The whole world is just like a dream; it will pass away in an instant. Like a wall of sand, built up and plastered with great care, which does not last even a few days, just so are the pleasures of Maya. Why are you entangled in them, you ignorant fool?
In the Raag Sorath, he expounds on the nature of God:
In this Dark Age of Kali Yuga, the Name of the One Lord is the treasure of mercy; chanting it, one obtains salvation. No other dharma is comparable to this; so speak the Vedas. He is beyond pain and pleasure, forever unattached; He is called the Lord of the world. He dwells deep within your inner self, O Nanak, like the image in a mirror.
Resonating the essence of Mahavakyas of the Upanishads, he says:
They say that the body is a temple, revering it as the manifest form of the deity Leave off the ritual remains of ignorance, O wise one, and worship the “Soham” (I am That).
Further, his words relay profound wisdom about Vairagya. In the Raag Gauri, he tells:
Holy Sadhus: forsake the pride of your mind. Sexual desire, anger and the company of evil people — run away from them, day and night. One who knows that pain and pleasure are both the same, and honor and dishonor as well, who remains detached from joy and sorrow, realizes the true essence in the world. Renounce both praise and blame; seek instead the state of Nirvana. O servant Nanak, this is such a difficult game; only a few Gurmukhs understand it!
His martyrdom and legacy
In the second half of the seventeenth century, as the Mughal empire grew in size and power and the Emperor pressed to complete his regime of totalitarianism and bigotry. Aurangzeb’s regime was continuously blemished with zealous acts of religious persecution. His bigotry dominated the formulation of state policies — destruction of and forbidding the repair of temples and Hindu schools, imposition of discriminatory taxes, and prejudice in public services among others. In short, the fanaticism of Aurangzeb had reached its height and various regions of India rose to rebel.
When afflicted parties implored Guru Tegh Bahadur on the issue of religious persecution, he decided to confront it. In 1675, Aurangzeb sought to eliminate what he considered his threat, and issued a warrant to arrest Guru Teg Bahadur. On about 11th November, the Guru watched his followers and fellow arrestees — Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das and Bhai Dayal Das be executed in the most barbaric and gruesome manner. The next day, guruji was executed in the site which is today marked by the Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Chandni Chowk.
He was given a choice. If he apostatize, his life would be spared. But Guru Tegh Bahadur refused to bow down. He said-
Tin te suni Siri Tegh Bahadar Dharam nibaahani bikhai Bahadar Uchatar bhano dharam hum Hindu Ati priya ko kim karahi nikandu Lok parlok bikhai sukhdani Aan na paiyati jaanahi samaani
Listen All! Said Tegh Bahadur: Those who stick to their Dharma are called brave. I know my Hindu Dharma to be the best. How can I forsake that which is very dear to me? It gives immense joy in this world and the next. Even life is trivial compared to honour.
Hundreds of years later, the story of the life of Guru Tegh Bahadur continues to be told as one of Dharma, honour and high ideals. His supreme sacrifice is today, a symbol of resistance against religious intolerance. He gave up his life for truth, justice and righteousness. While he left his mortal body, his ideas and teachings ushered a new era in Indian history. Shining through the pages of history, Guru Tegh Bahadur was one such son of the soil whose name shall be remembered and whose anecdotes will be recited for years to come. This concluding verses of Guru Gobind Singh beautifully captures his legacy and echoes his life and greatest sacrifice:
Teg Bahaadur ke chalat bhayo jagat ko sok Hai hai hai sabh jag bhayo jai jai jai sur lok
With the departure of Tegh Bahadur the world was full of grief. Hai Hai Hai (sighs of sorrow) filled the entire world while Jai Jai Jai (shouts of victory and joy) filled the realm of the Devas (Heaven)
