Guru Teg Bahadurji

Today on this auspicious day a son was born to Guru Hargobind ji at Amritsar in 1621. He was youngest son and when Guru ji came to see he named him Teg Bahadur – mighty of the sword and also predicted that this boy will one day do something extraordinary. Consolidation of Sikhism under stressfull watch of Moguls was carried forward by Guru Hargobind ji and he maintain a very cool posture but Amritsar had become dangerous place to live because of the continuous interefernce and small skirmishes of the Mogul Subedar of Lahore. Guru Hargobindji settled a new township of Kiratpur on the foothill of mountains where his family could live peacefully. The proclaimed Miri-Piri also needed consolidation and all his sons needed training in archery and horsemen ship in the tranquil atmosphere of Kiratpur. Services of Baba Budhaji ji to give training in archery and horsemanship were taken and Bhai Gurdas in literature and poetry. Teg Bahadur showed mastery in both and he became the favourite son of Guru ji. The superb poetry of Guru Teg Bahadurji is documented in Guru Granth Sahib where his mastery over language and his compassion for humanity is best expressed. He was very mystical and needed lot of seclusion for contemplations and this helped him to grow an extreme will power and inner strength.  Mother Nanaki was perplexed with the behavior of Teg Bahadur because he had no interests in the worldly matters and never helped in household matters. He was always in meditation so mata Nanaki asked Guru ji about this and he answered: I will unlock the mystery for you. Teg Bahadur can suffer what none other can. His forbearance has no parallels and he is master of many virtues. None other is there like him in the world. A son will be born to him who will excel both in velour and compassion and he will finish the foe and bring glory to the House of Nanak.

Guru Teg Bahadur ji spent a large part of his youth in Baba Bakala, his grandmother’s village. He secluded himself from the world. When eighth Guru Harkishan died he indicated Bakala where Guru will be found. The Sikhs searched and there were many pretenders who wanted to become Guru but the search ended with Makhan Shah seafarer’s declaration that he has found the true Guru. Once Teg Bahadur took the responsibility of the house of Nanak he also took up the mission to travel to all those places where Guru Nanak had left his foot prints and set up the mission. After Guru Nanak, Gur Teg Bahadurji was the most traveled Guru with Sikhism mission. He was in Dacca now in Bangladesh when he heard of the Auranzeb’s mission of converting whole of India to Islam by forcing Brahmins to convert.  He returned to Anandpur sahib when Kashmiri Brahmins came for solution to the problem of conversion. Guru ji sat in contemplation when 9 year old Gobind asked for his sitting so quietly. Guru ji said: “grave are the burdens the earth bears. She will be redeemed if a truly worthy person comes forward to lay down his head. Distress then will be expunged and happiness ushered in.” Gobind said:”none will be worthier then yourself to make such a noble sacrifice.” He was happy to hear such brave answer and solution. He confirmed his answer and told the Brahmin visitors to send the message,” if Auranzeb can convert the convert the Sikh Guru to Islam, they will all embrace Islam.”

His challenge was accepted and his resolution became stronger. His companions were tortured to death before his eyes but he remained strong and was beheaded in Chandni Chowk Delhi. His sacrifice to save the religion of Indians and save the human rights remains unparallel in History. He is called the Hind ki Chadar because of his protective sheet the right to confess to your belief was prevailed and new sentiment of hatred for Emperor arose and Auranzeb left Delhi for Deccan never to come back. The conversion dictate was held back and Hindustan saved from savagery of the Moguls.

Lakh lakh wadhayian on the birth of this great son of soil.