HIND DI CHADAR
Black clouds reverberated, whirlpool of storm took a ferocious turn when GURUJI’s severed head was being carried away by a devoted Sikh to Anandpur Sahib, as he was executed on the orders of the sixth Mughal Emperor. The Martyrdom was no small happening. It was something of immense magnitude and of immense consequence.
The whole world Bemoaned
the departure of Guru Tegh Bahadur.
Whole world raised an uproar of lamentation,
whereas the gods hailed his arrival in heaven.
‘HIND DI CHADAR’
Guru Tegh Bahadurji sacrificed his life for Hindustan. His supreme sacrifice saved the country from being digressed to some other path, otherwise today the present Hindustan would have been a different country altogether. A true supporter of humanity , protector of the weak led a path of righteousness, against tyranny and oppression. Owing to the supreme sacrifice of Guru Tegh Bahadur the present generation is a part of diverse religions and communities living under one roof with all constitutional rights.
Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded for not accepting Islam, he was bribed with jewels and biggest Harem in India, the guru laughed, and the walls of the court tremored with his laughter as he was never attached to luxuries and comforts but only believed in the true law of nature. The Mughal emperor was aghast and asked the Guru to perform a miracle in the court to which he quoted that ‘the creation of this universe is itself a miracle, what other miracle could be performed by a human’.
Guru Tegh Bahadur, the youngest son of Guru Har Gobind was a prolific and versatile writer, who contributed 116 Shabads, 15 Ragas, and his bhagats are credited with 782 compositions that are a part of Bani in The Guru Granth Sahib. In the first six years of Pontificate, Guru Tegh Bahadur travelled more than any of his predecessors after Guru Nanak. From Tyag Mal to Guru Tegh Bahadur, he was given this title by his father, when he won the battle of Kartarpur, who sloshed his sword left and right. He spent most of his life in Meditation as he was sent to Baba Bakala by his father. He was pontified as guru by Makhan Shah, a trader who announced with joy ‘Guru Ladho Re’, (found the true guru) whereas Guru was totally engrossed in Contemplation of God. Guru believed in the theory of forgiveness: he forgave the swindlers and imposters who sat as Guru, he said, ‘Anger makes a man mad and makes him do evil deeds. So, forgive the sinner’.
The guru started preaching in Kartarpur and travelled widely to far-off places in India like Bihar, Bengal and Assam and on return the guru bought a site, on a payment of Rs 500, on the mound of Makhowal, Guru Tegh Bahadur ordained that a city be constructed. The original name Chakh Nanki and later known as Anandpur Sahib. After returning from east Guruji settled at Anandpur Sahib, the ‘City of Bliss ‘. It was in Anandpur Sahib that the Brahmins especially the Kashmiri Pandits approached the guru and told their tales of woe to Guru Sahib and requested him to protect their honour and faith. Guru sahib agreed to resist the nefarious activities of forcible conversions by the Mughal Emperor.
Guru Gobind Singh recorded his father’s martyrdom with these words:
Theekar fore dilees sir, Prabh par kiyo payan,
Tegh Bahadur Si kriya,Kari na kinhoo aan.
Tegh Bahadur ke chalat, Bhayo jagat main sog
Hai hai hai sab jag bhayo, jai jai sur log.
Guru Tegh Bahadur’s teachings are of immense significance even in contemporary times. His Gurbani elevates the human mind and imbues it with hope. I conclude with the bani of Guru Tegh Bahadur ‘ Guru Tegh Bahadur Simiraye, ghar nau nidh awai thai, Sab thai hoe Sahai’.
(Remembering the bani of Guru Tegh bahadur, we bring hope and resilience as God is always omnipresent)’ I pray that I stay on the path of my guru and always be blessed with his words of wisdom.
Gaganjit Kaur