Guru Tegh Bahadur

Guru Tegh Bahadur was the ninth Sikh Guru from 1664 to 1675. He was one of the ten founders of Sikhism. He was the champion of religious freedom for all. He fought in and won the Battle of Kartarpur against the Mughals when he was just 13 years old. His father gave him the name Tegh Bahadur, which means fearless, in recognition of his bravery. He was beheaded in 1675 by Aurangzeb.

In this article, we will read about Guru Tegh Bahadur, his early life, his journey to becoming a Sikh Guru, and his legacy in detail.

Who was Guru Tegh Bahadur?

Guru Tegh Bahadur was the ninth Sikh Guru from 1664 to 1675. There were a total of ten Sikh gurus who founded Sikhism. He was born in Amritsar on April 1st, 1621. He became a Guru on April 16th, 1664. He was beheaded in 1675 by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. He was a fearless warrior and a learned scholar and poet. He wrote several hymns which are included in the Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred text of the Sikhs.

Early Life of Guru Tegh Bahadur

Guru Tegh Bahadur was born on April 1st, 1621 in Amritsar. He was the youngest son of his parents Mata Nanki and Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh guru. His original name was Tyag Mal, which meant the master of renunciation. As a young boy, Tegh Bahadur was proficient in Gurmukhi, Hindi, Sanskrit, and Indian religious philosophy. He was also well-trained in archery, swordsmanship, and horse riding.

At the young age of 13 years, he took part in the Battle of Kartarpur against the Mughals and emerged victorious. Due to his bravery, his father bestowed upon him the name of Tegh Bahadur, which meant the fearless. He got married to Mata Gujri in Kartarpur in 1632. Their son Guru Gobind Singh became the tenth and the last Sikh guru.

Guru Tegh Bahadur’s Journey of Becoming a Sikh Guru

In the 1640s, Tegh Bahadur with his wife and parents moved to Bakala, his ancestral village. After the passing of his father, Tegh Bahadur remained to stay in the village. When the eighth Sikh Guru, Guru Har Kishan passed away, he said that the next Sikh Guru would be from Bakala.

According to popular myth, it was Makhan Singh, a wealthy trader, who found out that Tegh Bahadur would be the ninth Sikh guru. Makhan Singh had prayed to God stating that if his ship landed safely he would donate 500 gold coins to the Sikh guru. Out of all the contenders, it was only Tegh Bahadur who caught Makhan Singh’s lie when he gave 2 gold coins instead of 500. This proved to Makhan Singh that Tegh Bahadur was the next Sikh guru.

Guru Tegh Bahadur had created 116 hymns and all of them were included in the Guru Granth Sahib, the main text of the Sikhs by his son. The topics covered in these hymns were spiritual topics related to the mind, body, and soul.

Guru Tegh Bahadur travelled extensively throughout India to propagate Sikhism and preach the teachings of Guru Nanak. In one of his travels he founded the city of Anandpur Sahib, in Ropar district of Punjab.

Execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur

During Guru Tegh Bahadur’s tenure Aurangzeb was the Mughal emperor and there was a rise in atrocities against the Hindus. The Hindus were oppressed and their temples were destroyed. They were also removed from their government jobs and forced to convert to Islam.

Aurangzeb then decided to convert the Kashmiri Pandits to Islam as he felt that they had a large number of followers who would also convert to Islam. A delegation of Pandits went to Guru Tegh Bahadur and asked for his help. The Guru proclaimed that if the Mughal emperor was successful in converting the Guru to Islam, then the Kashmiri Pandits would follow suit.

After a number of unsuccessful attempts to convert Guru Tegh Bahadur to Islam, Aurangzeb decided to execute him. On November 24th, 1675, Guru Tegh Bahadur was publicly beheaded in Chandni Chowk.

Legacy of Guru Tegh Bahadur

After the execution, Guru Tegh Bahadur’s severed head was cremated in Anandpur Sahib by his son Guru Gobind Singh. Guru’s body was carried to a nearby hut which was then set on fire to conceal the cremation of his body.

A number of gurudwaras were built in remembrance of Guru Tegh Bahadur. The Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib was constructed in Chandni Chowk at the location of the execution. Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib was constructed near the location of the hut which was the cremation site of the body of Guru Tegh Bahadur. Gurudwara Sisganj Sahib in Anandpur, Punjab was constructed at the site where the severed head of Guru Tegh Bahadur was cremated.

Summary – Guru Tegh Bahadur

Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru from 1664 to 1675, was born in Amritsar on April 1st, 1621. Known for his bravery and commitment to religious freedom, he became Guru in 1664. At a young age, he won the Battle of Kartarpur against the Mughals, earning the name Tegh Bahadur, meaning fearless. His journey included extensive travels to spread Sikhism’s teachings, and he founded the city of Anandpur Sahib. During his tenure, the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb oppressed Hindus, leading Guru Tegh Bahadur to protect Kashmiri Pandits from forced conversion to Islam. Refusing to convert himself, he was publicly beheaded on November 24, 1675. His legacy is commemorated in gurudwaras, including Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib and Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib. His severed head was cremated in Anandpur Sahib, and his body’s cremation was concealed by setting a nearby hut on fire.

FAQs on Guru Tegh Bahadur

Who is Guru Tegh Bahadur?

Guru Tegh Bahadur was the ninth Sikh Guru from 1664 to 1675. There were a total of ten Sikh gurus who founded Sikhism. He was born in Amritsar on April 1st, 1621. He became guru on April 16th, 1664. He was beheaded in 1675 by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

How did Guru Tegh Bahadur die?

Guru Tegh Bahadur the ninth Sikh guru was executed by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. This led to his death on 24th November, 1675. The reason for his death was that he refused to convert to Islam while protecting the Kashmiri Pandits.

What is Guru Tegh Bahadur famous for?

Guru Tegh Bahadur is famous for being the ninth Sikh guru from 1664 to 1675. Along with that he is also famous for the creation of the city Anadpur Sahib in Punjab.

How did Guru Tegh Bahadur save Hinduism?

Guru Tegh Bahadur chose to defend Kashmiri Pandits from forced conversion to Islam. He declared that the Kashmiri Pandits will convert to Islam if the Mughal emperor was successful in converting the Guru. On November 24, 1675, Guru Tegh Bahadur was put to death by Aurangzeb following several failed attempts to convert him to Islam. Thus, Guru Tegh Bahadur sacrificed his life to preserve Hinduism.

Who built Anandpur Sahib?

The city of Anandpur Sahib, in the Ropar district of Punjab, was created by the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur.