ABOUT SRI GURU TEGH BAHADUR SAHIB JI
Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji is the Ninth Guru of Sikhs. He was the youngest son of Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji. He was born on April 1621 at Amritsar. His mother was Bibi Nanki ji. His birth name was Tyag Mal but keeping in view his courage and bravery he was named Tegh Bahadur. At the time of eternal rest Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji bowed down saying "Baba Bakale" i.e. My successor is at Bakala.
Guru Tegh Bahadur ji meditated at Bakala for about 26 years. Bhai Makhan Shah lubana, a rich businessman, revealed him at Bakala. Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji received Guruship on 30th March 1664, when he was living at Baba Bakala.
The Mughal emperor of India Aurangzeb attempted to consolidate India into one Islamic nation. In order to achieve this aim, he set out to virtually eliminate Hinduism from India. When the ninth guru ji heard of this from a desperate group of Kashmiri Pandits, he challenged the emperor that, in order to convert all the Hindus, the Guru ji himself would have to embrace Islam. He offered to sacrifice everything for the cause of righteousness. As a result the Guru Sahib was imprisoned at the order of Aurangzeb in 1675, along with three devout Sikhs Bhai Mati Das Ji, Bhai Sati Das Ji and Bhai Dyala ji, who were arrested and martyred along with Guru Sahib Ji.
The emperor Aurangzeb gave Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji three options –
1. To embrace Islam
2. To perform Miracles
3. Be ready for Martyrdom
Finally the Guru ji preferred the last option.
He was publically Martyred at Chandni Chowk in Delhi on November 11, 1675 for being a protector of Fundamental Human Rights. Unparalleled in the history of humankind, the Martyrdom of Shi Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib ji was an act of sacrifice for another religious community.
