Guru Arjan Dev's Martyrdom(May 30 1606)
Neil Ozman
Guru Arjan Dev's Martyrdom(May 30 1606)
Chandu Shah, a Banker of Delhi, wielded a lot of influence at the Mughal
court. He was looking for a suitable groom for his daughter. He was
originally from Punjab and was keen that it should be a Punjabi youth. His
emissaries saw Hargobind, son of Guru Arjan Dev at Amritsar. Agents informed
about Hargobind to Chandu Shah. He however, had the ego of a spoiled rich
man. He couldn't imagine giving his daughter in marriage to anyone below his
status. He said "At best Arjan lives on the offerings of his followers," he
objected "he has no social or political position". So proposal was
accordingly dropped. Some Sikhs came to know about the Chandu Shah's remarks
and they conveyed them duly to the Guru. As it happened, agents continued to
search everywhere for a suitable match but couldn't find anywhere. Chandu
Shah's wife felt that Hargobind was a good match for her daughter. Chandu
Shah thus sent his agents to Guru asking them to finalize this proposal of
marriage. Guru's Sikhs wanted Guru to decline this offer and Guru obliged
his Sikhs by declining to accept the marriage asking that "Daughter of such
rich household was not fit for the house of a Saint "Dervesh" like me".
Chandu Shah could not imagine that the hand of his daughter could be refused
by anyone. In a fury of temper, he decided to avenge himself on the Guru for
the indignity hurled on him.
Chandu Shah and Guru's enemy Prithi Chand Sodhi, complained to Emperor Akbar
that Adi Granth, which Guru Arja had compiled has derogatory remarks against
Muslims and Hindus. Emperor Akbar asked for Guru Arjan. Guru Arjan send Bhai
Gurdas and Baba Buddha ji to the Mughal court along with the copy of Holy
Granth. When the holy book was opened, the first hymn written by Guru Nanak
Dev was read was
from clay and light God created the world.
the sky,the earth, trees and water are made by Him.
Emperor heard it and was fully satisfied. However, Chandu Shah complained
that Bhai Gurdas had read this hymn from memory and not from Guru Granth
Sahib, so he got someone named Sahib Dayal from Town and made him read the
granth. This time hymn was
You don't see God who dwells in your heart,
And you carry about an idol around your neck
Emperor was delighted to listen to the hymn and exonerated Arjan and Sikhs
of any wrong doings against any community. He bestowed honour of robes on
Baba Buddha and Bhai Gurdas ji and sent them back.
Akbar died soon thereafter and was replaced by his son, Prince Salim, aka
Jahangir. Jahangir was a debauched drunken, fanatic who believed in whatever
his Sunni Mullah told him. He has left his kingdom on the whims of his queen
Noorjahan and was always either drunk or hunting in wilderness. Chandu Shah
complained to Jehangir again that Granth has some derogatory references to
Islam and Hinduism. Jehangir issued orders for Guru Arjan to revise Holy
Granth and remove any references to Islam and to pay two hundred thousands
rupees as fine. The Guru told Mughal emperor Jehangir that his money was the
sacred trust of the Sikh community and the hymns in the Holy Granth were
revelation in praise of God: no one dare alter them. King was on his way to
Kashmir. He was in hurry so he asked Murtza Khan to deal with Guru in the
way he thought was best. Chandu Shah approached and poisoned his ears,
urging him to extract the fine levied by the Emperor.
Murtza khan ordered the Subader of Lahore to arrest Guru Arjan. Guru Arjan
dev ji were arrested and put in Jail at Lahore. When Sikhs heard that
Emperor wanted two hundred thousand rupees, they started collecting money to
pay the fine, Guru Arjan dev forbade them to pay the fine, citing it as
against the ethics. Meanwhile, Qazi gave an injunction ordering the Guru
Arjan to be tortured to death if he didn't agree to expunge the so-called
derogator references to Islam in Adi Granth or he converts to Islam.
Guru was made to sit on a red hot iron sheet. They poured burning hot sand
on his body. He was given a dip in boiling water. As the Guru was being
persecuted thus Mian Mir, the Muslim sufi divine of Lahore, who had laid the
foundation stone of the Golden Temple at Amritsar, came and begged the Guru
to allow him to use his mystic power to undo those who were responsible for
the Suffering inflicted upon him. The Guru heard Mian Mir and counselled
patience. He told him that one must accept the will of God; not a leaf moves
if (God doesn't ordain it. When Chandu's daughter-in-law heard about it, she
bribed the jailor and came to the prison with sherbet and other delicacies
to serve the Guru. The Guru declined to accept anything from Chandu's house
but blessed the lady for her faith and devotion.
The Guru was tortured for five long days. When the tyrants found him bearing
all the agony with perfect equanimity they became helpless. They were at a
loss and didn't know what to do. At this the Guru asked for a bath in the
river Ravi by the side of the Mughal fort in which he was imprisoned.
Thousands of his followers watched the Guru walk to the river with tears in
their eyes. His bare body glistened with blisters. There were blisters on
his feet and he couldn't even walk properly "Sweet is Your will, O God; the
gift of your Name alone I seek." said the Guru again and again.
VErA BANA mITA lAgE
nAm pdArW nAnc mA:gE
if you cannot read the above line in Punjabi, then download punjabi fonts by
clicking here.
As he reached the river, he bade farewell to the bewailing multitude and
walked into the water as serene and as calm as ever. It is said that it was
the last glimpse his devotees had of the Guru. He never came out of the
river. River was flowing at very fast pace and with blisters on body, it was
very tough for Guru to hold on against the tide. The tide bore him in her
longing lap and he was gone forever. Guru Arjan was only forty-three years
old at the time of his supreme sacrifice on 30 May 1606. Sikhs celebrate
that day every year with Sweetened buttermilk Stalls called Chhabil all over
Punjab.
Thus a magnificent life was brutally cut short at the hands of tyranny. The
way in which Guru Arian gave his life for the values that he cherished is of
far-reaching significance. With his martyrdom the attitude of the Sikhs
toward life changed. Emulating their Guru, they would readily give their
lives for any cause dear to them, whether it was a fight with the bigoted
Mughals for the protection of their faith, or with the British for the
freedom of the country, or even Congress after Independence for the
Puniabi-speaking State. Guru Arian's humility is almost unparalleled. There
was no trace of self; he emphasized with actions that more important than
the Guru, were the Guru's Sikhs. Since the Delhi Sikhs did not want the
Guru's son to be married to Chandu Shah's daughter because of his arrogance,
The Guru respected their wishes, even when his life was at stake.
Guru Arjan has left a massive volume of 2218 hymns marked their musicality
and richness of imagery. They have continued to be popular with the Sikh
musicians generation after generation. He wrote in a simple, conversational
language, reflecting the various stages of thc spiritual journey of the
human soul. His magnunn opus is the Sukhmani. the Psalm of Peace, is a long
poem, ranking next only to the Jap ji of Guru Nanak in popularity with the
devout. Though it doesn't form part of the essential set of five hymns
enjoined upon the Sikhs to be recited every day, the Sukbmani is recited by
a large number of devotees every morning and also at the hour of anxiety in
the family. In Guru Arjan we have the culmination of all that Guru Nanak and
the three Gurus following him stood for. They combined in themselves the
best of Islam and Hinduism. Rather than alienating anyone, they strove for
mutual understanding. Venerated equally by the Muslims and the Hindus, they
were peace-loving, devoted to meditation and prayers, and service of their
fellow-beings. In Sikhisnn the stress is on universal truth. All rites,
rituals, and worship of god and goddesses have been dispensed with. Sikhism
comprises love of God and service of humanity.
Wahe guru ji Ka Khalsa Wahe Guru ji ki Fateh
Excerpts taken from these books.
Sikh Gurus Written by K.S. Duggal.
Heritage of the Sikhs written by Harbans Singh.
Published by SGPC
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