|
'Baba Bakala', was the only clue
given by Guru Harkrishan for his successor. As this word reached the village
Bakala, twenty-two Sodhis from Lahore, Amritsar, etc.
including Baba Dhir Mal, the grandson of Guru Har Gobind, set up their camps
at Bakala and claimed themselves as the ninth Sikh Guru. The Sikhs were in
great confusion as they could not know who the real Guru was. Makhan Shah
Labana of Jehlum district was a trade merchant. When his vessel full of
merchandise was sinking, he had invoked Guru Nanak and had vowed to offer
five hundred gold mohars (coins) if the vessel reached the shore safely (some
say that he vowed 101 gold mohars). Makhan Shah came to the village of Bakala
to pay his offering to the Guru. He was surprised to find that twenty-two
Sodhis had installed themselves as Gurus. In that state of confusion and
uncertainty, he resolved to try the pretenders. He thought to put two mohars
before each impostor and the real Guru being the searcher of hearts, would
ask for the balance of his promised offering. He visited all the 22 impostors
and made each of them offering of two gold mohars, but none of them asked for
the balance. He then inquired if there was any one else in Bakala. Someone
informed him about Guru Tegh Bahadur. Makhan Shah went and as usual made his
offering of two gold mohars. Upon this Guru Tegh Bahadur asked, "Where
are the balance of five hundred gold mohars you had promised when your ship
was sinking?" Mukhan Shah was delighted and prostrated himself before
the Guru. He then went to the roof of the house and screamed, "Guru
Ladho! Guru Ladho!" 'I have found the Guru! I have found the Guru!' Guru
Tegh Bahadur was the fifth and the youngest son of Guru Har Gobind and was
born on first of April, 1621 to Mata Nanaki at Amritsar, Guru ke Mahal. He was married to
Mata Gujri, daughter of Lal Chand of Kartarpur in Jalandhar district. After
Guru Har Gobind, he with his mother, Mata Nanaki and his wife went to live in
Bakala. Makhan Shah's discovery of the genuine Guru put an end to the
pretensions of the false Gurus. Dhir Mal could not reconcile with the
situation and was determined to snatch the Guruship by force. One day he
communicated his feelings to his masand, Sihan, who promised to put an end to
his enemy (Guru). Accordingly the masand, along with a score of people, set
forth to kill the Guru. He fired and the bullet struck Guru's shoulder without
serious wound who remained calm and composed. The other men plundered the
property of the Guru and went away. When Makhan Shah heard of this incident,
he proceeded with a body of Sikhs to Dhir Mal's residence. Dhir Mal closed
his doors but they burst it open and seized him and his accomplices, tied his
masand's hands at his back and brought them before the Guru. They brought
back all the property of the Guru and they also took Dhir Mal's property.
They brought back the original copy of the Adi Granth which was in the
possession of Dhir Mal and placed it before the Guru. The masand Sihan fell
at the feet of the Guru and asked for forgiveness for his sins. The Guru
pardoned the masand and ordered Makhan Shah to return all the property of
Dhir Mal including the Adi Granth. He preached Makhan Shah and his other
Sikhs that the holy Guru Nanak gave them the wealth of Nam which was
sufficient for all their wants.
GURU VISITS AMRITSAR:
When Guru Har Gobind shifted his headquarters to Kiratpur, most of his
disciples had also moved to that place with him and the Golden
Temple at Amritsar fell ultimately into the hands of
the impostors like Harji Mina. In November 1664, Guru Tegh Bahadur went to Amritsar. He bathed in
the sacred tank but the keepers (or the ministrants) closed the doors of the
Har Mandar against him. He saluted it and remarked that they were rotten
within, who through greed of offerings, had entered the temple. When the news
spread, the people of Amritsar
went in a body and paid their obeisance to him. The women of the city took
the lead, welcomed him with the Gurbani hymns and went with him singing all
the way to the village Wadala (or Walla) where he stayed in the humble abode
of a devout disciple. On seeing their devotion he blessed them with these words,"God's
love and devotion shall ever abide among you."
FOUNDATION OF CITY OF ANANDPUR:
Leaving Amritsar
the Guru passed through the Majha and Malwa regions before reaching Kiratpur
in May, 1665. He attended the last rites of Raja Dip Singh of Bilaspur and
expressed his desire to build a new settlement near Kiratpur and also showed
his inclination to buy a suitable land for that purpose. The Rani of Bilaspur
offered to donate the site of Makhowal. But the Guru did not agree to a
donation and instead preferred to buy the land. The foundation stone of new
settlement, Chak Nanaki, was laid in June, 1665, after the revered name of
Guru's mother. In the course of time, a beautiful town called Anandpur grew
up around it.
GURU ON MISSIONARY TOUR:
After founding the new settlement, the Guru did not stay there long. However
he entrusted the construction work to his trustworthy followers. It is said
that the Guru undertook his missionary tour of the east in response to the
invitation of his Sikhs from that area, Bhai Bulaki Das and Bhai Hulas Chand
from Dhaka and Bhai Darbara and Bhai Chain Sukh from Patna. These Sikhs had met the Guru at
Kiratpur and begged him to visit their land in the east with his family. The
Guru left Anandpur in August, 1665. After leaving Anandpur he passed through
Ghanauli, Ropar, Dadoomajra and Lung village and then reached Mulowal in Patiala state. The
people of Mulowal complained to him that they did not have drinking water
nearby and for that purpose they had to travel a long distance. There was a
well nearby but its water was brackish and unwholesome. The Guru told them to
first repeat God's Name, then draw water, and they would find it pure and
sweet. From that day the well yielded sweet water and it is known as Guru's
well. The Guru then proceeded to Pharwali, Handiaya, Bhandehar, Khiwa and
Bhikki. He gave religious instructions wherever he stopped and instructed the
people not to worship idols and tombs, but worship only One God, the
Formless. He passed through the villages of Dhaleo, Alisheir, Khiala and
reached Maur where he was awaited by a great concourse of people to whom he
preached true Name. He induced the people to sink a well over there. He then
went to Maisarkhana and thence to Sabo ki Talwandi, now known as Damdama Sahib
and then travelled to Kot Dharmwala, Bachhoana, Gobindpura, Sangheri, Gurna
and reached Dhamdhan in the Bangar tract. The Guru presented the Chaudhri of
the village with funds to construct a well and a dharmsala for the reception
of the travellers. The Guru then proceeded to Tekpur and he stayed for a few
days in the house of a carpenter who conducted him as far as Kaithal. Thence
he reached Barna. He preached here against the use of tobacco, which had only
recently started making appearance in the subcontinent.
GURU AT KURUKSHETRA:
The Guru reached Kurukshetra on the occasion of solar eclipse. He was
received with great honor and distinction by all the holy men present there.
During his stay he preached the true Name. From there he went to Bani Badarpur
where he contributed money for the excavation of a well. Then he crossed the
Jamna river and hunted on the way. He shot an animal and hung it to his
saddle and reached Kara Manak.
GURU IN UTTER PRADESH:
From Kara Manak the Guru proceeded to Mathura
and thence reached Agra.
There is a Gurdwara in memory of Guru's visit. Through Itawa he reached Kanpur where there is a Gurdwara at the bank of the Ganges. Then he reached Paryag (Allahabad). The Guru stayed about six
months at Paryag and to the great joy of his mother, his wife got pregnant.
From Paryag he proceeded to Mirzapur where there is a Gurdwara on the bank of
the Ganges. Thence he reached Banaras (Kashi) and stayed in Resham Katra where a
Gurdwara marks the memory of the Guru. Hundreds of people came to behold him.
GURU IN BIHAR PROVINCE:
Then he reached the village
of Sasaram where lived
a very devout disciple called Chacha Phagoo who had built a mansion and
within it placed a superb couch for the Guru. Every morning he used to
perfume it and then would close the doors declaring that he would not live in
it until the Guru had come, entered and hallowed it with his footsteps.
Chacha Phagoo's desire was fulfilled and he had the happiness to entertain
the Guru in that mansion. Thence he proceeded to Gaya. There the Brahmans met him in a body
and explained the virtues of pilgrimage of Gaya. They said if barley rolls were
offered to Brahmans at Gaya
for the souls of ancestors, they would go to heaven even if they were already
in hell. So they pressed the Guru to give money to perform such a ceremony
for him. He refused to accept their argument rather exhorted them to meditate
on God and instructed them on divine knowledge. The Guru then reached Patna and encamped at
first in a garden outside the city. That place is called Guru ka Bag. Bhai
Jaita, a devout disciple, took the Guru to his residence. The Guru gave
religious instructions to the people. One day he told his mother, Mata Nanaki
that many Sikhs were waiting for him in a distant land, so he must go to
them. He wanted the family to remain at Patna.
On their remonstrance the Guru told his wife, "You would suffer great
hardship in travelling, so be happy here." The Guru offered words of
consolation to his mother and wife, thus, entrusting them to his brother-in-law
Kirpal Chand, bade farewell and proceeded to Munger, Bhagalpur and Rajmahal.
GURU TO BENGAL:
The Guru then reached Maldah where he stayed with a Sikh who was a
confectioner. Thence he went to Murshidabad and next halt was at Dhaka. There lived a devout masand, Bulaki Das, whose
mother had prepared a beautiful couch for the Guru. Knowing about her
devotion, the Guru went to her residence. She was overjoyed and fell on his
feet. He blessed her for her devotion. The Sikh inhabitants came in crowds to
behold the Guru and to receive his instructions and benedictions. He asked
them to build a dharamsal (Gurdwara) in their city where God's praises should
be sung. Raja Ram Singh went to the Guru and said, "The inhabitants of
Kamrup and Assam became
rebels against the rule of Delhi.
The Emperor had recently sent Mir Jumla to subdue them but after some
success, he died before reaching Dhaka on
his return journey. The Emperor has now ordered me to go and subdue the
Kamrup country. If I conquer that country, it will be an addition to the
Emperor's sovereignty; but if I am killed, the Emperor may annex my whole
state of Rajputana. O true King, I have come to seek protection of thy holy
feet." The Guru replied, "God's Name is the medicine for all
diseases, so meditate continually on Name. Guru Nanak will assist you and you
will conquer Kamrup." Raja Ram Singh and the Guru left Dhaka
and reached Dhubri. The Guru encamped at Dhubri and Raja Ram Singh set out
for the city of Rangmati on the right bank of the Brahamputra. Soon after the
battle between Raja Ram Singh's army and the army of the king of Kamrup
ensued. The decisive victory for the Raja's forces was not easy because of
difficult mountainous terrain, climate and rainy season. The king of Kamrup
proceeded to the camp of the Guru and after prostration he said that he had
come by the order of the goddess to pray for pardon and protection. He begged
the Guru not to allow him to fall under the power of the Muslims. The Guru
replied that Raja Ram Singh was a very religious person and he should meet
with him. He, however, told the king not to fear, his empire would be
permanent. The Guru sent for Raja Ram Singh and both of them were received by
the king in a friendly manner. The Guru sat down placing the royal disputants
on either side and effected a reconciliation. He put his dagger in the ground
and declared, "Let the territory on this side belong to the Emperor and
the land on the other side belong to the king of Kamrup. Let both monarchs
forget the enmity." Both sides agreed to the settlement and by the grace
of the Guru serious bloodshed on both sides was avoided. The Guru informed
Raja Ram Singh that Guru Nanak had visited Dhubri and rendered it holy by his
footsteps. He further asked that each soldier should bring five shieldfuls of
earth to raise a tall mound in the memory of the founder of Sikh religion. A
pavilion was erected at the top of the mound. The Guru spent a few more days
there. Hearing his fame, the crowds came from far and near to behold him and
also to receive religious instructions. Raja Ram of Assam, having heard
Guru's praise, came to pay his homage. The Raja had no offspring and was
desirous of a son. He brought his Ranis (queens) with him and after
prostration beseeched the Guru, "O true king, bring this sinking vessel
to the shore." The Guru took off his signet ring and stamped its
impression on the Raja's thigh and then said, "The impression of my seal
shall be on thy son's forehead. By this know it is Guru Nanak who hath mercifully
granted thee offspring." While in Assam
the Guru also visited Cooch Behar,
Chander Bhanga, Kishen Ganj and Purnea.
BIRTH OF A SON:
While the Guru was at Dhaka, a messenger arrived from Patna to inform him of the birth of his
son. He was born on the seventh day of the light half of the month of Poh,
Sambat 1723 (December 26, 1666 CE) at Patna.
Before his departure the Guru had directed his wife to name the child as
Gobind Rai, who would be born in his absence. He wrote a letter of thanks to
the Sikh Sangat of Patna for looking after his family. There lived in the
city of Kuhram
a Muslim saint, Bhikan Shah. On the morning of Gobind Rai's birth, Bhikan
Shah looked and bowed towards the east (towards Patna). His disciples asked why he bowed
towards the east which was contrary to Muslim custom. He replied that there
had just been born a spiritual and temporal king in the east who should
establish true religion and destroy evil. Bhikan Shah set out for Patna along with his
disciples to behold the young prince. When he reached Patna, the Muslim saint asked to have
darshan (sight) of the newly-born child. When the infant was brought, Bhikan
Shah bowed at the young prince's feet. He placed before him two earthen
vessels covered with muslin, one containing milk and the other water. The
child touched both the vessels. Upon this Bhikan Shah thanked them for the
opportunity given to him to behold the child and then prepared to leave. He
was asked what he meant by the two vessels. Bhikan Shah explained that one
vessel was marked for the Hindus and the other for the Muslims. He wanted to
know whether he would favor the Hindus or the Muslims. As the child touched
both the vessels, it meant that he would abide by both the Hindus and the
Muslims and he would include both of them in his religion. The Guru then left
Assam early in 1670 and
reached Patna
via Bangaigaon, Siliguri and Kathiar. From there after giving instructions to
his brother-in-law, Kirpal Chand left for Punjab.
He travelled through Jaunpur, Ayudhya, Lucknow,
Shah Jahanpur, Muradabad and reached Chak Nanaki (Anandpur). The Guru soon
sent for his family who joined him later on at Anandpur.
AURANGZEB'S CAMPAIGN OF RELIGIOUS
PERSECUTION:
As Aurangzeb ascended the throne of India by imprisoning his father
and murdering his brothers, he decided to enlist the sympathies of the
fanatical section of his co-religionists. His idea was to exterminate the
idolatrous Hindus and to convert the whole of India to Islam. In order to
achieve this objective he tried to go through four fundamental means to deal
with the Hindus. Firstly he made peaceful overtures; secondly he offered
money; thirdly he threatened punishment and lastly he tried to cause
dissension among them. When all these measures failed, he resorted to
forcible conversion. Orders were issued to the governors of all the provinces
that they should destroy the schools and temples of the infidels and thereby
put an end to educational activities as well as the practices of the religion
of the Kafirs (non-Muslims meaning Hindus). Many temples at Mathura
and Banaras were destroyed. Even a Gurdwara
in Buriya in Khizrabad pargna of Sirhind had been demolished and a mosque was
built on the site. Some Sikhs, however, attacked the mosque and killed the
priest. This type of incidents had become common occurrences. In order to
force conversion to Islam, all possible means were adopted. In the field of
taxation, the policy of discrimination was launched with great vigor. Jaziya
and pilgrimage taxes were re-levied. Five percent custom duty was levied on
the Hindus while the Muslims were charged only half of that. The
proselytizing zeal of the officials, with their campaign of religious
persecution and their conversion at the point of the sword, had sent the wave
of terror throughout the country. Sher Afghan Khan, the Emperor's viceroy in Kashmir, set about converting the Kashmiri Hindus by
force and massacred those who opposed to embrace Islam. Even the Mohammadans
who in any way assisted the Hindus, were mercilessly put to death. In extreme
agony of too much slaughter, the Brahman priests of Kashmir
prayed to their gods. It is said that the Kashmiri Brahmans heard a
supernatural voice who told them, "Guru Nanak is the spiritual king in
this age. Guru Tegh Bahadur is now seated on his throne. Go to him, he will
protect your honor and your religion."
KASHMIRI BRAHMANS COME TO GURU:
A deputation of Kashmiri Pandits (Brahmans) came to Anandpur and among tears
of agony, they narrated their tales of woe and suffering to the Master. The
Guru's eight year old son appeared on the scene and asked his father why
those people had tears in their eyes. The Guru replied, "The Emperor of
India is converting the Hindus to Islam under threat of death and thus there
is no end to the misery of these people."
"What is the remedy, father?" asked the son.
The Guru replied, "This requires sacrifice- sacrifice of a holy and
supreme soul." His son responded, "O dear father, who is more holy
than you in this age?" On hearing this the Guru asked the Kashmiri
Brahmans to go to the Emperor and make the following representation to
him," Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru is now seated on the throne
of the great Guru Nanak, who is the protector of faith and religion. First
make the Guru a Musalman and then all the people, including ourselves, will
of our own accord adopt the faith of Islam."
GURU SUMMONED TO DELHI:
The Pandits obeyed the Guru and conveyed the proposal to the Emperor. On
hearing this proposal, the Emperor was very much pleased because he thought
that it was much easier to convert one person than the whole lot. He
retorted, "If the Guru does not become Musalman, he will then at least
show us a miracle." He was hopeful that once the Guru was converted,
there would be a large accession of Hindu and Sikh converts. The Emperor,
therefore, sent his emissary to the Guru to invite him to Delhi. The Guru received Emperor's message
and wrote in reply that he would come to Delhi after the rainy season.
MARTYRDOM OF GURU TEGH BAHADUR:
The Guru took leave of his family and his devoted Sikhs and began his journey
to Delhi
sometime in June-July. From Anandpur he passed through Kiratpur, Ropar and
various villages before reaching Saifabad in Patiala state to see his Muslim friend
Saif-ul-din. He stayed for sometime with him. Saif-ul-din became Guru's
disciple. Thence he went to Samana where he met another Sikh called Mohammad
Bakhsh. The Guru continued his journey through Kaithal, Lakhan Majra, Rohtak
and other places, conferring temporal and spiritual favors on his Sikhs, and
finally he reached Agra
where he encamped in a garden outside the city. After the rainy season, the
Emperor again sent his messenger to hasten the Guru's presence to Delhi. When the
messengers were unable to find the Guru at Anandpur, they reported that the
Guru had fled. Orders were issued all over the empire to find and arrest him.
There are different views about the place of Guru's arrest. Some writers say
that he was arrested at Dhamdhan; some say that he was arrested at Malikpur
near Ropar and others say that the arrest was effected at Delhi
while others still account for his arrest at Agra. According to Sikh chroniclers, while
at Agra, the
Guru saw a shepherd boy in the garden whom he gave his gold ring studded with
diamonds and asked him to pledge it and bring him two rupees worth of sweets.
When the boy told him that he had no cloth to wrap the sweets, the Guru gave
him his valuable shawl for that purpose. The boy took his grandfather, Hasan
Ali along with him and stopped at the confectioner's shop, gave him the ring
and asked for sweets to be wrapped in the shawl. On seeing the ring and the
valuable shawl, the confectioner was astonished and asked the boy from whom
he had received those articles. The boy told him the truth but the confectioner
became suspicious and took them to the police. The police went to the garden
with the boy and asked the Guru who he was. When the Guru disclosed his
identity, the police officer was delighted that he would get a large reward
from the Emperor for his capture. The Guru was thus imprisoned. The Governor
of the fort reported the arrest to the Emperor. Ultimately he was brought to Delhi. There were three
Sikhs, Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Dayala and Bhai Sati Das with the Guru who were
arrested with him and were brought to Delhi.
The Emperor explained that God appeared to him in a vision and told him to
convert the whole world to Islam. Those who were to embrace Islam, would be
rewarded with wealth, appointments, land revenue grants and lands. The
Emperor tried to lure him," In this way you will have many disciples,
and you will become a great priest of Islam. Therefore accept my religion-
Islam, and you will receive from me whatever your heart desires." But
the Guru refused point blank. Upon this it was ordered that the Guru be
imprisoned with sufficient guards around him. Again the Guru was sent for and
was told that if he embraced Islam, every service would be performed for him
otherwise he would be severely tortured. He replied that he would never
embrace Islam and thus, remained in Delhi
jail for eight days. He was given three choices: firstly to embrace Islam;
secondly to perform a miracle; and thirdly to prepare himself to court death.
The Guru responded that to show a miracle was against the Will of God and thus
he would not consent to the Emperor's proposals and the Emperor might act as
he pleased. The Guru was then put to extreme tortures. To frighten the Guru,
Bhai Mati Das was bound between two pillars and his body was sawn asunder.
When the executioners put the saw on his head, he began to recite Japji (the
first Bani in Guru Granth Sahib). Bhai Dayala was boiled to death in a
cauldron of hot water. And the third companion Bhai Sati Das was roasted
alive with cotton wrapped round his body. The authorities thought that these
tortures of his Sikhs might shake the Guru. But nothing could shake the
Guru's resolve. The final message was given to the Guru, "You are to
accept the religion of Islam or show a miracle. If you work a miracle, you
may remain a Guru. If you accept Islam, then you will be advanced to an
exalted position. If you fail to accept these offers, you shall be put to
death. This is the final decision." The Guru emphasized, "I will
never abandon my faith. I want no honor in this life; I want honor hereafter.
The threat of death possesses no terrors for me. For death I am prepared and
I cheerfully accept it." Hearing this reply it was ordered that the Guru
should be executed. Sayyed Adam Shah accompanied by courtiers and Muslim
priests came with a warrant for the Guru's execution. Many people turned out
to witness the execution. He was then taken out of a cage and allowed to
perform his ablutions. He sat under the banyan-tree where he recited Japji.
The executioner, Jalal-ud-din of Samana (some say it was Adam Shah) took his
sword and in a split second, severed Guru's head from the body. This happened
on the afternoon of Thursday, the fifth day of the light half of the month of
Maghar in Sambat 1732 (November 11, 1675) at Chandni Chowk, Delhi, where now stands Gurdwara Sis Ganj
in his memory. This Gurdwara was constructed by Sardar Baghel Singh
Karorsinghiya in 1790. History has recorded that a furious storm raged
immediately after this brutal deed which filled everyone's eyes with dust.
Bhai Jaita dashed out of the crowd and instantaneously took away the holy
head of the Guru to Anandpur. He reached Kiratpur on the 15th of November,
1675. From there the Guru's head was taken to Anandpur with full honor and on
the 16th of November, 1675, it was cremated with full ceremonies. There is a
Gurdwara called Sis Ganj at Anandpur where the hallowed head of the Guru was
cremated. The tenth Guru received Bhai Jaita, embraced him and said,
"Rangretta Guru ka betta" ("The tanner is the son of the Guru").
Lakhi Shah Labana was a famous contractor in Delhi and he was also a follower of the
Guru. He emptied his carts laden with lime near the Red Fort, taking
advantage of the darkness and the carelessness of the Mughal sentries, and
with the help of his sons, Nagahiya, Hema, Harhi and his friend Dhuma,
whisked away the sacred body of the Guru, in one of their carts. Apprehensive
of the government reprisal, Lakhi Shah and his sons then built up a pyre
inside their own house and set fire to it. When the body was duly reduced to
ashes, they cried out that their house had caught fire and called upon their
neighbors to assist them in extinguishing it. Next day they collected the
Guru's remains and buried them in a copper vessel called 'gaggar' in the
earth under his funeral pyre. On this spot there stands a Gurdwara, Rakab
Ganj, near Parliament House in New
Delhi.
"Having broken his potsherd on the head of the king of Delhi,
he departed for Paradise;
No one else coming into the world acted like Tegh Bahadur.
The world was in mourning for the departure of Tegh Bahadur;
There was weeping for him in the whole world, but rejoicing in
paradise." (Bachitar Natak)
Regards,
Parminder
Singh Sandhu
|
