An artist’s tribute to the serene courage and supreme sacrifice of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji at the moment of his martyrdom.
The commemoration of the 350th martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji Maharaj has deeply shaken me. In this emotional journey, I searched widely, read numerous accounts, and took careful notes to understand the true events.
It was Bhai Jaita Ji who undertook the lifelong risk and performed the perilous mission of carrying the Guru’s sacred, severed head from Delhi to Anandpur Sahib. And it was his father, Bhai Sada Nand Ji, who made the ultimate sacrifice—offering his own life so that another head could be placed in the execution ground to deceive the Mughal guards, enabling Bhai Jaita Ji to escape safely with the Guru’s head.
What I learned is shared below:
Many contemporary writings give evidence of Aurangzeb’s religious bigotry, revealing his central mission in life: to establish one religion, Islam throughout Hindustan. For its propagation, every possible method was used: temptation, fear, torture, and massacre.
Kashmiri Pandits pleading for protection before Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, as young Sahibzada Gobind Rai stands by His side.
When the Kashmiri Pandits approached Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib for help, the Guru resolved in his mind to sacrifice himself to protect the Hindu faith.
Guru Sahib reached Delhi. In imperial custody, he did not accept any condition set by Aurangzeb. He did not bow to fear. He upheld truth and righteousness to the last breath. As a result, the order for his execution was issued.
The following sacred lines were written by Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji for his young son Govind Rai, later Guru Gobind Singh Ji—just before his martyrdom. In them, Guru Sahib uses the example of the mighty Gajaraj elephant who, when seized underwater by a crocodile and utterly helpless, finally remembers and calls upon Akal Purakh for deliverance. Through this example, Guru Ji reminds his son that in moments of deepest fear, struggle, or isolation, one must anchor the mind in the Divine. This teaching is enshrined in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 1429, as an eternal guide for all.
I am reproducing below these precious lines in Punjabi, Hindi, Roman and its meaning by Shivpreet Singh to facilitate more readers.
ਸੰਗ ਸਖਾ ਸਭਿ ਤਜਿ ਗਏ ਕੋਊ ਨ ਨਿਬਹਿਓ ਸਾਥਿ ॥
संग सखा सभि तजि गए कोऊ न निबहिओ साथि ॥
Sang sakẖā sabẖ ṯaj gae koū na nibhio sāth.
My associates and companions have all deserted me; no one remains with me.
ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਇਹ ਬਿਪਤਿ ਮੈ ਟੇਕ ਏਕ ਰਘੁਨਾਥ ॥੫੫॥
कहु नानक इह बिपति मै टेक एक रघुनाथ ॥५५॥
Kaho Nānak ih bipaṯ mai tek ek ragẖunāth. ||55||
Says Nanak, in this tragedy, the Lord alone is my Support. ||55||
ਨਾਮੁ ਰਹਿਓ ਸਾਧੂ ਰਹਿਓ ਰਹਿਓ ਗੁਰੁ ਗੋਬਿੰਦੁ ॥
नामु रहिओ साधू रहिओ रहिओ गुरु गोबिंदु ॥
Nām rahio sāḏẖū rahio rahio gur gobinḏ.
The Naam remains; the Holy Saints remain; the Guru, the Lord of the Universe, remains.
ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਇਹ ਜਗਤ ਮੈ ਕਿਨ ਜਪਿਓ ਗੁਰ ਮੰਤੁ ॥੫੬॥
कहु नानक इह जगत मै किन जपिओ गुर मंतु ॥५६॥
Kaho Nānak ih jagaṯ mai kin japio gur manṯ. ||56||
Says Nanak, how rare are those who chant the Guru's Mantra in this world. ||56||
ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਉਰ ਮੈ ਗਹਿਓ ਜਾ ਕੈ ਸਮ ਨਹੀ ਕੋਇ ॥
राम नामु उर मै गहिओ जा कै सम नही कोइ ॥
Rām nām ur mai gahio jā kai sam nahī koe.
I have enshrined the Lord's Name within my heart; there is nothing equal to it.
ਜਿਹ ਸਿਮਰਤ ਸੰਕਟ ਮਿਟੈ ਦਰਸੁ ਤੁਹਾਰੋ ਹੋਇ ॥੫੭॥੧॥
जिह सिमरत संकट मिटै दरसु तुहारो होइ ॥५७॥१॥
Jih simraṯ sankat mitai ḏaras ṯuhāro hoe. ||57||1||
Meditating in remembrance on it, my troubles are taken away; I have received the Blessed Vision of Your Darshan. ||57||1||
The Satguru showed the world what true martyrdom is.
“He sacrificed his head but did not sacrifice his principles.”
This was Aurangzeb’s greatest defeat: he could not persuade a saint by argument, thought, or philosophy—nor could he break him through torture.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji entrusted the task of bringing the Guru’s sacred head to Anandpur Sahib to Bhai Jīvan Singh (Bhai Jaita). Before the martyrdom took place, he had already reached Delhi in disguise.
Such was the arrogance of the Mughal state that the severed head and body were left lying in the execution ground, and a proclamation was made: “If there is any Sikh of the Guru, let him come forward and take this head.”
Terrified by state persecution and brutality, none of the Delhi Sikhs dared to undertake this supreme task. To save their lives, they called themselves devotees of Ram, not Sikhs.
Bhai Jīvan Singh(Bhai Jaita) describes this condition in his own words:
“The Hindus were compelled toward wrongdoing.
The devotees of God felt ashamed.
No one dared call himself a Sikh.
All proclaimed themselves as worshippers of Ram.”
Such was the state of the people, Hindus and Sikhs whose faith Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib had sacrificed his life to protect.
A sketch of Guru Teg Bahadar ji designed and drawn by yours truly in Mar 1993 showing the well Guru ji bathed under the tree and Red Fort. This painting has been a part of my family room since then.
The Supreme Sacrifice of Bhai Jaita Ji’s Father
Bhai Jaita Ji kept contemplating the dire situation. Finally, he said to his father that the Guru’s head could be taken in the darkness of night but to mislead the Mughal guards, another head would have to be placed there.
Blessed is Sikhi; blessed is the love of the Guru.
The father, ever a humble servant of the Guru, said:
“So be it. Cut off my head and take it with you. Safely carry the Guru’s head to Anandpur Sahib.”
Bhai Jaita Ji did exactly that. Out of love for the Guru, he sacrificed his father, exchanged the heads in the darkness, and slipped away.
Travelling through many dangers, hiding and escaping along the way, he finally reached Anandpur Sahib, where he presented the sacred head before Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Seeing Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji’s head, the entire congregation was overcome with grief. Bhai Jaita Ji recorded that moment in his own poetic words:
“When men and women beheld the Guru’s sacred head,
they were shaken to the core.
It was as if fire flared in their hearts
and grief scorched their very bodies.
The minds of the Guru’s Sikhs burned with such fury
as though poison had been poured into their hearts.
Life became unbearable—
their bodies and minds consumed by the atrocities of the Turks.”
Guru Sahib comforted the sangat and embraced Bhai Jaita Ji, declaring:
“Jaita has saved the honour of the Guru!
Ranghretta is the Guru’s own son.”
A painting when Bhai Jaita Ji meets Guru Gobind Singh in his court.
Note: Inspired Dr Gurmukh Singh on Bhai Jaita Ji – Life and Writings
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