Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji Maharaj, the ninth Sikh Guru, was staying in Anandpur Sahib when Shankaracharya Kirpa Ram Datt Ji from Kashmir, along with Kashmiri Pandits and saints, arrived before Guru Ji.
In deep sorrow and fear, they shared the pain and cruelty inflicted by the Afghan governor-Aurangzeb and the rising oppression in Kashmir. Kashmiri Pandits were being killed, tortured, and forced to abandon their Brahmin faith and convert to Islam.
Folding their hands, they said,
“Please protect us, O Guru Ji, you are the divine light of Guru Nanak Sahib. Only you can save us from this tyranny and forced conversion.”
Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji listened with calmness and compassion. After meditating, he said,
“I see that if a great saint of God gives his life for righteousness, only then will this cruelty and forceful conversion lose its power in Hindustan”
At that moment, young Guru Gobind Singh Ji, only nine years old, was sitting beside Guru Ji listening all. He said with innocence and wisdom,
“Father, I do not understand everything, but I know there is no saint greater than you. If someone must give their life to protect these people and Dharma, it is you.”
Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji looked at his young son and said,
“My son, if these words arise in you, then it is the message of God being spoken through you.”
Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji then instructed the Pandits to write a message to Emperor Aurangzeb:
“If you can convert Guru Tegh Bahadur ji to Islam, then all of us will accept Islam and change our religion.”
When Aurangzeb received this message, he became furious. He thought it was simple — “Only Guru Tegh Bahadur must be converted; the rest will follow.”
He immediately ordered his soldiers to find Guru Ji and arrest him.
In May 1675, orders were sent across the regions to search for Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.
But Guru Ji, knowing what was coming, had already prepared.
On 16 July 1675, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji anointed Guru Gobind Singh Ji as the next Guru on the throne of Guru Nanak and said,
“My son, from today you are the Guru. Now I must leave to offer my life for Dharma.”
Three devoted Sewaks — Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das, and Bhai Dayal Das — begged Guru Ji to let them accompany him.
They said they could not bear the separation from Guru Ji and wished to give their lives with him.
With kafans tied on their body, they walked beside Guru Ji towards their destiny.
As Guru Ji travelled from Punjab towards Ropar, the local ruler Nur Mohammad had already deployed soldiers everywhere.
On the way, Guru Ji met a poor man struggling to arrange his daughter’s marriage. Guru Ji removed his own precious diamond ring and gave it to the man, telling him to fulfill all marriage arrangements.
But when the man went to sell the ring, the jeweler recognized it as belonging to Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and immediately informed Nur Mohammad.
Nur Mohammad’s soldiers arrested Guru Ji and imprisoned him in Bassi Pathana Jail in Agra. Later, Guru Ji was brought to Delhi and presented before the Mughal authorities.
There, Guru Ji was given three conditions:
1. Convert to Islam.
2. Show miracles, since you claim the throne of Guru Nanak.
3. Accept death.
Guru Ji replied:
“I will not accept another religion, nor am I here to prove miracles. I accept death.”
This is the strength of true saints — to live and die by the principles of Dharma. Once they decide, nothing can shake them.
Guru Ji was then imprisoned in a tiny cave-like cell, so small that he could neither sit nor stand properly. The cruelty had begun.
Bhai Mati Das Ji and the other Sikhs were filled with pain and anger seeing the condition of their Guru.
One day, when Guru Ji was offered sugarcane by a Sikh devotee, he accepted it. When Guru Ji threw the chewed piece from his mouth, it landed near Bhai Mati Das Ji. Just by eating the “Leftover thrown from Guru ji’s mouth”, immense spiritual power surged within him. He roared with such force that the entire Mughal army trembled.
He shouted with forcefull anger ,
“There is no one on this Earth who can enslave my Guru! Command me, Guru Ji, and I will destroy this entire tyranny !”
The soldiers stopped him, but Guru Ji asked them to let him come close. When Bhai Mati Das Ji reached Guru Ji, Guru Ji lovingly pressed his thumb on his forehead. Mati Das Ji immediately fainted.
When he regained consciousness, he said,
“Guru Ji, you took that power away from me.”
Guru Ji replied,
“Yes, my son. If just by eating my leftovers you gained such power, imagine what resides within me. But we are not here to show power. We are here to sacrifice.”
The Mughal authorities again asked the three disciples the same questions. All three replied,
“We also accept death.”
Bhai Mati Das Ji was the first to be executed. He was tied between two pillars and sawed alive from head to toe.
His last wish was:
“Let my face remain towards my Guru.”
When he was martyred, a stream of blood flowed directly to the lotus feet of Guru Ji. Seeing such devotion, a tear fell from Guru Ji’s eyes.
Next came Bhai Sati Das Ji. He too asked that his face remain towards Guru Ji.
He was wrapped in cotton and set on fire. Even while burning, he did not cry out in pain. His face glowed with peace as he entered Agni Samadhi.
Then came Bhai Dayal Das Ji, who was boiled alive in a large cauldron of hot water.
His final words were also,
“My face must remain towards my Guru.”
Finally, the cruelty of the Mughals turned towards Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.
On 11 November 1675, Guru Ji was taken out of the cage. Calm and silent, he prayed, requesting time to bathe and meditate.
He stood with absolute peace on his face. The executioner himself trembled seeing such divine radiance.
Despite the Mughals even spitting into Guru ji’s mouth, Guru Ji remained silent.
With complete serenity, he declared himself ready.
And with one stroke of the sword, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji — the protector of Dharma — offered the supreme sacrifice for the freedom of religion and righteousness.
Thus, Guru Ji stood fearlessly against injustice, forceful conversion, and tyranny, upholding the eternal principles of Dharma.
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