Guru Tegh Bahadur Shaheedi Divas 2022: 10 things to know about the Sikh Guru

Guru Tegh Bahadur (April 18, 1621–November 24, 1675) was the ninth of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism.

On November 24, 1675, Guru Teg Bahadur was publicly executed on the orders of Aurangzeb as he opposed religious persecution.

Guru Tegh Bahadur’s Martyrdom Day is also observed as Shaheedi Divas every year on November 24.

A poet, a thinker, and a warrior, Guru Teg Bahadur carried forward the light of sanctity and divinity of Guru Nanak and the subsequent Sikh Gurus.

To spread the message of Sikhism, Guru Teg Bahadur traveled extensively through the Indian subcontinent, setting up several new preaching centers.

On Guru Tegh Bahadur’s Martyrdom Day, here are 10 things to know about the Sikh Guru.

1. Guru Tegh Bahadur is revered by the Sikhs as Srisht-di-Chadar (Protector of humanity).

2. Guru Tegh Bahadur had become Guru on 16 April, 1664, following the footsteps of his grandnephew and the eighth Guru, Guru Har Krishan.

3. Guru Tegh Bahadur founded the town of Chak-Nanki in Punjab, which was later enlarged into the city of Anandpur Sahib by the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.

4. Guru Tegh Bahadur’s original name was Tyag Mal. He spent his childhood in Amritsar.

5. At the age of 13, Guru Tegh Bahadur accompanied his father in a battle as his village was attack by Painde Khan and the Mughals.

6. After victory in the Battle of Kartarpur, Tyag Mal was renamed Tegh Bahadur.

7. Guru Tegh Bahadur had resisted forced conversion of non-Muslims to Islam during Aurangzeb’s rule.

8. Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib and Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in Delhi are the sites of Guru Tegh Bahadur’s execution and cremation.

9. Guru Tegh Bahadur’s term as Guru was from 1665 to 1675.

10. There are 115 hymns of Guru Tegh Bahadur in Guru Granth Sahib.

Quotes by Guru Tegh Bahadur:

Give up your head, but forsake not those whom you have undertaken to protect. Sacrifice your life, but relinquish not your faith.

True Realization of the actual nature of this material world, its perishable, transitory and illusory aspects best dawns on a person in suffering.

For whom praise and dispraise are the same, and on whom greed and attachment have no effect. Consider him only enlightened whom pain and pleasure do not entrap. Consider such a person saved.

Consider the man, who meditates on God, day and night as His image. Between God and His servant there is no dissimilarity – recognize this to be true.

The person who has given up his egoism by recognizing God as the creator, shall get deliverance; be sure of this truth, O my mind.

Whatever has been created shall be destroyed; everyone shall perish, today or tomorrow. O Nanak, sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord, and give up all other entanglements.

If the hands, feet, or body are covered with dust, they are cleansed by washing them with water. if clothes are made unclean, by use of soap they are washed of impurity. If the buddhi (intellect) is defined by sin, love of the Name will purify it.

Thou wasn’t born a man, but didst not remember God even for an instant. Thou hast become a slave to gratification of lust and hast got thy feet shackled.

O man, what shall be thy lot? To the Name of God didst thou not lend thy ear in this world, and remained totally engrossed in sensual pleasures and didst not turn away thy mind from these.