Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji’s martyrdom is a unique event in world history. Unlike other martyrs who sacrificed their lives for their own faith or country, Guru Ji gave his life to protect the religion of others — the Kashmiri Pandits. This unparalleled sacrifice earned him the title “Hind Di Chadar” (Shield of India).
Causes of Martyrdom
Cordial Relations under Akbar
In the beginning, the relations between the Mughals and the Sikhs were cordial, especially during the reign of Emperor Akbar. Akbar was known for his policy of tolerance and respect toward different religions. He even visited Sikh Gurus such as Sri Guru Amar Das Ji and Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji, showing reverence for their teachings. This atmosphere of mutual respect allowed Sikhism to grow peacefully as a spiritual movement, without interference from the Mughal state.
Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji (1606 A.D.)
The cordiality ended abruptly during the reign of Jahangir. In 1606 A.D., Jahangir ordered the martyrdom of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth Sikh Guru. Jahangir suspected Guru Ji of supporting his rebellious son, Prince Khusrau, and was also influenced by rival factions within the Sikh community. Guru Arjan Dev Ji was subjected to brutal torture on a hot plate at Lahore, marking the first martyrdom in Sikh history. This event created a permanent rift between the Sikhs and the Mughal state, transforming Sikhism from a purely spiritual path into a force that would resist oppression.
Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji’s Armed Resistance
After Guru Arjan Dev Ji’s martyrdom, his son Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji took decisive steps to defend the Sikh community. He introduced the doctrine of Miri‑Piri, symbolizing the union of spiritual and temporal authority. Guru Ji wore two swords to represent this dual responsibility and established the Akal Takht at Amritsar as the seat of Sikh political power. His leadership marked the beginning of the Sikh tradition of the saint‑soldier, combining devotion with martial strength. During Shah Jahan’s reign, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji fought four significant battles against the Mughal forces, proving that the Sikhs would no longer remain passive in the face of persecution. His imprisonment in the Gwalior Fort further highlighted the Mughal determination to suppress Sikh power, but his eventual release only strengthened the resolve of the Sikh community.
Fanaticism of Aurangzeb
In 1658 A.D., Aurangzeb ascended the Mughal throne and immediately reversed the tolerant policies of his predecessors. Unlike Akbar, who respected all religions, Aurangzeb was a staunch Sunni Muslim determined to spread Islam across every corner of India. His vision of empire was inseparable from his religious zeal, and he could not tolerate the existence of other faiths flourishing alongside Islam.
Aurangzeb’s fanaticism was visible in his actions. He ordered the demolition of many famous Hindu temples and constructed mosques in their place. Hindu festivals and ceremonies were restricted, and strict Islamic laws were enforced throughout the empire. To ensure compliance, Aurangzeb appointed Mullahs across the kingdom, giving them authority to monitor and regulate religious practices. Hindu saints and sages were exiled, and those who refused to convert to Islam were stripped of their jobs and livelihoods.
His reign was marked by widespread forced conversions. People were compelled to embrace Islam at the point of the sword. Those who resisted were either executed or imprisoned for life in dark dungeons. This atmosphere of fear and oppression created immense suffering among Hindus and other non‑Muslim communities.
For the Sikhs, confrontation with such a ruler was inevitable. Sikhism stood for equality, freedom of faith, and resistance against tyranny. Aurangzeb’s policies directly clashed with these principles. Under his rule, the growing Sikh community became a natural defender of the oppressed, and this conflict ultimately led to the martyrdom of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji in 1675, who sacrificed his life to protect the religious freedom of others.
Impact of Naqshbandis on Aurangzeb
The Naqshbandis were a sect of highly orthodox and fanatic Muslims who played a significant role in shaping Aurangzeb’s religious policies. This sect believed in the strict enforcement of Islamic law and viewed the rise of other religions as a direct threat to Islam. Their influence over Aurangzeb was immense, and they constantly pressured him to adopt harsher measures against non‑Muslims.
At the same time, the popularity of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji was spreading rapidly across Punjab and beyond. His teachings inspired thousands to embrace Sikhism, and his missionary journeys led to the construction of Gurdwaras wherever he visited. The Naqshbandis saw this spiritual awakening among the masses as a danger to their vision of an Islamic empire. They feared that the growing strength of Sikhism would weaken Islam’s hold over the people.
In their anxiety, the Naqshbandis began to instigate Aurangzeb, urging him to take stern action against the Sikhs. They portrayed Sikhism’s expansion as a direct challenge to Mughal authority and Islamic supremacy. Their constant influence added fuel to Aurangzeb’s already rigid religious outlook, making him even more intolerant toward the Sikhs.
This pressure from the Naqshbandis, combined with Aurangzeb’s own fanaticism, created an atmosphere of hostility that ultimately led to the arrest and martyrdom of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji in 1675. The role of the Naqshbandis is therefore crucial in understanding why Aurangzeb intensified his persecution of the Sikhs, as they acted as ideological drivers behind his oppressive policies.
Spread of Sikhism under Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji
Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji played a crucial role in expanding the reach of Sikhism during the 17th century. He undertook extensive travels across Punjab and Eastern India, visiting towns, villages, and regions where people were suffering under the oppressive policies of Aurangzeb. Wherever Guru Ji went, his spiritual presence and teachings left a lasting impact. In memory of his visits, Gurdwaras were established, which became centers of faith and community life.
Guru Ji’s message of courage, equality, and devotion inspired thousands to embrace Sikhism. His teachings prepared the people to face Aurangzeb’s cruelties boldly, instilling in them a new spirit of resistance against tyranny. At a time when Aurangzeb had crossed all limits of religious persecution, Guru Ji’s leadership gave hope and strength to the masses.
To accelerate the propagation of Sikhism, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji appointed Sikh missionaries who carried his message far and wide. These missionaries worked tirelessly to spread the principles of Sikhism — devotion to God, service to humanity, and the rejection of blind rituals. The rapid growth of Sikhism under Guru Ji’s guidance was something Aurangzeb could not tolerate. He saw the expanding influence of Sikhism as a direct challenge to his authority and religious policies.
Thus, the spread of Sikhism under Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji became one of the major causes of confrontation with Aurangzeb. The Guru’s success in awakening the people spiritually and socially laid the foundation for his eventual martyrdom in 1675, as the Mughal emperor sought to suppress the rising power of Sikhism.
Call of Kashmiri Pandits
The Kashmiri Pandits were renowned across India for their deep faith, scholarship, and devotion to Hindu traditions. They were highly respected by Hindus everywhere, and Aurangzeb believed that if these Pandits could be converted to Islam, the rest of the Hindu population across India would readily follow their example. With this objective, Aurangzeb appointed Sher Afghan as the Governor of Kashmir. Sher Afghan unleashed a reign of terror, forcing the Pandits to embrace Islam. They were given the cruel choice between conversion or death, and those who resisted were tortured and killed in large numbers.
Finding no way to protect their faith, a deputation of sixteen Kashmiri Pandits, led by Pandit Kirpa Ram, approached Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji at Chak Nanaki (Sri Anandpur Sahib) on 25 May 1675 A.D. They narrated the heart‑rending atrocities being committed against them and sought the Guru’s help. Deeply moved by their plight, Guru Ji realized that this was a decisive moment in history — a Gordian knot that had to be cut.
Tradition records a poignant incident at this time. As Guru Ji sat in deep thought with the Pandits, his young son Gobind Rai (later Guru Gobind Singh Ji), then only nine years old, entered the chamber. Noticing the unusual silence, he asked his father what had happened. Guru Ji explained that Aurangzeb had let loose a reign of terror and that someone had to confront him, even if it meant sacrificing one’s life for the protection of religion. Without hesitation, Gobind Rai replied, “Who can be nobler than you, father?” This innocent yet profound response filled Guru Ji with resolve. He decided to sacrifice himself for the protection of Hindu religion and the freedom of faith.
Guru Ji then advised the Pandits to make a representation to Aurangzeb, declaring that if the Guru could be converted to Islam, they too would willingly adopt the faith. This bold decision directly challenged Aurangzeb’s authority. Enraged, the emperor ordered the Governor of Lahore to arrest Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. As historian Dr. B.S. Gupta aptly remarks, “The Guru’s decision to protect the Kashmiri Pandits was the momentous and historical decision.”
It is also noteworthy that Pandit Kirpa Ram, who led the deputation, was born in Mattan Town near Srinagar, Kashmir. After the formation of the Khalsa in 1699, he became Bhai Kirpa Singh and later attained martyrdom in the Battle of Chamkaur Sahib in 1705, continuing the legacy of sacrifice and devotion to faith.
How was Guru Ji Martyred?
Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji’s martyrdom is one of the most defining events in Sikh and Indian history. On 11 July 1675 A.D., Guru Ji, accompanied by his three devoted companions — Bhai Mati Das Ji, Bhai Sati Das Ji, and Bhai Dyala Ji — set out from Chak Nanaki (Sri Anandpur Sahib) towards Delhi. The very next day, on 12 July, Mughal officials, acting under Aurangzeb’s orders, arrested them near Ropar. They were confined in a prison at Bassi Pathanan in Sirhind for nearly four months.
Historians differ on the exact place of arrest. Some claim Guru Ji was arrested from Agra, but recent research strongly supports the view that he was seized near Ropar and imprisoned at Sirhind. The majority of scholars agree with this conclusion. In the first week of November 1675, Guru Ji was brought to Delhi. Aurangzeb offered him a choice: embrace Islam or face death. Guru Ji and his companions firmly refused to abandon their faith.
To break Guru Ji’s spirit, Aurangzeb ordered the execution of his companions in front of him. Their martyrdoms were horrific:
- Bhai Mati Das Ji was sawed alive.
- Bhai Sati Das Ji was wrapped in cotton and burnt.
- Bhai Dyala Ji was boiled alive in a cauldron of water.
Despite witnessing these brutal tortures, Guru Ji remained steadfast. He was then asked to perform a miracle to prove his spiritual power, but he refused, declaring that true faith does not rely on miracles. Finally, on 11 November 1675 A.D., Guru Ji was beheaded at Chandni Chowk in Delhi. At this site now stands the historic Gurdwara Sis Ganj.
Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji later recorded in Bachitra Natak: “At the departure of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji the entire world was plunged into grief. There was a cry of horror in this world but shrieks of victory and welcome in the next.”
Aftermath of Martyrdom
On that fateful night, a devoted Sikh, Bhai Lakhi Shah Vanjara, carried Guru Ji’s body hidden under cotton bales in a cart. To cremate the sacred remains without alerting the Mughal authorities, he set his own house on fire. The site is now marked by Gurdwara Rakab Ganj.
Meanwhile, Bhai Jaita Ji, a Rangreta Sikh later known as Baba Jiwand Singh, carried Guru Ji’s severed head to Sri Anandpur Sahib. When he presented it to Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the young Guru embraced him warmly and declared, “Rangrete Guru Ke Bete” — meaning the Rangretas are the Guru’s own sons. On 16 November 1675, Guru Ji’s head was cremated with full honours at Anandpur Sahib, where the Gurdwara Sis Ganj Anandpur now stands.
