Martyrdom of Three Companions

Dadi**: "Guddu, do you know who the Panj Pyare are?"

Guddu**: "The Five Beloved Ones? They were the first Sikhs who offered their heads to Guru Gobind Singh!"

Dadi**: "Yes! But tonight, let me tell you about three other beloved companions - Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das, and Bhai Dayala Ji - whose sacrifice was just as extraordinary."

Guddu**: "What happened to them?"

Dadi**: "They were the closest companions of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru. When the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb ordered that all Hindus must convert to Islam or die, the frightened Kashmiri Pandits came to the Guru for help."

Guddu**: "What did the Guru do?"

Dadi**: "His young son, Gobind Rai - who would become Guru Gobind Singh - said something wise: 'Only a great soul can stop this tyranny.' The Guru smiled and replied, 'And where shall I find someone greater than you, my son?'"

Guddu**: "The Guru decided to go himself!"

Dadi**: "He sent a message to Aurangzeb: 'If you can convince me to convert, all the Hindus will follow.' It was a challenge! And he took his three devoted companions with him on that fateful journey."

Guddu**: "They all went to face the emperor?"

Dadi**: "They were arrested and brought to Delhi. The authorities tried everything to make them convert. Torture, promises of wealth and power - nothing worked. So they decided to break the companions first."

Guddu**: "What did they do to them?"

Dadi**: "Beta, this is difficult to hear, but it's important. Bhai Mati Das was tied between two pillars. The executioners brought a saw. 'Convert now,' they said, 'or we will cut you in half.'"

Guddu**: "What did he say?"

Dadi**: "He looked at his Guru one last time, smiled peacefully, and began reciting the Japji Sahib - the morning prayer of the Sikhs. Even as the saw moved, he kept praying until his final breath."

Guddu**: "He prayed while..." *looking upset*

Dadi**: "Yes, beta. His brother Bhai Sati Das watched all this. Then they wrapped him in cotton, soaked it in oil, and set him on fire. 'Convert!' they shouted."

Guddu**: "He refused too?"

Dadi**: "He said, 'My faith gives me strength. Your fire cannot burn my soul.' He died with the Guru's name on his lips, wrapped in flames but spiritually free."

Guddu**: "And Bhai Dayala Ji?"

Dadi**: "They boiled him alive in a cauldron of water. Through it all, he kept reciting verses from the Adi Granth. Not once did any of them waver."

Guddu**: "This is so sad, Dadi."

Dadi**: "It is. And Guru Tegh Bahadur watched his beloved companions die, one by one, before his own execution. The Mughals thought watching this would break him. Instead, it confirmed the depth of faith his teachings had created."

Guddu**: "Why did they do it? They could have just converted pretend."

Dadi**: "Because they believed that truth is more important than life. They died so that millions could live with freedom of faith. Their sacrifice showed that tyranny cannot win against true devotion."

Guddu**: "Are they remembered today?"

Dadi**: "Every day! Gurudwara Sis Ganj in Delhi marks where Guru Tegh Bahadur was martyred. Sikhs call them the Three Shaheeds - the Three Martyrs. Their courage still inspires people to stand for what's right."

Guddu**: "I don't think I could be that brave."

Dadi**: "None of us knows until we're tested. But their story teaches us: when you believe deeply in something, fear becomes smaller than faith. Sleep now, and may their courage live in your heart."