Bhai Jaita Retrieves the Sacred Head

Dadi: "Beta Guddu, some stories are very hard to tell, but they must be told so we never forget the courage of those who came before us."

Guddu: "Is this a sad story, Dadi?"

Dadi: "It's a story of incredible bravery, beta. It's about Bhai Dayal Das, who was boiled alive rather than give up his faith."

Guddu: "*gasps* Boiled alive?"

Dadi: "In November 1675, the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb summoned Guru Tegh Bahadur to Delhi. The Emperor wanted all Hindus in Kashmir to convert to Islam. The Kashmiri Pandits had come to the Guru for help, and he had agreed to stand up for their religious freedom."

Guddu: "The Guru protected Hindus even though he was a Sikh?"

Dadi: "Yes, beta. The Guru believed everyone has the right to follow their own faith. He set out for Delhi with three beloved companions - Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das, and Bhai Dayal Das. They knew they were walking toward danger, but not one of them hesitated."

Guddu: "Who was Bhai Dayal Das?"

Dadi: "He was born into a Brahmin family but had become a devoted Sikh. He was in charge of the sangat at Patna Sahib and looked after all the Sikhs in the eastern regions. When the young Gobind Rai - who would later become Guru Gobind Singh - was born, it was Bhai Dayal Das who sent the happy news to his father!"

Guddu: "So he was very close to the Guru's family?"

Dadi: "Very close. When the Guru and his companions were arrested and brought to Delhi, the Mughal officers tried everything to break their spirit. They demanded that the Sikhs convert to Islam or face terrible torture."

Guddu: "What happened to them?"

Dadi: "First, they tortured and killed Bhai Mati Das - they sawed him in half while he recited prayers. Then they burned Bhai Sati Das alive, wrapping him in cotton and setting it on fire. All of this was done in front of Guru Tegh Bahadur, hoping to frighten him into converting."

Guddu: "That's horrible!"

Dadi: "On November 24, 1675, it was Bhai Dayal Das's turn. The Qazi - the Islamic judge - gave him one last chance: "Convert to Islam and save yourself from pain. You have seen how your companion was sawn. You will face even worse!""

Guddu: "What did Bhai Dayal Das say?"

Dadi: "He answered with incredible courage: "You could not harass my companion. Did you notice how calmly he was meditating when he was being sawn? He is now sitting happily in the lap of God. Be quick and send me to that heavenly abode where he is waiting for me!""

Guddu: "He wasn't afraid at all!"

Dadi: "Not one bit. The Qazi ordered a huge cauldron to be filled with water. A fire was lit beneath it. Bhai Dayal Das was made to sit inside."

Guddu: "In cold water?"

Dadi: "It started cold, beta. Then it became warm. Then hot. Then boiling. Through all of it - as the water scalded his skin, as his body was cooking alive - Bhai Dayal Das never stopped praying. His lips moved constantly, reciting the Japji Sahib and Sukhmani Sahib."

Guddu: "He prayed through all that pain?"

Dadi: "Until his very last breath. The Guru watched his beloved companion die without flinching, without begging for mercy, without betraying his faith. Instead, the Guru blessed him: "Brother, your service has borne fruit. Great are you and blessed is your devotion.""

Guddu: "What happened to the Guru?"

Dadi: "The next morning, Guru Tegh Bahadur himself was beheaded. But the Emperor's plan failed - instead of breaking the Sikhs' spirit, these martyrdoms made their faith stronger than ever."

Guddu: "Why would anyone endure such terrible pain?"

Dadi: "Beta, Bhai Dayal Das could have said a few words - "I accept Islam" - and walked free. His body could have avoided all that suffering. But he believed his soul was more important than his body. He believed some things are worth dying for - the freedom to worship God in your own way, the right to live by your own conscience."

Guddu: "It's hard to imagine being that brave."

Dadi: "It is. Most of us will never face such a test. But the story reminds us that faith isn't just something we feel on good days. Real faith is what remains when everything else is taken away. Bhai Dayal Das lost his freedom, his companions, and finally his life - but he never lost what mattered most."

Guddu: "What does this story teach us, Dadi?"

Dadi: "Beta, we live in an easier time, thankfully. But we still face choices every day - between what's easy and what's right, between fitting in and standing for truth. Bhai Dayal Das teaches us that our principles aren't just nice ideas - they're worth sacrificing for. And his interfaith courage - a man whose sacrifice helped protect the religious freedom of people who followed a different religion - reminds us that we should stand up for justice for everyone, not just our own group."

Guddu: "I hope I can be brave when it matters."

Dadi: "I believe you will be, beta. The spirit of Bhai Dayal Das lives on in everyone who chooses conscience over comfort. Now, let's light a lamp in his memory - a small light to honor a soul that never went dark, even in boiling water."