Bhai Sati Das - Burned Alive

Dadi: "Beta Guddu, do you remember Bhai Mati Das, who was sawn in half?"

Guddu: "Yes, Dadi. That was such a brave and terrible story."

Dadi: "Today I want to tell you about his younger brother, Bhai Sati Das, who faced an equally horrible death on the same day - wrapped in cotton and burned alive."

Guddu: "His own brother? They both died the same day?"

Dadi: "Yes, beta. Brothers in blood, brothers in faith, brothers in martyrdom."

Guddu: "Who was Bhai Sati Das?"

Dadi: "He was a scholar, a cook, and a translator. Unlike warriors who fight with swords, Bhai Sati Das's weapons were words. He was a master of the Persian language and used to translate the Guru's utterances into Persian so more people could understand them."

Guddu: "So he was educated, not a fighter?"

Dadi: "Exactly. He even taught Persian to young Gobind Rai, who would later become Guru Gobind Singh. Imagine - this gentle teacher later faced one of the cruelest deaths imaginable."

Guddu: "What happened in 1675?"

Dadi: "When the Kashmiri Pandits came begging for protection from forced conversions, Guru Tegh Bahadur decided to confront the Mughal Emperor. Bhai Sati Das volunteered to accompany him, along with his brother Mati Das and Bhai Dayal Das."

Guddu: "Even though he wasn't a warrior?"

Dadi: "True devotion isn't about physical strength, beta. Bhai Sati Das's courage was in his heart, not his muscles. When they reached Delhi, all four were arrested."

Guddu: "What did the Mughals do?"

Dadi: "The Emperor's plan was cruel but simple. He would torture and kill the Guru's companions in front of him, hoping to break his spirit. "Watch your followers die," they told the Guru. "Convert to Islam and save them.""

Guddu: "That's horrible!"

Dadi: "First, they killed Bhai Mati Das. Then it was Bhai Sati Das's turn. They gave him the same choice - convert or die."

Guddu: "What did he say?"

Dadi: "He approached the Guru with folded hands and asked for his blessings. Then he said something beautiful: "I am happy to be martyred. I am eager to join my brother." He wasn't afraid - he was ready."

Guddu: "How did they... how did it happen?"

Dadi: "The Qazi ordered his men to wrap Bhai Sati Das's entire body in cotton. Then they soaked the cotton in oil. And then..."

Guddu: "They lit it?"

Dadi: "Yes. As the flames roared around him, consuming his body, his face remained calm. He continued reciting hymns, the Guru's sacred words, until the end."

Guddu: "He didn't scream?"

Dadi: "Not once, beta. The Qazi had hoped to see terror, to hear begging, to prove that the Sikhs would break. Instead, he saw something that made his own soldiers tremble - a man being burned alive while praising God."

Guddu: "And the Guru watched all this?"

Dadi: "Yes. Guru Tegh Bahadur witnessed his beloved companions die, one after another. But he didn't convert. He knew that if he surrendered, the message would go out that faith can be broken by terror. He stood firm so that millions of others could have the courage to keep their own faith."

Guddu: "What happened after?"

Dadi: "The next morning, Guru Tegh Bahadur himself was beheaded. The four of them - the Guru and his three companions - had given their lives together. Today, Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib stands where the Guru was martyred, and Bhai Mati Das and Bhai Sati Das have their own gurdwara in Delhi."

Guddu: "Three different deaths, but the same courage?"

Dadi: "Yes, beta. Bhai Mati Das was sawn in half, Bhai Sati Das was burned alive, and Bhai Dayal Das was boiled alive. Each faced a different horror. Each remained unbroken."

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

Dadi: "So many things! First, courage comes in many forms - Bhai Sati Das was a gentle scholar, not a warrior, but his courage equaled any soldier's. Second, family bonds can be sources of strength, not weakness - the brothers inspired each other. Third, knowledge and faith go together - Bhai Sati Das's education didn't make him doubt; it made his faith deeper. And finally, true dignity means others cannot take it from you - even while burning, Bhai Sati Das maintained his composure and prayer."

Guddu: "They were brothers in everything - even in dying for their faith."

Dadi: "And that's why we remember them together in our prayers. When you feel alone in doing the right thing, remember - there have always been people who stood together for truth. The brothers didn't face their trials alone, and neither do we. We have the memory and inspiration of those who came before. Now, shall we remember them with a moment of silence and gratitude?"