Sikh Stories

On November 11, 1675, after refusing to convert to Islam or perform miracles, Guru Tegh Bahadur was publicly beheaded in Chandni Chowk, Delhi. This supreme sacrifice to protect Hindus right to practice their faith earned him the title Hind di Chadar. He is the only martyr who gave his life for another faiths religious freedom.

When Ram Rai represented the Guru at Aurangzebs court, he altered a verse to please the Emperor - changing Musalman to Beiman. When Guru Har Rai learned of this distortion of scripture, he permanently disowned Ram Rai, establishing that the Gurus words must never be altered.

In 1675, around 500 Kashmiri Pandits led by Kirpa Ram Dutt came to Anandpur Sahib seeking help. Emperor Aurangzeb had given them a deadline to convert to Islam or face death. They sought refuge with the ninth Sikh Guru.

When Muslim saint Pir Bhikan Shah visited infant Gobind Rai in Patna, he placed two earthen vessels before him - one with milk (Hindu faith) and one with water (Muslim faith). The child reached out with both hands and touched both pots simultaneously, signifying he would favor all people and religions equally.

After administering amrit to the five beloved ones, Guru Gobind Singh knelt before them with folded hands and requested they baptize him in the same manner. Through this remarkable act of humility, the Guru became the sixth Khalsa, his name changing from Gobind Rai to Gobind Singh.

When the Kashmiri Pandits sought help, Guru Tegh Bahadur said such persecution could only be stopped by the sacrifice of a great person. His eight-year-old son Gobind Rai arrived and said: Who else is greater than you, O father? This prompted the Guru to sacrifice his life for the cause.

Before his death in 1708, Guru Gobind Singh declared that no human would succeed him. Instead, he installed the Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal living Guru. He bowed before the scripture and proclaimed that Sikhs should henceforth look to the Granth for guidance. This revolutionary act established the unique Sikh concept of scripture as Guru.

Bhai Sati Das, younger brother of Bhai Mati Das, was wrapped in cotton wool soaked in oil, tied to a pole, and set on fire in direct sight of Guru Tegh Bahadur. He remained calm and peaceful, continuously uttering Waheguru while the fire consumed his body.

On December 21, 1704, Guru Gobind Singh with 40 Sikhs took shelter in a mud fortress at Chamkaur against a massive Mughal army. His elder sons Ajit Singh (18) and Jujhar Singh (14) sought permission to fight and attained martyrdom. Witnessing his sons death, the Guru stood unshaken and raised the victory cry.

Bhai Mati Das was the first of three companions martyred with Guru Tegh Bahadur. When offered riches to convert to Islam, he refused and asked to face his Guru during execution. He was placed between two posts and sawn in half from head to loins while reciting Japuji Sahib.

When 40 Sikhs deserted Guru Gobind Singh during the siege of Anandpur, Mai Bhago - a brave Sikh woman - shamed them and led them back to fight. On December 29, 1705, all 40 attained martyrdom at Khidrana. With his dying breath, leader Mahan Singh requested the Guru tear up their disclaimer. The Guru blessed them as Chali Mukte (40 Liberated Ones).

The Second Siege of Anandpur lasted eight months in 1704, as approximately one million Mughal soldiers besieged 10,000 Sikhs. After provisions were exhausted and Sikhs reduced to eating leaves, Emperor Aurangzeb offered safe passage sworn on the Quran. This oath was broken when the evacuating Sikhs were attacked.

At Paonta Sahib (1685-1688), Guru Gobind Singh established the Kavi Darbar with 52 poets who translated Hindu epics and Sanskrit classics into Punjabi and Braj. Every full moon night, poets gathered to write and recite poetry. The Guru composed Jaap Sahib, Tav Prasad Savaiye, and Chandi Di Var during this period.

In December 1704, Sahibzada Zorawar Singh (9) and Fateh Singh (6) were captured after being betrayed by servant Gangu. Brought before Wazir Khan and offered riches if they converted to Islam, both refused. They were bricked alive in a wall. Their grandmother Mata Gujri also died. Now commemorated as Veer Bal Diwas.

After losing all four sons, his mother, and most Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh composed the Zafarnama - a 111-verse letter to Emperor Aurangzeb rebuking him for breaking his oath sworn on the Quran. The letter had such a profound effect that Aurangzeb saw the Guru as his only hope for redemption and withdrew all actions against him.

After Guru Gobind Singhs passing, Mata Sundri guided the Sikh community for decades. She issued hukamnamas, settled disputes, and maintained unity. When Banda Singh Bahadur showed signs of claiming Guruship, she reminded the community that Guru Granth Sahib was the eternal Guru. Her leadership preserved the Panths direction during its most vulnerable period.

Governor Mir Mannu imprisoned thousands of Sikh women and children. Daily, babies were killed and their body parts hung around mothers necks. Women were forced to grind grain while starving. Yet they sang: We are the plants Mir Mannu sows, the more he cuts, the more we grow. Despite unspeakable torture, not one woman converted. Their collective resistance became legendary in Sikh history.

When Sikhs were being hunted with bounties on their heads, two Sikhs - Bota Singh and Garja Singh - defied the persecution by setting up a toll booth on a busy road. They announced themselves as Sikhs and collected tolls from travelers to prove Sikhs still lived. When a Mughal army came, these two Sikhs fought hundreds, dying gloriously rather than living in hiding.

During the siege of Anandpur, Bibi Dalair Kaur fought alongside male warriors. When ammunition ran low, she melted household items to make bullets. She carried water and food to soldiers under fire. During the evacuation crossing Sirsa River, she fought to protect the retreating Sikhs. She exemplified that warrior spirit knows no gender.

Banda Singh Bahadur was appointed by Guru Gobind Singh to avenge the execution of the Gurus younger sons at Sirhind. On May 24, 1710, at the Battle of Chappar Chiri, his forces defeated Wazir Khan, who was killed by Bandas arrow. This established the first Sikh territorial rule.