Karma Yoga

When Ravana mocked Nandis monkey-like face, the bull-deity cursed that monkeys would destroy his empire. This prophecy came true through Hanuman and the Vanara army.

Guru Nanak stayed with poor carpenter Lalo rather than wealthy Malik Bhago. He squeezed Lalos bread producing milk (honest labor) and Bhagos rich food producing blood (exploitation). Honest work is sacred.

A sage raised in complete isolation, whose purity was so great that his mere presence brought rain. He performed the yajna that led to Ramas birth. Married Shanta, Dasharathas daughter.

Ramas sister Shanta was given in adoption to bring prosperity to another kingdom. Her husband Rishyashringa performed the yajna that led to Ramas birth. Family sacrifice for greater good.

A celestial being cursed to become a headless demon with his face in his torso. Rama and Lakshmana liberated him by cremating his body, and he guided them toward finding Sita.

Maidservant Janabai sang while grinding. When she stopped to weep in devotion, Lord Vitthala himself would come and turn the grinding wheel, wash clothes, fetch water. God serves those who serve Him with pure love.

Guru Angad standardized and popularized the Gurmukhi script, making it accessible to common people rather than just the priestly class. He gathered Guru Nanaks hymns and rewrote them in Gurmukhi, establishing schools to teach literacy. This became the medium for all Sikh scripture.

While Guru Amar Das was in deep meditation, his daughter Bibi Bhani noticed the platform was about to break. Rather than disturb him, she placed her hand under it, severely injuring herself. Moved by her devotion, the Guru asked what blessing she desired. She asked that Guruship remain in her family - all subsequent Gurus descended from her.

Guru Amar Das asked Bhai Jetha to establish a new Sikh colony. He found the location where Guru Nanak had meditated by a natural lake. The land was acquired and Guru Ram Das invited 52 traders and artisans from various professions to settle there, laying the foundation for the holy city of Amritsar.

Guru Har Rai Ji established the Naulakha Bagh (Garden of 900,000 plants) at Kiratpur Sahib with medicinal herbs, fruit trees, and flowers. He created the first conservation zoo for endangered animals, healing them before releasing them into the wild. He opened a free Ayurvedic hospital. His anniversary is now Sikh Environment Day.

After the Gurus martyrdom, his devoted Sikh Bhai Jaita secretly retrieved the severed head and carried it to Anandpur Sahib. Another Sikh, Bhai Lakhi Shah Vanjara, retrieved the body and cremated it by burning his own house to avoid detection by Mughal authorities.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Mata Sahib Kaur, though never bearing biological children, became the Mother of the Khalsa. During the creation of Khalsa in 1699, she prepared the amrit by adding sugar puffs to the baptismal water. After Guru Gobind Singhs passing, she cared for the Panth. Her spiritual motherhood of all Khalsa Sikhs transcended biological bonds.

When the younger Sahibzade were martyred at Sirhind, their bodies were denied cremation. Diwan Todar Mal, a wealthy Hindu merchant, offered to buy land for their cremation by covering it with gold coins stood on edge - a massive fortune. He sacrificed his wealth for righteous honor. His act united Hindu-Sikh communities against tyranny.

After emerging from the ocean, Lakshmi held a swayamvara. All gods and demons vied for her attention, but she garlanded Vishnu alone - choosing him because he was free of flaws and embodied righteousness rather than seeking power for its own sake.