The fearless protector of faith and human freedom.
Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Guru of the Sikhs, stands in history as a towering symbol of courage, sacrifice, and the universal right to religious freedom. His martyrdom was not only an act of spiritual conviction but a bold assertion of human rights long before the concept gained global recognition.
His life and teachings carried forward Guru Nanak’s principle that the Sole Commanding Power—Ek Omkar—is truth without fear (Nirbhau) and without enmity (Nirvair). From this flowed a simple but profound ideal: humans must neither instil fear in others nor live in fear themselves. Guru Tegh Bahadur wrote and lived this philosophy. His verse captures the essence of freedom from fear: One who does not cause fear to anyone, nor does he fear anyone. He alone is enlightened—thus says Nanak. This principle shaped his greatest sacrifice. When a group of Kashmiri Brahmins sought his protection from attempts at forced conversion by officials of Emperor Aurangzeb, Guru Tegh Bahadur assured them courage. He told them to convey that if he himself converted, they would follow.
Soon after, he was arrested and taken from Agra to Delhi along with his companions—Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das, Bhai Dyal Das, Bhai Gurditta, and Bhai Jaita.
The Guru was ordered to perform a miracle or embrace Islam. His refusal led Aurangzeb to brutally martyr the Guru’s companions before his eyes, hoping to break his resolve. Bhai Mati Das was sawed alive, Bhai Dyal Das was boiled in water, and Bhai Sati Das was burned after being wrapped in cotton. Yet the Guru remained calm, rooted in the understanding of the body’s impermanence: The human body is made of the five elements and returns to the source from which it arose. In November 1675, Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded in Delhi. His body was secretly taken and cremated by a Sikh merchant, while his head was carried to Anandpur Sahib by Bhai Jaita and cremated by the young Guru Gobind Rai, the tenth Guru. Born on April 1, 1621, in Amritsar to Guru Hargobind, Guru Tegh Bahadur was originally named Tyag Mal. He earned the name "Tegh Bahadur"—Brave Swordsman—for his valour in the Battle of Kartarpur.
His early education included reading, writing, religion, music, martial training, and horsemanship. Influenced deeply by Guru Hargobind’s doctrine of Miri-Piri, he combined spiritual depth with worldly responsibility. After years of meditation in Bakala and a long pilgrimage, he was identified as the true Guru through the famous incident of Makhan Shah Lubana, who announced “Guru ladho re!” upon finding the genuine Guru. During his travels across the North, East, and Assam, Guru Tegh Bahadur spread Guru Nanak’s teachings and founded Anandpur Sahib—the City of Bliss.
As persecution under Aurangzeb intensified, he travelled extensively to inspire people to face tyranny with steadfast faith. Guru Tegh Bahadur composed 59 shabads and 57 shlokas incorporated in the Guru Granth Sahib. His verses guide humans toward detachment, integrity, and inner freedom. His life and martyrdom remain eternal reminders of the right to live—and believe—without fear.