Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji: The Ninth Sikh Guru, His Martyrdom and Aurangzeb's Order.
Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji (1621–1675), the ninth Sikh Guru, is remembered for his spiritual teachings, extraordinary courage and sacrifice in defence of religious freedom. He was executed in Delhi in November 1675, during the reign of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb (1658–1707).
According to Sikh historical tradition, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji refused to abandon his faith or submit to religious coercion. His martyrdom is particularly associated with his defence of Kashmiri Pandits who, according to Sikh accounts, faced pressure to convert to Islam.
The place traditionally identified as the site of his execution is in Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi. Today, the historic Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib commemorates his sacrifice and attracts visitors from across the world.
His story is not only an important chapter in Sikh history but also a significant part of Delhi's Mughal-era heritage.
1. Early life and family background
Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji was born on 1 April 1621 in Amritsar, Punjab. His childhood name was Tyag Mal. He was the youngest son of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, the sixth Sikh Guru, and Mata Nanaki Ji.
His father emphasised both spiritual devotion and the courage to resist injustice. This combination of religious discipline and social responsibility became an important feature of the Sikh tradition.
Tyag Mal was later given the name Tegh Bahadur, commonly understood as “brave sword,” in recognition of his courage in battle. Yet he was also known for his contemplative nature, humility and devotion to God.
He spent many years in Bakala, in present-day Punjab, living a relatively quiet life devoted to meditation and spiritual reflection.
2. Becoming the ninth Sikh Guru
In 1664, after the death of Guru Har Krishan Ji, the eighth Sikh Guru, Tegh Bahadur Ji was recognised as the ninth Guru.
He travelled extensively through northern and eastern India, spreading the Sikh teachings of devotion, equality, compassion and freedom from fear. Sikh historical traditions associate his travels with regions including Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Bengal and Assam.
His hymns, later included in the Guru Granth Sahib, reflect on the temporary nature of worldly possessions, the importance of controlling one's mind and the need to remain steadfast in faith.
His teachings encouraged people to rise above fear, greed and attachment while maintaining their moral responsibilities.
Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji's spiritual message would become especially significant during the final year of his life, when he faced the power of the Mughal state.
3. Aurangzeb's reign and the Mughal religious policy
Aurangzeb became Mughal emperor in 1658 after a war of succession against his brothers. His reign witnessed extensive military expansion and a stronger emphasis on Islamic orthodoxy at the imperial court.
During his rule, the Mughal government imposed certain restrictions on religious institutions, and some Hindu temples were destroyed. The jizya, a tax on non-Muslims, was reintroduced in 1679, four years after Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji's execution.
Relations between the Sikh community and Mughal authorities had already experienced tensions under earlier emperors. Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji's father, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, had developed the Sikh tradition of combining spiritual authority with the capacity to defend the community.
The confrontation between Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and Aurangzeb took place against this broader political and religious background.
Historians have also noted that the precise circumstances of the Guru's arrest and execution are not fully documented in contemporary sources. Sikh historical traditions, however, clearly remember his martyrdom as a sacrifice against religious coercion.
4. The Kashmiri Pandits seek the Guru's help
One of the most important episodes in the Guru's life occurred in 1675, when a group of Kashmiri Pandits reportedly approached him at Anandpur Sahib.
According to Sikh tradition, they were facing pressure from local Mughal authorities to convert to Islam. They sought the Guru's protection and appealed to him to intervene on their behalf.
A Kashmiri Brahmin, commonly identified in historical accounts as Pandit Kirpa Ram Dutt, is associated with leading the delegation.
After hearing their appeal, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji resolved to defend their right to practise their religion. He understood that religious freedom could not be protected if people were compelled to abandon their beliefs through threats or force.
In the traditional account, the Guru challenged the authorities to convert him first if they wished to compel the Kashmiri Pandits to change their faith.
This decision placed him in direct confrontation with the Mughal authorities.
The episode has particular historical significance because the Guru was defending people belonging to a different religious community. His sacrifice is therefore remembered in Sikh tradition as an act of solidarity with those facing religious persecution.
5. Arrest and imprisonment
In 1675, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji was arrested while travelling towards Delhi, according to Sikh historical accounts. His companions included Bhai Mati Das Ji, Bhai Sati Das Ji and Bhai Dayala Ji.
The Guru was detained and eventually brought to Shahjahanabad, the Mughal capital founded by Shah Jahan and now known as Old Delhi.
Traditional Sikh accounts describe the authorities as demanding that the Guru abandon his faith and accept Islam. He was also reportedly challenged to demonstrate miraculous powers.
The Guru refused to surrender his religious convictions.
His companions likewise refused to abandon their beliefs, despite the severe punishment they faced. Their steadfastness became an enduring part of Sikh memory.
The confrontation culminated in the execution of the Guru and his companions in Delhi in November 1675.
6. The execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji at Chandni Chowk
The execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji is among the most significant events in the history of Sikhism.
On the orders traditionally attributed to Aurangzeb, the Guru was publicly beheaded at Chandni Chowk in 11th November 1675 after refusing to renounce his faith.
His three companions were also executed after refusing to submit.
Bhai Mati Das Ji: Sikh tradition recounts that he was sawn in two.
Bhai Sati Das Ji: He is remembered as having been burned alive.
Bhai Dayala Ji: Sikh accounts state that he was executed in boiling water.
Despite these brutal punishments, the Guru did not abandon his religious principles. His execution became a defining example of resistance to religious coercion.
The site of the Guru's execution is commemorated by Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib, constructed in 1783 by Sikh military leader Baghel Singh. The shrine remains one of the most important historical and religious landmarks in Old Delhi.
On what date was Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji executed?
The execution is commonly dated to 11 November 1675, while 24 November is widely observed as his martyrdom day today. The difference arises from historical calendar conversions and disagreements over the dating of the event.
7. The rescue of the Guru's body and severed head
After the execution, the Guru's followers risked their lives to recover his remains.
According to Sikh tradition, Bhai Lakhi Shah Vanjara carried away the Guru's body and cremated it by setting fire to his own house, concealing the funeral rites within the blaze. The site is commemorated by Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in New Delhi.
Bhai Jaita Ji is remembered for carrying the Guru's severed head to Anandpur Sahib, where it was received by the Sikh community and cremated with honour.
The shrine known as Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib at Anandpur Sahib commemorates the association with the Guru's head. This is a different gurdwara from the famous Sis Ganj Sahib in Chandni Chowk, Delhi.
These acts of courage became an important part of the Sikh community's remembrance of the martyrdom.
8. The impact on Guru Gobind Singh Ji and Sikh history
Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji's son, Gobind Rai, later became the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
The martyrdom of his father became a defining episode in Sikh historical memory. Guru Gobind Singh Ji subsequently strengthened the Sikh community's military and spiritual institutions.
In 1699, he founded the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib, establishing a disciplined community committed to faith, equality, courage and defending the oppressed.
The creation of the Khalsa had broader historical causes, but Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji's sacrifice remains an important part of the context in which Sikh resistance and collective identity developed.
Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji is widely honoured by the title Hind Di Chadar, meaning “Shield of India” or “Protector of Hind,” in recognition of his sacrifice for the religious rights of others.
His hymns in the Guru Granth Sahib also preserve his spiritual legacy, especially his teachings on fearlessness, detachment and devotion to God.
9. Important historical sites in Delhi
For visitors interested in the history of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, three important locations deserve attention.
Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib
Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi
Commemorates the traditional site of the Guru's execution. Its location in the historic Mughal capital makes it especially significant for understanding the history of seventeenth-century Delhi.
Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib
Near Parliament House, New Delhi
Commemorates the traditional site where Bhai Lakhi Shah Vanjara cremated the Guru's body.
Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib
Anandpur Sahib, Punjab
Commemorates the events associated with the Guru's severed head being
Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji's martyrdom in 1675 remains a central event in Sikh history. His refusal to renounce his faith, his defence of the Kashmiri Pandits and his willingness to face execution rather than surrender his convictions established an enduring example of religious courage.
His death under Aurangzeb's rule also forms part of the wider history of religious and political tensions in the Mughal Empire. Although historians continue to examine the precise circumstances and motives surrounding the execution, the significance of the Guru's sacrifice within Sikh tradition is unmistakable.
The historic Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Chandni Chowk preserves the memory of this event in the heart of Old Delhi. For anyone studying the Mughal Empire, Sikh history or India's religious heritage, the story of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji offers a powerful lesson about conscience, courage and the defence of other people's freedom.
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