Life and Legacy of Shri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji (1621–1675)
Guru Teg Bahadur Ji, the Ninth Guru of Sikhism, stands as a symbol of faith, courage, and selfless sacrifice. His life was an evidence to the core principles of Sikhism, and his martyrdom left an unmatchable mark on the history of India.
Early Life and Spiritual Training
Born on April 1, 1621, in Amritsar, in present-day Punjab, Shri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji entered the world as Tyag Mal, the youngest son of Guru Hargobind Ji (the sixth Sikh Guru) and Mata Nanaki Ji
His given name, meaning “One who renounces worldly desires,” reflected his destined path toward spiritual depth. Raised in a family with a steadfast stance against Mughal oppression—his grandfather Guru Arjan Dev Ji had earlier faced martyrdom—Tyag Mal inherited both spiritual rigor and courage.
He was educated in Sanskrit, Persian, and Punjabi, and trained in martial arts—horsemanship, archery, and swordsmanship—under guidance from Baba Buddha Ji and his father, balancing spiritual learning with martial discipline.
Becoming the Ninth Guru and Establishing Anandpur
Following the death of Guru Har Krishan Ji, the Sikhs sought a true successor. In 1664, at Bakala, a wealthy devotee named Makhan Shah Lubana recognized Tyag Mal’s genuine humility and declared him the Ninth Sikh Guru with the proclamation “Guru ladho re” (“I have found the Guru”)
Soon after, in 1665, Guru Teg Bahadur founded the settlement of “Chakk Nanaki”, which later became Shri Anandpur Sahib, laying it as a center of spirituality and community development.
Spiritual Travels Across the Indian Subcontinent
Guru Teg Bahadur Ji embarked on extensive journeys across northern and eastern India to spread the message of the Sikh Gurus. He traveled through Malwa, Majha, Assam, Bengal (including Dhaka), Odisha, Mathura, Agra, Varanasi, Allahabad, and Patna, where his son, Guru Gobind Singh, was born in 1666.
These travels included acts of social welfare—digging wells, planting trees, establishing langars and dharamsalas to benefit the poor and uplift communities. In 1672, he visited Lehal (now part of Patiala), giving blessings to a village suffering from an epidemic; the site became Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib (“Eradicator of Suffering”)
In Dhaka, a significant Sikh community built a lodging for him—Gurdwara Sangat Tola Sahib, and he spent considerable time there before moving on. He also visited Assam and even mediated peace between local rulers and neighboring communities
Martyrdom: A Stand for Religious Freedom
Shri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji’s final and most profound contribution was his unwavering defense of religious freedom. According to later traditions, Kashmiri Pandits, facing forced conversions under Emperor Aurangzeb, approached the Guru for help. When the Guru challenged the Emperor—offering that if he could be converted, all Hindus would follow suit—Aurangzeb saw him as a political threat and ordered his arrest.
In Delhi, he endured immense torture but refused to renounce his faith or compromise others’ religious freedom. He was beheaded on November 11, 1675 (or commemorated on November 24 in some calendars) in Chandni Chowk, becoming an emblem of sacrifice for human rights . His execution inspired his son Guru Gobind Singh to form the Khalsa in 1699, marking a turning point in Sikh history.