Then appeared Guru Teghbahadar, whose grace stretches across the entire creation. Who upheld the right to faith and its practice and immortalized the Guru’s message in the age of Kaliyug.

     Sainapati, Sri Gur Sobha

Today, we commemorate the martyrdom of Guru Teghbahadar Sahib and his three devoted Sikhs. Guru Teghbahadar Sahib, greatly revered for his infinite divine qualities, is celebrated in Sikh history as a Sovereign-Mentor, Mediator-Diplomat, and Savior-Martyr. While these titles attempt to capture aspects of the Guru’s persona, they fall short of fully encapsulating the essence of a divine being who transcends time and space constraints.

The magnanimous Savior-Martyr persona of Guru Teghbahadar Sahib is often celebrated, yet other profound facets of the Guru deserve equal recognition.

• Sword-Warrior: The Guru demonstrated unparalleled mastery in martial skills, all while embodying a deep, detached love (udas) for IkOankar (the Divine). Despite his warrior prowess, he chose a humble, low-profile life in Bakala for twenty years before assuming the Guruship, maintaining an unwavering commitment to panthak (community) life.
• Mediator-Diplomat: The Guru played a pivotal role in fostering peace between the warring Ahoms of Guwahati and the Mughal empire.
• Sovereign-Mentor: The Guru upheld and nurtured Sikh sovereignty (millat), as documented in historical records like Haqiqat-e-Banau Uruj-e-Firqa-i-Sikhan (1783). His teachings emphasized socio-political activism as an integral aspect of a Divine-aware lifestyle rooted in love for the Divine and empathy for the oppressed and marginalized.

The Guru’s teachings posed a direct challenge to the Mughal empire, fostering awareness of religious, social, and political rights among the masses. This empowerment alarmed Aurangzeb, who sought to curtail the Guru’s influence. Aurangzeb’s suggestion to leave the Guru undisturbed if he adopted a reclusive life reveals the state’s unease. Yet, as an embodiment of raj-jog (spiritual-political sovereignty), Guru Teghbahadar Sahib refused isolationism, empowering commoners and igniting fear of rebellion within the empire. This defiance ultimately led to his execution.

Inspiration for Today:
How can the Guru’s timeless teachings guide us in today’s world? Guru Teghbahadar Sahib’s life offers a revelation of Oneness—a divine being who harmonized love, awareness, detachment, humility, fearlessness, and sovereignty. His teachings inspire us to embody this harmony in our lives.

As we reflect on this day, let us reflect on the Guru’s wisdom:

Neither bothered by pain or fear, nor distracted by attachment or wealth,
Beyond praise, slander, greed, and pride,
Unmoved by happiness, sadness, honor, or dishonor,
Forsaken hope and expectation and not given to worldly ways,
Untouched by lust or wrath, that individual is an abode of the Creator,
On whom the Guru’s grace befalls learns this way.
O Nanak, like water in the water, that person is merged with the Source.‍

     Guru Granth Sahib, 633-34

With gratitude
The SikhRI Team