350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur

2025 is the 350th martyrdom anniversary of the ninth Sikh guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur. Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded on the orders of the sixth Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1675 in Delhi.

Two Sikh Gurus were executed by Mughal Emperors: Guru Arjan Dev was executed by Emperor Jahangir in 1606, and Guru Tegh Bahadur was executed by Emperor Aurangzeb in 1675. Guru Tegh Bahadur was executed for refusing to convert to Islam and to defend the religious freedom of Hindus.

The supreme sacrifice of Guru Tegh Bahadur had earned him the revered title Hind Di Chadar—the Shield of India.

Born to Guru Hargobind and Mata Nanaki on 1 April 1621 in Amritsar Guru Tegh Bahadur was named Tyaga Mal at birth. Guru Hargobind was the sixth Sikh Guru.

Guru Tegh Bahadur was trained in martial arts, swordsmanship and horse riding. He was married to Gujari in 1633.

Guru Tegh Bahadur travelled far and wide visiting many places in northern India and also Assam and Dhaka, preaching the word of Guru Nanak.

Guru Tegh Bahadur founded the city of Anandpur Sahib in Punjab in 1665.

Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib at Chandni Chowk in Delhi was built in 1783 at the place where he was beheaded.

Guru Tegh Bahadur’s young son Gobind, who was only nine when his father was killed, became the tenth and the last Sikh Guru.

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