Sikhism - Culture - Gurmat Veechar

elievers in Islam to its fold. The defying persons were being put to
death. When confronted with such a terrible and fierce full situation,
some Pundits, lead by their leader Kirpa Ram approached Guru Teg
Bahadur for help. It is also written by some chroniclers, that one of
them got a message from some heavenly power in his dream, that they
should approach Guru Teg Bahadur - the then holder ofGuru Nanak's
Gaddi or throne at Anandpur Sahib, who would come to their rescue.
When the Pundits put their woes before the Guru - Guru the
savior -, there was a perfect lull in the congregation. At this the young
Gobind Rai, who was less than nine years ofage, just enquired out of
curiosity, the problem before his father. When Guru Ji told him that the
religion or the faith ofthe Pundits was in danger and when confronted
with the question of likely solution, from the young son, Guru Teg
Bahadur told that the same needed the sacrifice ofsome supreme soul.
The young child immediately said, who was the better super soul than
that ofhis father. People all around were stunned, but Guru Sahib got
the point that young Gobind Rai was capable enough to hold the reins
ofthe Sikhs and he instantly told the delegation to tell the emperor that
they would embrace Islam in case Guru Teg Bahadur did the same, and
as he would not succumb to any pressure, his sacrifice would save their
religion. The delegation went back with full satisfaction and conveyed
the message from the Guru to the state functionaries.
Ultimately, as was expected the inevitable happened. All the
efforts by the tyrannical rulers to intimidate or other wise allure Guru
Sahib could not in any way effect the stand taken by Guru Teg B,ahadur
Sahib. He was kept for a number of days in a cage, and was' given a
torturous treatment most ofthe time. At intervals he was given some
allurements too like in case he converted to Islam, he would be given
some kingdom, some 'Nawabi', and was also given the offer of
beautiful Musl'im girls in marriage. Most torturous and unbearable acts
were the gruesome killing in a most barbaric and heinous way ofthree
Gur Sikhs and close associates of Guru Sahib, Bhai Mati Dass, Bhai
Sati Dass and Bhai Dayala. All the three accompanied Guru Sahib to
Dei',ii from Anandpur Sahib.
In full view ofGuru Teg Bahadur Sahib, Bhai Mati Dass was cut
into two pieces with a saw by making him stand erect. He faced
martyrdom just by asking the perpetrators ofthe crime to put his face
28 I The Sikhism - Culture, History & Religion