Menu:
Guru Tegh Bahadur
The youngest son of Guru Hargobind and Bibi Nanki, Guru Tegh Bahadur's birthday on April 1, 1621 is auspicious for many a sikh. From a young age, Tegh Bahadur was trained in the martial arts. This was in the area of swordsmanship and horse riding. This was also with the religious training by the Baba Buddha and Bhai Gurdas. In the month of February in the year 1633, Tegh Bahadur was married to Gujari daughter of Lal Chand and Bishan Kaur. During his young years, Tegh Bahadur fought along his father’s side. Later, after Guru Hargobind’s battle in 1634 at Kartarpur, he moved into the path of renunciation and meditation. When Guru Hargobind decided to stay in Kiratpur for a peaceful future life, Tegh Bahadur spent nine years with his father before settling down at Bakala in the year 1656. He then retired to a life of contemplation. After that, he was came to be known as “Tyag Mal”. This means “the Master of Renunciation” and Tegh Bahadur spent a lot of time in prayer.
Guru Hargobind did not take Tegh Bahadur as his successor. This was because the Sikhs needed a leader of men. He felt that Tegh Bahadur lacked that because he was still young. Instead he chose Guru Har Rai his grandson as his successor. Guru Har Rai again decided to choose his youngest son Guru Harkrishan as his successor. When Guru Harkrishan fell sick at Delhi in 1664, the Guru had said his successor was “Baba Bakala”.
After the death of Guru Harkrishan, many Sikhs went to the village of Bakala in search of a new Guru. A wealthy merchant named Makhan Shah vowed to offer five hundred gold coins to the Guru. This was if his goods reached home safely. The guru’s wish was fulfilled. Makhan Shah went to Bakala for giving his respects to the Guru. When Makhan Shah entered to find the Guru, there he found that Guru Tegh Bahadur was doing meditation. Makhan Shah waited to meet him and then placed two gold coins in front of him. The humble saint Tegh Bahadur was the true guru and this came to his realization. He later became the natural successor of Guru Harkrishan.
Sikhs then crowded up to see the Guru. They then presented him with many gifts. There were some people who attacked Guru Tegh Bahadur but he was not injured. Guru Tegh Bahadur believed in forgiveness. He just asked the people who fought to just give his property back and also the actual copy of Guru Granth Sahib. Guru Tegh Bahadur then became the leader of Sikhs and he later visited Kiratpur. He also then made his way to the other great centers of Sikhism. These included Tarn Taran, Khadur Sahib, Goindwal and Amritsar.