Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji (1666–1708), the ninth Sikh Guru, was a poet, thinker, and warrior who carried forward the divine legacy of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and the Sikh Gurus who followed. His spiritual compositions reflect profound insights on the nature of God, human attachments, the mind and body, sorrow, dignity, service, death, and liberation. These teachings are preserved in 116 poetic hymns enshrined in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
In May 1675, Hindu Pandits from Kashmir sought Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji’s support against the forced conversions being imposed by the Mughal authorities. Standing firmly for the freedom of faith, the Guru advised them to tell Emperor Aurangzeb that if he could convert the Guru himself, the Pandits would accept conversion as well.
Enraged by this defiance, Aurangzeb ordered the arrest and torture of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, attempting to compel him to accept Islam. The Guru unwaveringly refused, choosing martyrdom over surrender. He was publicly executed by beheading in Delhi, becoming a timeless symbol of sacrifice for religious freedom and the protector of Hindu dharma.
Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Chandni Chowk marks the site of his martyrdom, while Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib stands where his remains were cremated. Alongside Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, three devoted Sikhs—Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das, and Bhai Dyal Das—also embraced martyrdom.
Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji’s legacy endures as a beacon of courage, compassion, and steadfast faith, inspiring generations to uphold righteousness even in the face of tyranny.
Guru Tegh Bahadur’s teachings continue to inspire resilience, compassion and unwavering faith in the face of adversity. Here Comes his quotes…
On Courage and Sacrifice
“Give up your head but forsake not those whom you have undertaken to protect. Sacrifice your life but relinquish not your faith.”
On Detachment and Devotion
“Worship, O worship God, thy life is fast passing. What shall I tell thee again and again? Thou understand not, thou ignorant man: Thy body shall melt like a hailstone before long.
Give up all doubts and meditate on the Name of God. In the end this alone will accompany thee.
Give up like poison the sensual pleasures and enshrine the praise of Hari in thy heart. Nanak, the servant of God, reminds thee – Thy opportunity is slipping.”
O mother, I have been blessed with the wealth of God’s Name.
My Mind is free from wandering and is established in peace.
Avarice and worldly love dare not touch me and pure divine knowledge fills me.
Greed and desire cannot affect me. I am totally immersed in Lord’s devotion.
On Endurance and Enlightenment
“For whom praise, and dispraise are the same, and on whom greed and attachment have no effect. Consider him only enlightened whom pain and pleasure do not entrap. Consider such a person saved.”
One who vanquishes his ego and beholds the Lord as the Sole Doer of all things,
that person has attained ‘Jivan Mukti’ (is liberated while living), know this as the real truth, says Nanak.
“Thy life is passing in vain Day and night thou dost listen to religious books yet thou dost not understand the truth, ignorant man.
Death is approaching and thou hast nowhere to flee from it. Thy, body, which thou regards as permanent shall return to dust; why dost thou not remember God, O thou who are without shame and ignorant?
Nanak, the servant of God tells thee to give up pride in thy heart and devote thyself to God and thus live thy life in this world.”
On the Nature of the World
“True realization of the actual nature of this material world, its perishable, transitory and illusory aspects best dawns on a person in suffering.”
He (the Creator) has given you your body and wealth, but you are not in love with Him.
Says Nanak, you are insane! Why do you now shake and tremble so helplessly?
“O Man, hold firmly to this truth in thy mind;
The whole world is like a dream and like a dream will soon be no more.
A man may elaborately build a wall of sand, but it will not last even for a short while.
Similarly, transient are pleasures of Maya (illusions) why art thou entangled in them, O ignorant man.”
On Inner Peace
“O mother, I have been blessed with the wealth of God’s Name. My Mind is free from wandering and is established in peace.”
“Now that I have obtained the jewel of the Name, All desire has been removed from my mind: It is now absorbed in bliss.
He alone sings the praises of Hari, on whom the ocean of Grace showers His compassion.
Said Nanak, such wealth is found rarely by some through the Guru’s Word.”
“Mother, I have obtained the wealth of the God’s Name.
My mind is rid of running hither and thither – It has found its rest. Illusion and desire of possession have departed from my body – the pure knowledge of God has dawned.
Greed and delusion do not touch me now. I have grasped firmly devotion to God. The doubt about birth and death is no more.”
On Meditation and Liberation
“By singing His praises thy impurity will be removed and the poison of egoism spread all over will be destroyed.”
One who vanquishes his ego and beholds the Lord as the Sole Doer of all things,
that person has attained ‘Jivan Mukti’ (is liberated while living), know this as the real truth, says Nanak.
On Equality and Humility
“Why go to search forests (to find Him). He who dwells in all hearts but remains ever pure, pervades thy heart also.
Just as fragrance fills the rose and reflection the mirror, the Lord pervades all without a break; search Him inside thee.
The Guru hath revealed this knowledge that the Aum pervades inside and outside. Said Nanak, without knowing thyself the scum of doubt will not be removed.”
“O saints, renounce the Ego, and always flee from lust, wrath and evil company. One should consider pain and pleasure, honor and dishonor the same.
One should renounce both praise and blame and even the search for salvation.
This is a very difficult path and rare is a (Gurmukh) pious person who knows how to tread it.”
On Enduring Pain and Pleasure
“That man, who in the midst of pain, does not feel pain,
who is not affected by pleasure, affection or fear, and who looks alike upon gold and dust.”
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Who is not swayed by either slander or praise, nor affected by greed, attachment or pride;
who remains unaffected by joy and sorrow, honor and dishonor.||1||
Who renounces all hopes and desires and remains desireless in the world;
who is not touched by sexual desire or anger – within his heart, God dwells. ||2||
That man, blessed by Guru’s Grace, understands this way.
O Nanak, he merges with the Lord of the Universe, like water with water. ||3||11||
