Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur

Guru Tegh Bahadur’s passion in life was to fight for human rights and freedom of the oppressed people, irrespective of their creed and ideology. All his teachings demonstrate his deep faith in God. In most of his hymns, the Guru has reiterated that God is within us. God is not an abstract idea, or a myth, but a visible reality. There is no need to go to the forest in search of God, or on pilgrimages. One has to find him within. From Manmaukh to Gurumukh—from flawed man to divinised man—is a full circle, a transformation covered by Guru Tegh Bahadur’s ‘Divine Songs of Nirvana’. The notes of admonition, exhortation, benediction and prophetic affirmation blend into a vast symphony. Guru Tegh Bahadur’s 57 Slokas were incorporated in the Holy Granth by Guru Gobind Singh. The Slokas are believed to have been composed during his imprisonment in the Kotwali in Chandani Chowk in Delhi, adjacent to the place where he was later martyred in November 1675. The ‘Divine Songs of Nirvana’ reflect the melodic and soulful character of the verses composed by the Guru, and serve as a reminder of the transitory nature of life.