Today in Sikh History : 11th August

11th August

==> SIAN MIAN MIR was an exemplary and accomplished saint who was a close associate of Guru Arjun Dev and Guru Har Gobind Sahib. Sian Mia Mir witnessed the torture of Guru Arjan Patshah at the hand of Mughal rulers of the time. He laid the foundation stone of Sri Harmandir Sahib that is still burried intact.

Mian Mir was a descendant of Khalifa Umar. He was born in 1550 at Seesthan but lived in Lahore for most part of his life. He died on 11 August 1635 in Lahore. His grave is in Hashimpur near Lahore. His famous disciple MullahShah was the Peer for Shahjada Darashikoh.

-Ref. Mahan Kosh

Ninth Patshah, Guru Tegh Bahadhur Ji, ascended to Guru Gadhi. Guru Hargobind died in 1644 and appointed his grandson and Tegh Bahadhur’s nephew, Har Rai, as the seventh Guru of the Sikhs. Guru Har Rai died in 1661 and appointed his younger son and Tegh Bahadhur’s grand nephew, Har Krishan, as the eight Guru of the Sikhs. Guru Har Krishen’s pontificate lasted for only three years. Just before his death in 1664, Guru Har Krishan, on request of the Sikhs, in his semi conscious state, told his followers to go Bakala and anoint his great grand uncle as the next Guru of the Sikhs. He did not mention any name. The ctual words he used were Baba Bakale. To take advantage of this apparent ambiguous pronouncement all the great grand uncles of the Guru rushed to Bakala and declared themselves to be the ninth Guru of the Sikhs.

There were 21 claimants and also included Dhirmal, the older son of Baba Gurditta and the older brother of Guru Har Rai. The Sikh elders including Diwan Dargah Mal, Baba Gurditta the high priest, and Mata Sulakhani (widow of Guru Har Rai and mother of Guru Har Krishan) reached Bakala on this day. They were besieged by the pretenders and their agents; and were offered all kind of gifts, bribes, and threats. They ignored all of them and went to Mata Nanaki’s house and formally anointed Guru Tegh Bahadhur, declaring him to be the ninth Guru of the Sikhs. Baba Gurditta applied saffron mark and presented the coconut five pice consecrated by Guru Har Krishan to Guru Tegh Bahadhur. However, Guru Tegh Bahadhur extracted a promise from them to maintain a dignified silence for the time being.

The imposters, in frustration, organised a movement against this installation and allured some innocent Sikhs to denounce Tegh bahadhur as the new Guru. This resistance lasted for about 50 days, until Oct. 9, when the Sikh masses re-discovered their ninth Guru with the help of Makhan Shah. Today is the actual date when the Gur Gadhi was bestowed. However, Guru Khalsa Panth observes it on a different date.

-Ref. The Sikh Religion and The Sikh People, by Dr. S.S. Kapor, Hemkunt Press, New Delhi, 1992.

==> Guru TEGH BAHADHUR was born on Vaisakh 5 sunmat 1672 (April 1, 1621) to father Sri Guru Har Gobind Patshah and mother Matta Nanaki Ji. He married Srimati Gurjri Ji in Kartarpur on Assu 15 sunmat 1689. On Chaet 24 sunmat 1722 (March 20, 1665), Guru Sahib ascended on Guru Nanak’s Gur Gadhi. Guru Sahib traveled the forests of Malwa, Puyadh, Bangar, Purav, Bihar, and Bengal enlightening thousands with his preachings. Guru Sahib’s bani is so moving that it can melt the most strong and resistant minds.

Guru Sahib bought the land near Satluj from Pahadhi Rajas and established Anandpur City, which is populated with Khalsa members.

In order to eradicate the prevalent injustices in the nation and sow the seed of true religion, Guru Sahib accepted martyrdom by giving his head in Delhi, on Maghar Sudi 5 sunmat 1732 (Nov. 11, 1675). Guru Gobind Singh writes in Bachiter Natak Thikar Phoar Dalees Ser Prabh Par Kio Dhayan, Tegh Bahadhur See Kario Kari Na Kinhu Aan The place of Guru Sahib’s martyrdom is known as Sis Ganj Gurudwara, in Chandani Chaowk, Delhi. The place where Guru Sahib’s body was cremated is marked by Rakab Ganj Gurudwara.

Guru Tegh Bahadhur served as the ninth Guru of GurSikhism for 10 years, 7 months, and 18 days. Guru Sahib’s journey through our planet amounted to 58 years, 7 months, and 7 days.
Tegh Bahadhur Simaria Ghar Nao Nidh Yawae Dhayae (Chandhi 3)

-Ref. Mahan Kosh (pp. 600)