Dharam Dee Chaadar - Sri Guru Teg Bahadar Jee... (Part 3)

Continued...

Shaheed Bhai Mati Daas Jee

On 10th November 1675, the people of Delhi had gathered to watch what was happening in the open public space of Chandni Chowk. Guru jee was brought in a cage outside and Bhai Mati Daas jee was assembled between some wooden blocks with his arms tied to two wooden poles. Bhai Mati Daas jee was given three options - either show a miracle, or convert to Islam and receive worldly riches, or death by being sawn alive. Bhai Mati Daas jee replied, "My Guru has not given me permission to use my spiritual powers. I will not give up my faith and I will happily die." Historian Principal Ganga Singh, writes that the Qazi asked Bhai Mati Daas jee, "Either choose the Guru and be sawn alive or choose our way and receive the world's pleasures." Bhai Mati Daas jee replied, "I can only choose between what I have tried and known. I have experienced and tasted the world's pleasures but I have yet to try the taste of the saw." The Qazi ordered the executioners to saw two fingers down into Bhai Mati Daas jee's head. Bhai Sahib accepted the saw and said, "The real pain is to turn my back to the Guru. The feeling of bliss of being sacrificed for the Guru cannot be described." His last wish were, firstly to be facing the Guru and secondly, to not have his tongue cut until he repeated the last lines of Japji Sahib. Bhai Sahib started reciting Japji Sahib and the saw cut him into two, however the echoes of Japji Sahib could still be heard from his body.

Shaheed Bhai Dyaal Daas Jee

Bhai Dyaala jee was the elder brother of Shaheed Bhai Mani Singh jee who was cut limb by limb in 1737 in Lahore. In 3 generations of his family there are 29 Shaheeds. His paternal grandfather Bhai Balu Raao jee was the first Shaheed during the first battle of Amritsar during the guruship of Sri Guru Hargobind jee. Bhai Sahib was given three same options to choose from as Bhai Mati Daas jee. Bhai Sahib happily chose death than give up his faith. The Qazi announced that he would be boiled alive. The water in the Deg (cauldron) was first heated with the lighting of fire. Once the water was boiling, Bhai Sahib was brought forward with his hands and feet in tied up. Bhai Sahib requested the ropes be removed. The executioners replied, "You will get scared and will panic when you see the boiling water." Bhai Sahib answered back, "I am no sheep or goat you are going to make Halal today. I am becoming a sacrifice for my Guru. I want the whole world to know that the Sikh of the Guru is happily giving his life for the Guru and not being forced to." The ropes were removed. Bhai Sahib did Ardaas, "In your fifth form (as Guru Arjan Dev jee) the emperor of the time boiled you in a cauldron in Lahore. Now, your Sikh is going to be boiled alive by the present emperor's orders. May you kindly enter into my body and give me strength to pass my faith." He then put his right foot in the boiling cauldron and then his left foot and sat cross legged. Bhai Sahib began reciting Sukhmani Sahib. The lid of the cauldron was placed on top and Bhai Sahib's flesh and bones became separated.

Shaheed Bhai Sati Daas Jee

Bhai Sati Daas jee was the brother of Bhai Mati Daas jee. Their paternal grandfather, Bhai Praga jee had been given the command of Jatha (unit) by Guru Hargobind Sahib jee in the first battle with the Mughals in Amritsar, in which he became Shaheed. Bhai Mati Daas jee and Bhai Sati Daas jee had previously visited Delhi with the eighth Guru, Sri Guru HarKrishan Sahib jee. Bhai Sati Daas jee brought forward where his companions were made Shaheed. He was offered the same three options that his companions had been asked. Bhai Sati Daas jee, like the other Sikhs happily accepted to die than give up his faith. The Qazi announced that Bhai Sati Daas jee would be burnt alive. Bhai Sahib was wrapped up in cotton wool and was then tied up with rope. The rope was tied down to the ground. Bhai Sati Daas jee paid his respects to Sri Guru Teg Bahadar Sahib jee and became immersed in Naam. Bhai Sati Daas jee was set on fire. He eventually fell on the floor and his body turned into ashes. Exactly 309 years later the Sikhs were to face a similar fate in the same Delhi when the people of Delhi put tyres around the necks of Sikhs and burnt them alive. Seeing the three Sikhs become martyred and not utter cry or sigh, Guru Teg Bahadar jee repeated, "Dhan Hai Sikhi!... Dhan Hai Sikhi!... Dhan Hai Sikh!..."

To be continued...