Shaheedi Diwas Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji – 16 June

Chandu Shah and Guru’s enemy Prithi Chand Sodhi, complained to Emperor Akbar that Adi Granth, which Guru Arjan had compiled has derogatory remarks against Muslims and Hindus. Emperor Akbar asked for Guru Arjan Dev Ji. Guru Arjan Dev Ji send Bhai Gurdas and Baba Buddha Ji to the Mughal court along with the copy of Holy Granth. When the Holy Book was opened, the first hymn written by Guru Nanak Dev Ji was read was

from clay and light God created the world.
the sky,the earth, trees and water are made by Him.

Emperor heard it and was fully satisfied. However, Chandu Shah complained that Bhai Gurdas had read this hymn from memory and not from Guru Granth Sahib Ji, so he got someone named Sahib Dayal from Town and made him read the Granth. This time hymn was

You don't see God who dwells in your heart,
And you carry about an idol around your neck

Emperor was delighted to listen to the hymn and exonerated Arjan and Sikhs of any wrong doings against any community. He bestowed honour of robes on Baba Buddha and Bhai Gurdas Ji and sent them back.

Akbar died soon thereafter and was replaced by his son, Prince Salim, aka Jahangir. Jahangir was a debauched, drunken, fanatic who believed in whatever his Sunni Mullah told him. He has left his kingdom on the whims of his queen Noorjahan and was always either drunk or hunting in the wilderness. Chandu Shah complained to Jehangir again that Granth has some derogatory references to Islam and Hinduism. Jehangir issued orders for Guru Arjan Dev Ji to revise Holy Granth and remove any references to Islam and to pay two hundred thousands rupees as fine. The Guru told Mughal emperor Jehangir that his money was the sacred trust of the Sikh community and the hymns in the Holy Granth were revelation in praise of God: no one dare alter them. King was on his way to Kashmir. He was in hurry, so he asked Murtza Khan to deal with Guru in the way he thought was best. Chandu Shah approached and poisoned his ears, urging him to extract the fine levied by the Emperor.

Murtza khan ordered the Subedar of Lahore to arrest Guru Arjan Dev Ji. Guru Arjan Dev Ji were arrested and put in Jail at Lahore. When Sikhs heard that Emperor wanted two hundred thousand rupees, they started collecting money to pay the fine, Guru Arjan Dev Ji forbade them to pay the fine, citing it as against the ethics. Meanwhile, Qazi gave an injunction ordering the Guru Arjan to be tortured to death if he didn’t agree to expunge the so-called derogator references to Islam in Adi Granth or he converts to Islam.

Guru was made to sit on a red hot iron sheet. They poured burning hot sand on his body. He was given a dip in boiling water. As the Guru was being persecuted thus Mian Mir, the Muslim sufi divine of Lahore, who had laid the foundation stone of the Golden Temple at Amritsar, came and begged the Guru to allow him to use his mystic power to undo those who were responsible for the suffering inflicted upon him. The Guru heard Mian Mir and counselled patience. He told him that one must accept the will of God; not a leaf moves if God doesn’t ordain it. When Chandu’s daughter-in-law heard about it, she bribed the jailor and came to the prison with sherbet and other delicacies to serve the Guru. The Guru declined to accept anything from Chandu’s house, but blessed the lady for her faith and devotion.

The Guru was tortured for five long days. When the tyrants found him bearing all the agony with perfect equanimity, they became helpless. They were at a loss and didn’t know what to do. At this, the Guru asked for a bath in the river Raavi by the side of the Mughal fort in which he was imprisoned. Thousands of his followers watched the Guru walk to the river with tears in their eyes. His bare body glistened with blisters. There were blisters on his feet and he couldn’t even walk properly “Sweet is Your will, O God; the gift of your Name alone I seek.” said the Guru again and again.

ਤੇਰਾ ਕੀਆ ਮੀਠਾ ਲਾਗੈ ॥
ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਪਦਾਰਥੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਮਾਂਗੈ ॥

As he reached the river, he bade farewell to the bewailing multitude and walked into the water as serene and as calm as ever. It is said that it was the last glimpse his devotees had of the Guru. He never came out of the river. River was flowing at very fast pace and with blisters on body, it was very tough for Guru to hold on against the tide. The tide bore him in her longing lap and he was gone forever. Guru Arjan was only forty-three years old at the time of his supreme sacrifice on 30 May 1606. Sikhs celebrate that day every year with Sweetened buttermilk Stalls called Chhabeel all over Panjab.

Thus, a magnificent life was brutally cut short at the hands of tyranny. The way in which Guru Arjan Dev Ji gave his life for the values that he cherished is of far-reaching significance. With his martyrdom, the attitude of the Sikhs toward life changed. Emulating their Guru, they would readily give their lives for any cause dear to them, whether it was a fight with the bigoted Mughals for the protection of their faith, or with the British for the freedom of the country, or even Congress after Independence for the Panjabi-speaking State. Guru Arjan’s humility is almost unparalleled. There was no trace of self; he emphasized with actions that, more important than the Guru, were the Guru’s Sikhs. Since the Delhi Sikhs did not want the Guru’s son to be married to Chandu Shah’s daughter because of his arrogance, The Guru respected their wishes, even when his life was at stake.

Guru Arjan Dev Ji has left a massive volume of 2218 hymns marked their musicality and richness of imagery. They have continued to be popular with the Sikh musicians’ generation after generation. He wrote in a simple, conversational language, reflecting the various stages of the spiritual journey of the human soul. His giant personality is the Sukhmani Sahib. The hymn of Peace, is a long poem, ranking next only to the Jap Ji Sahib of Guru Nanak Dev Ji in popularity with the devout. Though it doesn’t form part of the essential set of five hymns enjoined upon the Sikhs to be recited every day, the Sukhmani Sahib is recited by many devotees every morning and also at the hour of anxiety in the family. In Guru Arjan Dev Ji we have the culmination of all that Guru Nanak Dev Ji and the three Gurus following him stood for. They combined in themselves the best of Islam and Hinduism. Rather than alienating anyone, they strove for mutual understanding. Venerated equally by the Muslims and the Hindus, they were peace-loving, devoted to meditation and prayers, and service of their fellow-beings. In Sikhism, the stress is on universal truth. All rites, rituals, and worship of god and goddesses have been dispensed with. Sikhism comprises love of God and service of humanity.
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh