Guru Teg Bahadur Ji: An Eternal Guide

“There are those whose lives affect all others around them. Quietly touching one heart, which in turn, touches another, they reach out to ends further than they would ever know.”

– William Bradfield

Guru Teg Bahadur ji was the ninth of ten Gurus who founded the Sikh religion. He was a compassionate person with high values and was immensely respected by the society. He is honoured and remembered as the man who championed the rights for all religion’s freedom. Guru Teg Bahadur ji composed 116 Shabads and 15 Ragas, and his teachings have been included in the ‘Adi Granth’, the holy book of Sikhs. In today’s fast paced and ever-changing world, the lessons he gave us continue to be as relevant as ever.

Nowadays, most people have many duties to fulfil, and they feel burdened. Social media has led to people comparing themselves with others, and they have the desire to possess the luxuries the other person has. Teenagers wish to be accepted, liked and praised by their peers. In such a situation, Guru Teg Bahadur ji’s words guide us to the right path. He had told his disciples, over four centuries ago, to overcome greed, desire, ego and pain. According to him, one should consider pain and pleasure, honour and dishonour and praise and blame to be the same. We can achieve peace of mind only if we do so.

Guru Teg Bahadur ji, like all the other Sikh Gurus, believed in religious harmony, respecting nature and empowering women. Achieving all of these goals is essential for us today. He was a merciful protector of the weak and had also stood up for the rights of the Hindus, and was even martyred in the process. He was a person who practised what he preached, and had said, “Give up your head, but forsake not those whom you have undertaken to protect. Sacrifice your life, but relinquish not your faith.” Through these simple lines he taught us two invaluable lessons – selflessly serving others, and honouring our commitment. These are some values all of us should try to inculcate in our lives, especially in these unprecedented times.

Guru Teg Bahadur ji taught us to view the setbacks and hurdles in our lives as an opportunity to learn and grow. According to him, a person can never be empathetic unless he goes through difficult times himself, and can never truly value greater things otherwise. We learn how to look at the bright side and the power of gratitude from him. These thoughts are very deep, and can contribute in making our lives more meaningful. Also, Guru Teg Bahadur ji emphasised on the omnipresence of the Almighty. According to him, God is present in nature, and in the heart of each human being. This is good to remember whenever we feel frightened or helpless, for truth and goodness are present everywhere - inside us and outside us.

Often, we think that the wisdom given to us by our leaders centuries ago is now outdated and irrelevant. However, if we give it a thought, we realise that the knowledge they gave us is timeless and will always stay relevant. Guru Teg Bahadur ji has left an indelible impression on our hearts and he will always live on in each one of us. We will continue to follow the path he showed us and will always remember his ideals. Let us all get together and work unitedly to make his visions and dreams for the society come true.

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I hope you enjoyed reading this article. The times are tough, but with empathy, courage and determination, we will surely emerge victorious. This 400th Prakash Parv of Guru Teg Bahadur ji, may he bless us and give us strength!

Love Goohika ✨