Guru Tegh Bahadur’s Martyrdom Day 2022: 8 powerful quotes by the ninth Sikh Guru


Guru Tegh Bahadur was the ninth Sikh Guru and was among the founders of Sikh religion. He was the youngest son of Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh guru and was born in Amritsar in 1621. He was a poet by heart and deeply spiritual. He wrote extensively on body, mind, sorrow, human attachments, dignity, service, death, and deliverance and many of his hymns are part of Guru Granth Sahib God. He spread his knowledge and teachings of Guru Nanak, the first Sikh guru by travelling to different places from Dhaka to Assam. He also worked towards setting up community water wells and langars which provided food to the poor. (Also read: Many long weekends on public holiday list for 2023)

Guru Tegh Bahadur’s martyrdom is commemorated as Shaheedi Divas of Guru Tegh Bahadur on November 24 every year. He was executed on the orders of Aurangzeb, the sixth Mughal emperor in Delhi. Sikh holy premises Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib and Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in Delhi mark the places of execution and cremation of Guru Tegh Bahadur.

On Guru Tegh Bahadur’s Martyrdom Day, here are some of his powerful quotes and couplets:

“True realisation of the actual nature of this material world, its perishable, transitory and illusory aspects best dawns on a person in suffering.”

“He has given you your body and wealth, but you are not in love with Him. Says Nanak, you are insane! Why do you now shake and tremble so helplessly?”

“For whom praise and dispraise are the same, and on whom greed and attachment have no effect. Consider him only enlightened whom pain and pleasure do not entrap. Consider such a person saved.”

“Give up pride and attachment to mammon, and devote your heart to the worship of God. Saint Nanak, this is the way to salvation – through the teachings of the Guru find it.” Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji

“Remembering Him in meditation, salvation is attained; vibrate and meditate on Him, O my friend.”

“Why go to search forests (to find Him). He who dwells in all hearts but remains ever pure, pervades thy heart also. Just as fragrance fills the rose and reflection the mirror, the Lord pervades all without a break; search Him inside thee. The Guru hath revealed this knowledge that the Aum pervades inside and outside. Saint Nanak, without knowing thyself the scum of doubt will not be removed.”

“O saints, renounce the Ego, and always flee from lust, wrath and evil company. One should consider pain and pleasure, honour and dishonour the same. One should renounce both praise and blame and even the search for salvation. This is a very difficult path and rare is a (Gurmukh) pious person who knows how to tread it.”

“If the hands, feet, or body are covered with dust, they are cleansed by washing them with water. If clothes are made unclean, by use of soap they are washed of impurity. If the buddhi (intellect) is defined by sin, love of the name will purify it.”