• Why was Guru Tegh Bahadur beheaded? Who were Bhai Mati Das Ji/Sati Das Ji and Bhai Dayala Ji? How were the first two Brahmins? Who was Bhai Jata? Names of God in Granth Sahib. Indians must value their independence and thank those who fought for it. Pranams.

Hindustan Times of 22/11/2025 had a full page insert by the Punjab government for 350^th Martyrdom Day of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji (referred to GTB).  It was dedicated to GTB, Bhai Mati Das Ji, Bhai Sati Das Ji, Bhai Dayala Ji.

GTB (Guru from 1664-1675) was the youngest son of Guru Har Govind, the sixth Guru and succeeded Har Kishen. At that time, Aurangzeb was determined to establish an Islamic State and took measures to oppress Hindus. It was during this period that Sawai Jai Singh (ruler of Amber-Jaipur) gifted Gurudwara Bangla Saheb (Delhi) to the Sikhs.

Sarah Roller wrote, “Originally, the spot had a bungalow on it known as Jaisinghpura Palace. Built by Raja Jai Singh, a 17th century ruler, the eighth guru, Guru Har Krishan stayed there whilst visiting Delhi in 1664, giving aid and fresh water from the well at the house to people who were suffering in a smallpox and cholera epidemic. As such, the waters are reputed to have healing powers. Guru Har Krishan himself then fell ill, and died in the same year.”

Why Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji was beheaded?

During Aurangzeb’s visit to Punjab in 1674-75, Hindus were converted in large numbers to Islam. (Punjab then was modern day Punjab in India and Pakistan, Haryana, J&K and parts of Himachal). In Kashmir Pandits were converted. 

In order to infuse courage in the hearts of Hindus and his disciples he undertook a tour of East Punjab. Some Kashmiri leaders from Anantnag met to apprise him of their plight. He advised them to inform the emperor, to convert Tegh Bahadur first and then all of them would embrace Islam.

Aurangzeb was already anti-Sikh. He was told that the Guru was infusing the spirit of rebellion among the Kashmiris and Jat peasantry of Punjab. It was alleged that Guru Tegh Bahadur claimed to have possessed the power of performing miracles that was opposed to the tenets of Islam.

Aurangzeb was not prepared to witness another rising in Punjab (after just suppressing the frontier tribes) so he decided to teach the Sikhs a lesson and summoned Tegh Bahadur to Delhi.

GTB reached Delhi with disciples where he was asked to perform miracles or embrace Islam. The Guru denied that he could perform miracles and did not embrace Islam.

To terrorise GTB into submission disciple Bhai Mati Das, was tied to two posts and his body was sawn across from head to loins. Bhai Dayala Ji was boiled alive in a cauldron of water. Bhai Sati Das was incinerated. GTB remained firm in his resolve, thus put in chains and beheaded on 11/11/1675. 1 Pg. 315-16. At the point in Chandni Chowk, where he was beheaded, stands Gurdwara Sis Ganj. GTB’s body was whisked off by Lakhi Shah, a Lunba Sikh and burnt before dawn. 6 Rikab Ganj is where his body was cremated (near Parliament).

GTB was beheaded because he refused to perform miracles and embrace Islam. 

Dr Satish Kapoor wrote in The Tribune, “The martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur infused fresh courage among the people to fight against tyrannous rule, and generated a heroic temper which culminated in the birth of the Khalsa.” 8

Rohit Pathania wrote for esamskriti, “I also saw a Gurdwara at the other side of the kund and learnt later that this was the place where the ninth Sikh Guru, Shri Tegh Bahadur ji, had resided during his visit to Kurukshetra.”

Sthaneshwar Mahadev and Gurdwara Nauvi Patshahi. By Rohit P.

What about Kashmiri Pandits and GTB?

I visited Anantnag in 2014 and went to the Surya Mandir complex there. Next to that is the Mattan Sahib Gurdwara that Guru Nanak ji visited in 1617 and stayed for 13 days. (original name was Bhavan. People pronounce Mattan as Mutton) The Gurdwara is part of the Mandir complex. When conversions of Pandits became rampant, they approached Guru Tegh Bahadur.  

Inside Mattan Sahib Gurdwara. 2014.

Who were Bhai Mati Das Ji/Sati Das Ji & Bhai Dayalal Ji, also killed with GTB?

According to this Indian Express article, ‘Bhai Mati Das was a Chibbar Brahmin so was his younger brother Sati Das. Bhai Mati Das was sawn alive from head to foot. Bhai Dayala Ji was boiled alive in a cauldron of water.’ Bhai Sati Das was incinerated. 6 Many members of Mati Das family had served the earlier Gurus. Source   About the third Bhai Dayala Ji, an online search states his ancestors were from Multan in modern day Pakistan. He was part of GTB’s entourage.  

Note that the verses of 22 Brahmins occurs in the Granth Sahib: Surdas, Beni, Parmananda, Trilochana, Jayadeva, Ramananda and 17 bhattas (bards).

How were Bhai Mati Das and Bhai Sati Das Brahmins and Sikhs?

According to article by H C Dutt in Dailyexcelsior the, “Mohyal-a clan of Saraswat Brahmins separated their life style from other Brahmins by serving the society with weapon in one hand and Vedas in other. The Sikh army was known for many Mohyal warriors like Baba Praga Chhibber- the Bisham Pitama who with the orders of Guru Har Govind fought and destroyed the large army of Shah Jahan. Bhai Matti Dass Chibber was the Prime Minister of GTB who fought with the army of Aurangzeb and was cut in two pieces with saw cutter by Mughals on 9 November 1675 in Chandni Chowk, Delhi. His brother Bhai Satti Dass was also burnt alive.” 4 Poonch has lots of Brahmin Sikhs.

Chibber Brahmins are found in Punjab and part of the broader Saraswat Brahmin community that are also found in Kashmir and Coastal Karnataka/Goa. SRK wife Gauri Khan maiden name was Gauri Chibber.

Sarovar at Surya Mandir complex, Anantnag. At entrance is the Gurdwara.

Who was Bhai Jata?

He was a Ranghreta Sikh who was present at the execution of GTB. He secretly carried the severed head of GTB to Anandpur. 3 Pg. 109

A lot is made of the Hill Kings not supporting GTB?

A scholar from Punjab said that when, “When Guru Tegh Bahadur was prevented from entering Hari Mandir by his Sodhi cousins, he was invited by the Himachal kings to establish Anandpur Sahib (earlier called Chak Naaki) in the Punjab hills.” 3 Pg. 209

Khushwant Singh wrote in the 31/3/1999 Outlook issue, “There is a new breed of Sikh scholars who bend backwards to prove Sikhism has taken little or nothing from Hinduism. All they need to be told is that of the 15,028 names of God that appear in the Adi Granth, Hari occurs over 8,000 times, Ram 2,533 times, followed by Prabhu, Gopal Govind, Parbrahm and other Hindu nomenclature for the Divine.The purely Sikh coinage 'Wahe Guru' appears only 16 times.” Source

Pranams to Guru Tegh Bahadur and three others who made the Supreme Sacrifice. Stories of such sacrifices should be more known so Indians value their independence and offer gratitude to those who sacrificed their lives for us.

References and Also read

1. The History and Culture of Indian People, p. 317, Volume 7, published by Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan

2. A History of Sikhs, Volume I by Khushwant Singh

3. Historical Dictionary of Sikhism by W.H. Mcleod

4. Caste in Sikhs

5. Did Sikhs save Hindus? Briefly, about the 10 Gurus

6. The Khalsa: Edited by Dr Satish Kapoor

7. Origin of the name KAUR

8. About Guru Tegh Bahadur by Dr Satish Kapoor