Life History Of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji

Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, the ninth guru of the sikhs was born in 1621, in Amritsar, at Guru Ka Mahal. His father was Guru Har Gobind Sahib Ji and mother Bibi Nanki Ji. He was the youngest son in the family. In 1633, he was married to Mata Gujri Ji, daughter of Lal Chand Khatree, and had a son named Gobind. He received the 'Divine Light' in 1664 and became the ninth Guru of the Sikhs.

Guru Har Gobind Sahib Ji did not choose Tegh Bahadur as his successor, instead Guru Har Gobind Sahib Ji, his grandson was choosen as his successor. Guru Har Rai ji in turn choose his youngest son Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji as his successor. Then Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji, pointed "Baba Bakala", referring to Guru Tegh Bahadur ji to be his successor. After the death of Guru Har Krishan sahib ji, Sikhs went to the village of Bakala looking for Guru Tegh Bahadur ji. On confirming they came across many saints who confirmed themselves to be the guru. The Sikhs were in a confusion as to whom they will call the Guru or was really their Guru was ?

There was a merchant named Makhan Shah. His ships, carrying valuable cargo, were caught in a fierce storm. He prayed to God and vowed to offer five hundred gold coins to the Guru, if his goods reached home safely. Thus, the true prayer though was by heart, was accepted by the Guru and his merchandise safely arrived at the port. Makhan Shah immediately set out for Delhi to give his thanks to the Guru, where he received the tragic news that Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji had passed away. He got to know that now in his palce the other Guru was in the village Bakala.

Makhan Shah, forwarded his steps to Bakala, to pay his homage to the Guru. When he found many calling themselves as Guru, on asking as who was the real Guru, he decided that he would pay homage to all of the twenty two claimants and placed two gold coins before each of them as tribute. He got to know that a holy man lived across the street. Makhan Shah went to the Guru to pay his homage, and found Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, in meditation. On placing two Gold coins in front of the Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji smiled and said "You had pledged five hundred coins". On listening this, Makhan Shah kept looking at Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and became so elated that he found the Guru. He started shouting from the rooftop 'Guru ladho re, Guru ladho re ' which meant I've found the Guru, I've found the Guru! on liatening this all the Sikhs rushed to the house of the quiet saint for darshan.



Guru Tegh Bahadur ji set out a number of missionary journeys. At first he visited Kiratpur and then to Taran Taran, Khadur Sahib, Goindwal and Amritsar. In 1665, he acquired a tract of land from the raja of Kahlur and founded the town of Chak Nanaki, named in honour of his mother, which was later known to be as Anandpur Sahib. The main aim of these tours was to spread Sikhism. During his journey, wherever he would stop, the Guru would get wells dug for the people and community kitchens. Guru Ji, left his family at Patna, as his wife Mata Gujri was expecting their child, and moved to areas which were not visited since the time of Guru Nanak. In 1666, while on his tour, Guru Tegh Bahadur ji was blessed with a child, a son named Gobind Rai.

In 1669-1670 Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji started went Patna with his family, to see his son, Gobind Rai for the first time. Guru Tegh Bahadur ji stayed here for a year and gave training to his son in the Sikh scriptures, horse riding and swordsmanship. Then in 1672-1673, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji finally returned home to Anandpur Sahib.