Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib, Chandni Chowk, Delhi

Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib: Located in the heart of Old Delhi’s Chandni Chowk area, Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib is an important gurudwara (Sikh temple) that was built in honor of the guru Tegh Bahadur, who was beheaded here by Emperor Aurangzeb for refusing to convert to Islam. The trunk of the tree under which Bahadur was beheaded remains in the complex to this day.

Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib: New Delhi

Pandit Kripa Ram Dutt along with about 500 Kashmiri Pandits (on 25th May 1675) begged Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji to save them and their religion (hinduism) in the face of mughal tyranny.

As a result Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji was put in chains and ordered to be tortured until he would accept Islam.

When Guru Tegh Bahadur could not be persuaded to abandon his faith to save himself from persecution, he was asked to perform miracles to prove his divinity.

Refusing to do so, Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded here in public at Chandni Chowk on 24th November 1675.

Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji is known as ‘Hind Di Chadar‘ ie. ‘The Shield of India’, as he gave up his life to protect the religious freedom of non-muslims in mughal India.

Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Chandni Chowk, Delhi, has been built over the area where Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded.

Gurdwara Sri Rakab Ganj Sahib, also in Delhi, is built on the site of the residence of Lakhi Shah Vanjara, a Sikh of the Guru, who burnt his house in order to cremate the Guru’s body.

The severed head of Guru Tegh Bahadur, executed in Delhi, was brought to Kiratpur by Bhai Jaita (later Bhai Jivan Singh).

Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji travelled from Anandpur Sahib, to Kiratpur Sahib, to receive the head of his father, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.

Gurdwara Sri Bibangarh Sahib Kiratpur marks the spot where the sacred head was received and placed on a biban to be carried for cremation to Anandpur (at Gurdwara Sri Sis Ganj Sahib Anandpur) in a procession singing the sacred hymns from Gurbani.

Kangaroo Court:

Guru Tegh Bahadur’s council of administration consisted of Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das, Bhai Dyal Das and Bhai Gurditta. When Guru Tegh Bahadur was arrested and taken to Delhi, these four persons went with Guru Tegh Bahadur. At Delhi, Guru Tegh Bahadur and his four companions were summoned into the council chamber of the Red Fort. Guru Tegh Bahadur was asked numerous questions on religion, Hinduism, Sikhism and Islam. It was suggested to the Guru that he should embrace Islam.

On the Guru’s emphatic refusal to abjure his faith, he was asked why he was called Teg Bahadur (gladiator or Knight of the Sword; before this, Guru Sahib name is said to have been Tyag Mal). Bhai Mati Das immediately replied that the Guru had won the title by inflicting a heavy blow on the imperial forces at the young age of fourteen. Bhai Mati Das was reprimanded for his breach of etiquette and outspokenness. As for the Kashmiri Pandits, it was Guru Sahib’s duty to raise his voice against cruelty and injustice. Guru Tegh Bahadur and his companions were ordered to be imprisoned and tortured until they agreed to embrace Islam.

After a few days, Guru Teg Bahadur and three of his companions were produced before the Qazi of the city. Bhai Gurditta had managed to escape. Bhai Gurditta remained in hiding in the city, and in spite of all the efforts of the Government, he could not be traced. The Qazi turned to Bhai Mati Das first and asked him to embrace Islam. He refused to do so. He was condemned to an instantaneous death.

Martyrdom:

The executioners were called, Guru Teg Bahadur and all the three of his companions were made to sit at the place of the execution. Bhai Sati Das approached the Guru with folded hands and asked for his blessings, saying that he was happy to be the first to achieve martyrdom.

Guru Teg Bahadur blessed him telling that they must resign themselves cheerfully to the will of the Lord. He praised him for his lifelong single-minded devotion to him and his cause. With tears in his eyes, he bade him farewell saying his sacrifice would occupy an abiding place in history. Bhai Sati Das touched the Guru’s feet, embraced his friend and brother, and came to his place.

Bhai Dyal Das abused the Emperor and his courtiers for this infernal act. He was tied up like a round bundle and thrown into a huge cauldron of boiling oil. He was roasted alive into a block of charcoal. Bhai Mati Das condemned these brutalities. He was hacked to pieces limb by limb. The Guru witnessed all this savagery with divine calm. Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Dyal Das and Bhai Sati Das were tortured and executed on three consecutive days. Sikhs derive inspiration from these 3 Sikh martyrs and emulate their examples that no sacrifice is too high for one’s religion and faith.

With the execution of Bhai Sati Das, the Kazis of Emperor Aurangzeb were disheartened and dismayed. They were expecting that at least one among the three of Guru’s Sikhs would be attracted by lures of luxurious lives out of love for life and agreed to get converted to Islam. Now they were left with no illusions that they could still persuade Guru Tegh Bahadur to adopt Islam, thereby opening the floodgate of conversion of the hindus of India into Islam.

Guru Teg Bahadur was beheaded by an executioner called Jalal-ud-din Jallad, who belonged to the town of Samana in present-day Haryana. The spot of the execution was under a banyan tree (the trunk of the tree and well nearby where he took a bath are still preserved), opposite the Sunheri Masjid near the Kotwali in Chandni Chowk where he was lodged as a prisoner, on 11th November 1675.

Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib:

The present Gurdwara structure was built in 1930. The trunk of tree under which the Guru was beheaded is also preserved here as is the well from which he took bath while in the prison. Also standing adjoining the Gurdwara is the Kotwali (police station), where Guru Tegh Bahadur was imprisoned and his Sikhs were tortured.

On 11 March 1783, Sikh military leader Baghel Singh (1730–1802) marched into Delhi along with his army. He occupied the Diwan-i-Am, the mughal emperor Shah Alam II made a settlement with them agreeing to allow Baghel Singh to raise Gurdwaras on Sikh historic sites in the city and receive six annas in a rupee (37.5%) of all the octroi duties in the capital. Gurdwara Sri Sis Ganj Sahib Delhi was one of Gurdwaras built by him, within the space of eight months, from April to November 1783.

However, due to volatile political climate in the coming century, the site alternated between being a mosque and a Gurdwara. The site became a dispute between two communities and litigation followed. Eventually after prolonged ligation the Privy Council during British Raj ruled in the favour of the Sikh litigants and the present structure was added in 1930, the gold guilding of the domes was added in the coming years. The Kotwali was handed over to the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee around 2000.

Things to Know Before You Go:

• The gurudwara is a must-visit for history lovers and those with an interest in spirituality.
• Men and women should cover their heads and remove their shoes before entering the gurudwara.
• Most people sit on the floor, but chairs are available for those who cannot do so.

How to Get There:

The temple is located in the Chandni Chowk neighborhood of Old Delhi, a seven-minute walk from the Chandni Chowk metro station on the Yellow Line and the Lal Qila metro station on the Violet Line. The area is crowded and best navigated on foot, but those who have a hard time walking can ride a bicycle-rickshaw from either metro station.