Guru Arjan Singh and his martyrdom

  

Guru Arjan Singh and his martyrdom

 

Dr. Vivek Arya

 

Guru Arjan Singh was fifth Guru and he was credited for building Hari Mandir, Amritar Sarovar and compilation of Adi Granth. After the death of Akbar Jahangir and Prince Khusrau were having contest for throne. Prince Khusrau while visiting Lahore visited Guru Arjan Singh. Guru helped him when he was in bad condition. This became thorn in the flesh for Jahangir.

 

 Shaikh Ahmad Sarhindi advisor to Jahangir incited him against Guru Arjan when he halted at Sarhind in pursuit of Khusrau. Shaikh Farid Bukhari was leading the vanguard of the army which was pursuing the Prince. He was the first leader to know about Khusrau's visit to the Guru. He declared that the Guru should have captured him and ought to have handed him over to the Emperor. He therefore considered the Guru a rebel. Jahangir also took the same view. He wrote in his autobiography:

 

"A Hindu named Arjan lived at Goindwal on the bank of river Beas in the garb of a Pir and Shaikh. As a result many of the simpleminded Hindus as well as ignorant and foolish Muslims had been persuaded to adopt his ways and manners, and he had raised aloft the standard of sainthood and holiness. He was called Guru. From all sides cowboys and idiots became his fast followers. This business had been flourishing for three or four generations. For a long time it had been in my mind to put a stop to this vain affair (dukan e-bâtil) or to bring him into the fold of Islam. In these days when Khusrau passed along this road, this foolishly insignificant fellow (mardak-emajhul) proposed to wait on him. Khusrau happened to halt at the place where he lived. He came and met him. He discussed several matters with him and made on his forehead a finger-mark in saffron. In the terms of Hindus it is called Qashqa and is considered propitious."

 

In pursuit of Khusrau Jahangir halted at Goindwal while his army had gone ahead

to capture Khusrau. Jahangir writes:

 

"I call God to witness that while at Goindwal, at this perilous crisis, I

experienced some strong forebodings that Khusrau was coming to my presence."

Just then the news came that royal forces were victorious and Khusrau had been

taken prisoner.Khusrau was arrested on the eastern bank of river Chenab on April 26, 1606. He was produced before Jahangir on May 1 and was partially blinded. The Emperor then summoned Guru Arjan to Lahore. The Guru had realized that being surrounded by enemies on all sides his end was near.

 

Jahangir asked him why he had helped Khusrau. The Guru replied that he gave him

some money for his journey and not to help him in rebellion against him. He was

in a wretched condition. He had to show him some consideration out of regard for

Emperor Akbar who had been very kind to him. Heartlessness and ingratitude were

opposed to the principles of Guru Nanak's house. Jahangir did not feel satisfied. He wanted to punish him with death. He was given two options either to pay fine of two lakh or face death.

 

The Sikhs of Lahore showed willingness to raise subscriptions to pay the fine.

The Guru issued strict injunctions not to do so.

 

 Jahangir writes:

 

 "I ordered  that he should be summoned. His houses, camps and sons were given over to Murtza Khan. His property and cash were confiscated. I issued instructions that he should be put to death by torture."

 

The Guru was imprisoned in the Lahore Fort. May-June are the hottest months

there. He was chained to a post in an open place exposed to the sun from morning

to evening. Below his feet a heap of sand was put which burnt like a furnace.

Boiling water was poured on his naked body at intervals. His body was covered

with blisters all over. In this agony the Guru used to utter Terä kiya mitha läge

Nam padarath Nanak mänge

 

[Whatever you ordain appears sweet. I supplicate for the gift of Name.]

 

The Guru suffered from 'heat apoplexy.' Sewing up political prisoners in fresh

hides of animals seems to be a general practice in those days. A month earlier

two main supporters of Khusrau had been treated similarly. Husain Beg was sewn

in a fresh ox hide and Abdur Rahim in the green skin of an ass. The same

punishment was now proposed for the Guru. When the raw hide of a cow was brought before him, he shuddered at its sight. The Guru asked permission to bathe in the Ravi as he did not want to die unclean. He was sent there with a strong escort, but the swift current owing to the melting of snow carried away his weak and emaciated body. This took place on 30 May, 1606. The Guru was only 43 years old. His smadhi was later on erected at the site on the bank of river Ravi opposite to the Fort of Lahore.

 

Shaikh Ahmad of Sarhind, who was for-most in advising cruel punishment for Guru expressed utmost delight at Guru Arjan's murder. In a letter written to Shaikh Farid Bukhari entitled Murtza Khan, the Governor of Panjab, he said:

 

“The execution at this time of the accursed Kafir of Goindwal with whatever

motive . . . is an act of the highest grace for the followers  of Islam. He

added that the Hindus should be treated as dogs. Jazia should be imposed upon

them and cow slaughter should be allowed in the open.”

 

Readers are wiser enough to decide the lesson from the great sacrifice of the Guru Arjan Dev.

 

[This article is based on book Hitsory of the Sikhs by Hari Ram Gupta Vol 1 p. 148-153]