Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib the ninth Guru of the Sikhs was born on April 1, 1621.

His early name was Tyag Mal. He was the youngest son of Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib

(1595-1644) and Mata Nanki Ji. The other four sons included (i) Baba Gurditta Ji (ii)

Suraj Mal Ji (iii) Anil Rai Ji and (iv) Atal Rai Ji. Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib had one

daughter Bibi Viro Ji. He belonged to the Sodhi Clan of Khatris. At his place of birth

exists Gurdwara Guru Ka Mahal Sahib, 24 Guru Bazar Road, Shastri Market, Katra

Ahluwalia, Amritsar, Punjab. Gurdwara Guru Ka Mahal was earlier a humble cottage

but was rebuilt in 1573 by Sri Guru Ram Das Ji, the fourth Guru of the Sikhs. It was

the residential house of Sri Guru Ram Das Ji, who founded the city of Amritsar which

is the spiritual and cultural centre of Sikh religion. ‘Amritsar’ means the ‘pool of Nectar’

and the city gets its name from Amrit Sarovar surrounding the Golden Temple.

Currently Sri Guru Granth Sahib is kept in this three-storey building on an elevated

platform.

From his very childhood Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib used to sit inside the house and

spend most of his time in meditation. He seldom played with other boys of his age.

Due to the rich religious atmosphere at home he developed a distinct philosophical

bent of mind. Naturally he developed inspiration towards a life of selfless service and

sacrifice.

Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib was a protector of the oppressed class. He fought

against oppression and laid down his life to protect the right of the people to follow the

religion of their own choice. His bani consists of 59 sabdas and 57 slokas. These

sabdas and slokas essentialize the same spiritual experience and insights as does the

bani of his predecessor Gurus.

This year i.e., in 2025 his 404th Birth Anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib

is being celebrated on April 18 by the Sikh Sangat all over the world.

 DHANN DHANN SRI GURU TEGH BAHADUR SAHIB!

 amritkaurchd40@gmail.com

1. The Encyclopedia of Sikhism published by Punjabi University, Patiala, Part 4,

1998.

2. Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha’s Mahan Kosh (1930)

3. Gurbilas Patshahi Chhevin, Patiala, 1970.

4. Santokh Singh (Bhai) Sri Gurpratap Suraj Granth, Amritsar, 1843

5. Padam, Piara Singh and Garja Singh (ed) Guru Kian Sakhian, 1995

6. Macauliffe, M.A. The Sikh Religion, Oxford, 1909

7. Gurmukh Singh Historical Sikh Shrines, 1995