Martydom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji Maharaj - Part 1

[singh khalistan da]

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa

Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

MARTYRDOM OF GURU ARJAN:

During the rein of Guru Arjan, crowds were converted to Sikhism in

Punjab and in various other parts of India and even in the neighboring

countries. It is said that the

hilly Rajas of Kulu, Suket, Haripur and Chamba visited the Guru and

became his followers as did the Raja of Mandi. Guru's fame and influence

became widely spread.

At that time Chandu Lal was Emperor Akbar's Diwan or financial advisor.

He was a Khatri by caste and was originally an inhabitant of Rohela

village in Gurdaspur

district of Punjab. His official duties necessitated him to reside in

Delhi. He had a young daughter of extreme beauty. Her mother, one day,

said to her father, “Our daughter is growing to maturity. We should

search for a husband for her." Chandu Lal,therefore, sent his family priest

and barber in search for a suitable match for his

daughter. The priest and the barber searched every city in the Punjab

but could not find a satisfactory match. One day again Chandu's wife

insisted that they should continue their efforts. So the priest and the

barber were again despatched for the purpose. They searched and searched

and when they reached Lahore, they heard about the Guru's young son,

Har Gobind. They went to Amritsar and found Har

Gobind as the most descent match for the young girl. They came back and

reported to Chandu accordingly. They gave their analysis on the

excellence of Har Gobind and

the enormous respect that his father was commanding in the city of

Amritsar. Chandu was not pleased hearing praises of the Guru, so he asked

the priest and the barber,

“Do you think him equal to me? Guru's caste is inferior to me. You

desire to put the ornamental tile of top storey into a gutter! Where am I,

the imperial finance minister;

and where is the Guru, though he may be an object of veneration to his

followers?"

After the husband and wife had argued the whole night over the matter,

it was decided that Sada Kaur (their daughter) should be given in

marriage to Har Gobind. The marriage presents were, therefore, dispatched to

Amritsar.

It came to the ears of the Sikhs of Delhi that Chandu had used

derogatory expressions for the Guru. They sent a messenger with a letter

explaining Chandu's utterances and prayed to the Guru to reject his alliance.

The Sikhs of Delhi as well as of Amritsar prayed that the alli ance of

a haughty head like Chandu should not be accepted. The Guru was obliged

to accept the advice of his Sikhs and so with utmost humility he told

the matchmakers, “I am contented with my humble lot and desire not an

alliance with the great. An ornamental tile should not be put in a

gutter."

While the matchmakers were still remonstrating, a Sikh, Narain Das, a

grandson of Bhai Paro (a famous Sikh of Guru Amar Das) stood in the

congregation and beseeched the Guru, “O king, I am the dust of thy lotus

feet. I have a daughter whom my wife and I have vowed to offer to thy

son. If you make her the slave of thy feet, I shall be fortunate. I am a

poor unhonored Sikh and thou art the honor of the unhonored." The Guru

replied, “If you have love in your heart, then your proposal is

acceptable to me." Narain Das at once went and purchased the marriage presents

and betrothal ceremony was performed. Upon this another Sikh, Hari

Chand stood up and appealed, “O true king, I have vowed to give my daughter

to thy son. If my petition please thee, I will give my daughter as a

servant to Har Gobind." The Guru though unwilling at first to accept a

second wife for his son, felt that he could not reject the offer of a

faithful Sikh.

All this happened in the presence of Chandu's matchmakers who went back

to Delhi and disappointed their master with sad news. Chandu was very

much incensed and he wrote a letter to the Guru apologizing for his

thoughtless expressions. He pleaded with the Guru that if he accepted his

alliance, he would give large dowry to his daughter and he would have

many favors conferred on him (Guru) by the Emperor. In the end he wrote

that he was already on bad terms with his brother Prithi Chand and if he

fell out with him too, it might ignite a blazing fire which would be

difficult to extinguish.

He despatched the letter with the priest. The Guru having read it,

stated, “It is the pride that ruins men. Man suffers for his acts. They

whom the Creator joineth, are

united and they whom men joineth, are not. It is the Guru's rule to

comply with the wishes of his Sikhs. Their words are immutable. As for his

threats, I have no fear

because God is the guardian of all." The priest returned with this

message. This set the stage for Chandu's evil designs against the Guru.

Part 1 - To be continued....

Dhan Guru Arjan Dev Ji Maharaj

Extracted from the book, SIKH RELIGION