New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid tribute to the ninth Sikh Guru Teg Bahadur on his birth anniversary, saying his life serves as a guiding light, illuminating the path of righteousness and devotion.

ਮੈਂ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਤੇਗ਼ ਬਹਾਦਰ ਜੀ ਨੂੰ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ ਪੁਰਬ ਦੇ ਪਵਿੱਤਰ ਮੌਕੇ 'ਤੇ ਸਿਜਦਾ ਕਰਦਾ ਹਾਂ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਭਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਲੱਖਾਂ ਲੋਕ ਹਿੰਮਤ, ਦਇਆ ਅਤੇ ਨਿਰਸਵਾਰਥ ਦੇ ਰੂਪ ਵਜੋਂ ਚੇਤੇ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਜੀਵਨ ਇੱਕ ਮਾਰਗ-ਦਰਸ਼ਕ ਰੋਸ਼ਨੀ ਵਜੋਂ ਕੰਮ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਜੋ ਨੇਕੀ ਅਤੇ ਸ਼ਰਧਾ ਦੇ ਮਾਰਗ ਨੂੰ ਉਜਾਗਰ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ।

ਨਿਆਂ… pic.twitter.com/y6icmuTaba

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 29, 2024

Parkash Purab is a term used in Sikhism to refer to the birth anniversary celebrations of the ten Sikh gurus.

"Parkash" means "illumination" or "light," while "Purab" means "day."

He was born in Amritsar, Punjab, India in 1621 and was the youngest son of Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh guru. Considered a principled and fearless warrior, he was a learned spiritual scholar and a poet whose 115 hymns are included in the Guru Granth Sahib, which is the main text of Sikhism

Guru Tegh Bahadur was the ninth of ten gurus who founded the Sikh religion and was the leader of Sikhs from 1665 to 1675.

In August 1664 Tegh Bahadur was appointed as the ninth guru of Sikhs.

Sikh holy premises Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib and Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in Delhi mark the places of execution and cremation of Guru Tegh Bahadur

As had been the custom among Sikhs after the execution of Guru Arjan by Mughal Emperor Jahangir, Guru Tegh Bahadur was surrounded by armed bodyguards, but he otherwise lived an austere life.

Guru Tegh Bahadur travelledextensively in different parts of the country to preach the teachings of Guru Nanak, the first Sikh guru.

The places he visited and stayed in became sites of Sikh temples. During his travels, he started a number of community water wells and langars (community kitchens for the poor).

Tegh Bahadur visited the towns of Mathura, Agra, Allahabad and Varanasi.

After his visit to Assam, Bengal, and Bihar, Guru Tegh Bahadur visited Rani Champa of Bilaspur, who offered to give the Guru a piece of land in her state. The Guru bought the site for 500 rupees. There, he founded the city of Anandpur Sahib in the foothills of the Himalayas.

Guru Tegh Bahadur composed 116 hymns in 15 ragas (musical measures and these were included in the Guru Granth Sahib (pages 219–1427) by his son, Guru Gobind Singh.

They cover a wide range of spiritual topics, including human attachments, the body, the mind, sorrow, dignity, service, death, and deliverance.

After the execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, a number of Sikh gurudwaras were built in his and his associates' memory.

The Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Chandni Chowk, Delhi, was built over where he was beheaded.

Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, also in Delhi, is built where one of Guru Tegh Bahadur's disciples burned his house down to cremate the Guru's body

Beyond the Sikh community, Guru Tegh Bahadur's teachings offer invaluable lessons for humanity.
Guru Tegh Bahadur's life exemplifies the strength of courage and compassion, emphasising the importance of defending others' rights. His message of universal love and equality serves as a beacon of hope in a world seeking unity and peace.

In a world grappling with conflicts and divisions, Guru Tegh Bahadur's legacy reminds us that peace lies in embracing shared humanity, respecting differences, and upholding fundamental rights.

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By embracing his teachings, we can work towards creating a more inclusive, peaceful, and harmonious world, where love, compassion, and justice prevail