Aurangzeb ordered mass conversion of Hindus to Islam to improve his image in the Islamic world. He imprisoned his father and starved him to death. He murdered his two brothers Dara Shikoh and Murrad He grievously insulted his son Muazzam (Bahadur Shah). :

The governor of Kashmir was converting Kashmiri pandits so much that removal of Janeos (Hindu sacred thread) weighing one and a quarter maund (SO kilograms) a day was the target, indicating 5000 conversions a day,

On the advice of Pandit Kirpa Ram a worshipper of the group to Shri Amaranth, the Kashmiri Pandit came to Punjab to see the Ninth Nanak for protection (because he is the savior of Kaliyuga), and reached Anandpur via Amritsar. After hearing the tale of Kashmiri Pandits, Guru went into deep thought. Or enquiring from the father, about the matter Guru Teg Bahadur said, they can be saved only, if a great soul can offer himself for a sacrifice. “Young Gobind Rai (Nine years old) said,” then who can be greater than you. “Then, Guru set word to the king, “if you can convert me to Islam, then the whole of India would get converted automatically.” This outraged the king who then ordered the arrest of Guru Teg Bahadur and had him brought to Delhi. Guru himself journeyed to Delhi along with trusted aides: Bhai Mati Dass, Bhai Dyala and Bhai Sati Dass. As soon as they reached Delhi, they were arrested. There were temptation offered and threats of torture and deaths too. None of these could effect anyone of them. Preparatory to the second Supreme Sacrifice and in order to shake the faith of Guru Teg Bahadur, his companions were persecuted in most horrifying ways in front of the eyes of Guru Teg Bahadur.

Bhai Mati Dass, the Dewan of the Ninth Master, was sawed into two pieces. While the saw was passing through his head, he was reciting the Japji from his sacred mouth, Bhai Dyala was made to sit in a boiling cauldron. Bhai Sati Dass was enveloped in a cotton pad and then set on fire like a torch and roasted alive before the eyes of his mentor.

Guru witnessed all this but did not flinch. He, then, was beheaded publicly by the Jalaludin state executor, at the Fatwa of Qazi in the presence of thousands of people. The execution was followed by a dust storm unknown in the history of Delhi, Thus, Guru staked his life for the sake of people’s faith with no Compromise On principles leading to a life of contemplation. BY: Principal T.S. Sandhu.

Article extracted from this publication >> October 9, 1992