Martyrdom is a fundamental institution of Sikhism. Sikh festivals are largely focused on the lives of the Sikh gurus and Sikh martyrs. Their martyrdoms are regarded as instructional ideals for Sikhs, and have greatly influenced Sikh culture and practices.
The term shahidi has been used by Sikhs since the 19th century to describe the act of martyrdom. A martyr is sometimes called a shahid (Punjabi: ਸ਼ਹੀਦ).[1]
Guru Arjan was the first of two Gurus martyred in the Sikh faith
Martyrdom is a fundamental institution of the Sikh faith. When one calls an individual a shahid, this connotes more than its definition in Arabic vocabulary or Islamic faith, which is death in battle with the infidels. For the Sikh, the perfect martyr or shahid is one who died not just in battle but also one who suffered death by refusing to renounce his faith, tenets and principles.[2] The Sikh experience through the years gave rise to this type of ideal martyrdom.
Qazi Rukunudin (alternatively spelt as Qazi Ruknuddin)[3] was the first Sikh martyr [4] at the time of Guru Nanak. Qazi Rukunudin [5] became a Sikh,[6] when Guru Nanak visited Arabia during his fourth Udasi. Later, Amir-e-Makkah asked him to leave Sikhism but Qazi refused to disown his faith, then 7 orders [7] were issued against him mentioning different types of tortures and method of killing him. Qazi Rukunudin was martyred around 1510-11.
Bhai Taru Popat was the second Sikh martyr at the time of Guru Nanak Dev (1469-1539). Bhai spoke against Babur, the Mughal emperor and he was set on fire by soldiers of Babur.[8] Bhai Taru Popat was Martyred in the year 1526. The martyrdom of Guru Arjan in the 17th century is regarded as a key moment in Sikh tradition which has influenced Sikh practices and beliefs,[9] helping define a deliberately-separate and militant Sikh community.[10]
Painting of Trilok Singh of the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur
The later martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur, who refused to convert to Islam in an effort to protect Hindu religious practice, is credited with making respect for freedom of conscience a key part of Sikh identity. The emperor tried to convert Guru Teg Bahadur to Islam hoping that it would be easier to convert his followers if he relented. The guru was executed because he refused. Experts stated that these events galvanized the concept of Sikh martyrdom in the sense that Guru Arjan's death brought the Sikh Panth together while Guru Teg Bahadur's execution finally gave Sikh martyrdom its identity.[11] Guru Teg Bahadur's death provided the impetus for his son, the tenth Guru Gobind Singh, to impose an outward form of Sikh identity as well as pride in his father's martyrdom.[12] To avoid fear and demoralization, he instituted a new Sikh order called Khalsa, founded on discipline and loyalty, and martyrdom became one of its foundations. Succeeding Gurus built on this new orientation, establishing a strong, self-governing warrior group.
Prominent Sikh martyrsedit
Guru Nanak (wearing yellow) conversing with Qazi Ruknuddin (wearing green), painting from an 1830's Janamsakhi (life stories). Qazi Ruknuddin is believed to be the first Sikh martyr.Fresco of Shaheed Singhs from Gurdwara Baba Atal
^Translation of Sahayto Baba Nanak by Syed Prithipal Singh and Research Paper by Historian Simar Singh
^Sahayto Baba Nanak by Tajuddin Naqashbandi , translated by Syed Prithipal Singh
^1. Ehalla, Sarup Das, Mahima Prakash. Patiala, 1971 2. Santokh Singh, Bhai, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth. Amritsar, 1927-35 3. Gian Singh. Giani, Twarikh Guru Khalsa [Reprint]. Patiala, 1970 4. Macauliffe, Max Arthur, The Sikh Religion. Oxford, 1909
^Twarikh E Arab by Khawaja zain ul abdeen, chapter Bab Ul Mecca
^Singh, Kharak (1997). "Martyrdom in Sikhism". Sikhism, Its Philosophy & History. Chandigarh: Institute of Sikh Studies: 18.
^Fenech, Louis E. (2001). "Martyrdom and the Execution of Guru Arjan in Early Sikh Sources". Journal of the American Oriental Society. 121 (1): 20–31. doi:10.2307/606726. JSTOR 606726.
^Singh, Pashuara; Fenech, Louis E. (March 2014). "The Miri-Piri Doctrine and the Khalsa". The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies. Oxford University Press. p. 236. ISBN9780199699308.
^Singh, Pasaura; Fenech, Louis (2014). The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 237. ISBN9780199699308.
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Martyrdom is a fundamental institution of Sikhism Sikh festivals are largely focused on the lives of the Sikh gurus and Sikh martyrs Their martyrdoms are regarded as instructional ideals for Sikhs and have greatly influenced Sikh culture and practices The term shahidi has been used by Sikhs since the 19th century to describe the act of martyrdom A martyr is sometimes called a shahid Punjabi ਸ ਹ ਦ 1 Contents 1 Martyrdom 2 Prominent Sikh martyrs 3 See also 4 ReferencesMartyrdom edit nbsp Guru Arjan was the first of two Gurus martyred in the Sikh faithMartyrdom is a fundamental institution of the Sikh faith When one calls an individual a shahid this connotes more than its definition in Arabic vocabulary or Islamic faith which is death in battle with the infidels For the Sikh the perfect martyr or shahid is one who died not just in battle but also one who suffered death by refusing to renounce his faith tenets and principles 2 The Sikh experience through the years gave rise to this type of ideal martyrdom Qazi Rukunudin alternatively spelt as Qazi Ruknuddin 3 was the first Sikh martyr 4 at the time of Guru Nanak Qazi Rukunudin 5 became a Sikh 6 when Guru Nanak visited Arabia during his fourth Udasi Later Amir e Makkah asked him to leave Sikhism but Qazi refused to disown his faith then 7 orders 7 were issued against him mentioning different types of tortures and method of killing him Qazi Rukunudin was martyred around 1510 11 Bhai Taru Popat was the second Sikh martyr at the time of Guru Nanak Dev 1469 1539 Bhai spoke against Babur the Mughal emperor and he was set on fire by soldiers of Babur 8 Bhai Taru Popat was Martyred in the year 1526 The martyrdom of Guru Arjan in the 17th century is regarded as a key moment in Sikh tradition which has influenced Sikh practices and beliefs 9 helping define a deliberately separate and militant Sikh community 10 nbsp Painting of Trilok Singh of the martyrdom of Guru Tegh BahadurThe later martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur who refused to convert to Islam in an effort to protect Hindu religious practice is credited with making respect for freedom of conscience a key part of Sikh identity The emperor tried to convert Guru Teg Bahadur to Islam hoping that it would be easier to convert his followers if he relented The guru was executed because he refused Experts stated that these events galvanized the concept of Sikh martyrdom in the sense that Guru Arjan s death brought the Sikh Panth together while Guru Teg Bahadur s execution finally gave Sikh martyrdom its identity 11 Guru Teg Bahadur s death provided the impetus for his son the tenth Guru Gobind Singh to impose an outward form of Sikh identity as well as pride in his father s martyrdom 12 To avoid fear and demoralization he instituted a new Sikh order called Khalsa founded on discipline and loyalty and martyrdom became one of its foundations Succeeding Gurus built on this new orientation establishing a strong self governing warrior group Prominent Sikh martyrs edit nbsp Guru Nanak wearing yellow conversing with Qazi Ruknuddin wearing green painting from an 1830 s Janamsakhi life stories Qazi Ruknuddin is believed to be the first Sikh martyr nbsp Fresco of Shaheed Singhs from Gurdwara Baba AtalGuru Arjan Dev the 5th guru of Sikhism Guru Teg Bahadur the 9th guru of Sikhism Bhai Dayala is one of the Sikhs who was martyred at Chandni Chowk at Delhi in November 1675 on account of his refusal to accept Islam Bhai Mati Das is one of the greatest martyrs in Sikh history martyred at Chandni Chowk at Delhi in November 1675 to save Kashmiri Hindus Bhai Sati Das is one of the greatest martyrs in Sikh history martyred along with Guru Teg Bahadur at Chandni Chowk at Delhi in November 1675 to save Kashmiri Hindus Daya Singh one of Panj Pyare Dharam Singh one of Panj Pyare Himmat Singh one of Panj Pyare Mohkam Singh one of Panj Pyare Sahib Singh one of Panj Pyare Sahibzada Ajit Singh the eldest of Guru Gobind Singh s four sons Sahibzada Jujhar Singh the second son of Guru Gobind Singh Sahibzada Zorawar Singh was the third of Guru Gobind Singh s four sons nbsp Painting of Mata Gujri Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh after the Anandpur battle reach Sirhind where the princes Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh were executed by immurement circa 19th century Sahibzada Fateh Singh was the youngest of Guru Gobind Singh s four sons Bibi Dalair Kaur Baba Moti Ram Mehra Chali Mukte Ajay Singh was the son of Banda Singh Bahadur He was the youngest martyr in the world at the age of 4 Banda Singh Bahadur was the Sikh Military Commander Appointed By Guru Gobind Singh Bhai Tara Singh Wan was martyred in the Battle of Wan Bhai Mani Singh Bhai Mahi Singh Bhai Taru Singh Baba Deep Singh was avenging the desecration of the Golden Temple by the Afghan army In 1757 he led an army to defend the Golden Temple Baba Gurbaksh Singh Bhai Garja Singh Bhai Bota Singh Bhai Subeg Singh Bhai Gurbaj Singh Baba Bir Singh refused to attack the Sikhs attacking him and was martyred by a shell while meditating over the Guru Granth Sahib 13 Akali Phoola Singh Hari Singh Nalwa Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was declared a martyr by the Akal Takht 14 Major General Shabeg Singh was declared a martyr by the Akal Takht 15 Harjinder Singh Jinda was declared a national martyr by the Akal Takht 16 Sukhdev Singh Sukha was declared a national martyr by the Akal Takht 17 Satwant Singh assassin of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was declared a martyr by the Akal Takht 18 Beant Singh assassin of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was declared a martyr by the Akal Takht 19 Kehar Singh was declared martyr by the Akal Takht 20 Jaswant Singh Khalra prominent Sikh Human Rights Activist famous for his research concerning more than 25000 killings in the Punjab And many more who died in the Hill States Sikh Wars Early Mughal Sikh Wars Mughal Sikh Wars Wadda ghallughara Chotta gallughara and the 1984 Sikh massacre See also editJoti Jot Shaheed Shrine KharkuReferences edit Nesbitt Eleanor 2005 09 22 Sikhism A Very Short Introduction Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 157806 9 Kohli p 54 Makka Madinah di Ghosht Translation of Sahayto Baba Nanak by Syed Prithipal Singh and Research Paper by Historian Simar Singh Sahayto Baba Nanak by Tajuddin Naqashbandi translated by Syed Prithipal Singh 1 Ehalla Sarup Das Mahima Prakash Patiala 1971 2 Santokh Singh Bhai Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth Amritsar 1927 35 3 Gian Singh Giani Twarikh Guru Khalsa Reprint Patiala 1970 4 Macauliffe Max Arthur The Sikh Religion Oxford 1909 Twarikh E Arab by Khawaja zain ul abdeen chapter Bab Ul Mecca Singh Kharak 1997 Martyrdom in Sikhism Sikhism Its Philosophy amp History Chandigarh Institute of Sikh Studies 18 Fenech Louis E 2001 Martyrdom and the Execution of Guru Arjan in Early Sikh Sources Journal of the American Oriental Society 121 1 20 31 doi 10 2307 606726 JSTOR 606726 Singh Pashuara Fenech Louis E March 2014 The Miri Piri Doctrine and the Khalsa The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies Oxford University Press p 236 ISBN 9780199699308 Singh Pasaura Fenech Louis 2014 The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies Oxford Oxford University Press p 237 ISBN 9780199699308 Singh amp Fenech p 237 Khurana J S Bir Singh Baba 1768 1844 Encyclopaedia of Sikhism Punjabi University Patiala Retrieved 4 September 2015 Or Framing Akal Takht declares Bhindranwale martyr Rediff com India News Retrieved 2021 11 18 https sgpc net shaheedi samagam organised at sri akal takht sahib to commemorate martyrs of june 1984 holocaust Das Celebsopinionvir 12 October 2012 November 17 2021 The Khalistan episode cuts both ways requires healing and reconciliation Brijesh Kalappa Blog Retrieved 2021 11 18 Das Celebsopinionvir 12 October 2012 November 17 2021 The Khalistan episode cuts both ways requires healing and reconciliation Brijesh Kalappa Blog Retrieved 2021 11 18 The Hindu National Indira Gandhi killers labelled martyrs Archived from the original on 2008 01 10 Retrieved 2021 11 18 The Hindu National Indira Gandhi killers labelled martyrs Archived from the original on 2008 01 10 Retrieved 2021 11 18 https singhstation net 2014 01 sri akal takht sahib honours bhai satwant singh and bhai kehar singh https en wikipedia org wiki Moti Ram Mehra Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Martyrdom in Sikhism amp oldid 1214496956, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
