Bed Time Stories- 6

Foreword Guru Arjan Dev was martyred at Lahore on the 30th May. 1606 A.D.. after great torture on the order of king Jahangir. After that, at the time of the ceremony of assuming leadership of Sikhs, Guru Hargobind addressed the congregation saying, "I have to raise an army that will fight the tyranny being carried out in the country. Come, join that army and get the blessings of the Guru."

The propagation of the teachings of Guru Nanak had been going on for more than a hundred years. The effect of these preachings became apparent when Sikhs from all corners of the country started coming to join the Guru's army. With that army. the Guru fought four battles with the royal army against the oppression of public rights by the Government. In all these battles, the royal army was defeated.

The victories of Sikhs in these battles proved that the Sikhs were always ready to fight for the defence of their rights. The fear of death had vanished from the hearts of the Sikhs. The teachings of the Guru had infused enthusiasm even in the minds of children to face tyranny. For example (Guru) Tegh Bahadur, the younger son of Guru Hargobind had taken part in the fourth battle of the Guru at the age of fourteen.

In August, 1643 A.D., at the time of entrusting the responsibility to his grandson (Guru) Har Rai, Guru Hargobind said. "Always keep twenty-two hundred horse-men in fighting fit condition with you." Acting upon the command of the Guru, he and his Guru Har Rai continued the programme of weapon training and teaching of scriptures as before. The teaching of Guru Nanak had awakened the people of India in such a way that they were always ready to fight tyranny. The barbarity of the rulers could not waver them from their faith. attained martyrdom smiling. Twenty stories of these brave martyrs are given in Bed Time Stories-7.

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