Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji Prakash Purab: the ninth Guru, born at Guru Ke Mahal

The Prakash Purab of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji celebrates the birth in 1621 of the ninth Sikh Guru at Guru Ke Mahal in Amritsar. He was the youngest son of Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji and Mata Nanaki Ji, and was named Tyag Mal, master of renunciation, a name that fitted his quiet, inward nature.

Brave of the sword

Tyag Mal grew up among the Sikhs who trained in arms under his father, and at about thirteen he fought beside him in the battle of Kartarpur against a Mughal force. His courage there earned him the name Tegh Bahadur, brave of the sword. He married Mata Gujri Ji, and after his father's passing he lived for many years at Bakala, spending long hours in meditation.

The Guru

When Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji said only that the next Guru was at Bakala, many claimants appeared there. The trader Bhai Makhan Shah Lubana recognised the true Guru in the meditating Tegh Bahadur Ji, and climbed onto a roof to announce it. As Guru he travelled widely through Punjab, to the east as far as Assam, and to Patna, where his son, the future Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, was born. He founded Chakk Nanaki, which grew into Anandpur Sahib. His shabads and saloks, included in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, are treasured for their call to steadiness, fearlessness and detachment. In 1675 he gave his life in Delhi for the freedom of others to follow their faith.

How the day is observed

The day is marked with Akhand Paath, kirtan and langar, especially at Gurdwara Guru Ke Mahal in Amritsar and at Baba Bakala Sahib. Many Sikhs recite his saloks, which close the reading of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji at a Sahaj or Akhand Paath.