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Guru
Arjan Dev's Martyrdom(May 30 1606)
Chandu Shah, a Banker of Delhi, wielded a lot of influence at the
Mughal court. He was looking for a suitable groom for his daughter. He was
originally from Punjab and was keen that it should be a Punjabi youth. His
emissaries saw Hargobind, son of Guru Arjan Dev at Amritsar. Agents
informed about Hargobind to Chandu Shah. He however, had the ego of a
spoiled rich man. He couldn't imagine giving his daughter in marriage to
anyone below his status. He said "At best Arjan lives on the offerings of
his followers," he objected "he has no social or political position". So
proposal was accordingly dropped. Some Sikhs came to know about the Chandu
Shah's remarks and they conveyed them duly to the Guru. As it happened,
agents continued to search everywhere for a suitable match but couldn't
find anywhere. Chandu Shah's wife felt that Hargobind was a good match for
her daughter. Chandu Shah thus sent his agents to Guru asking them to
finalize this proposal of marriage. Guru's Sikhs wanted Guru to decline
this offer and Guru obliged his Sikhs by declining to accept the marriage
asking that "Daughter of such rich household was not fit for the house of
a Saint "Dervesh" like me". Chandu Shah could not imagine that the hand of
his daughter could be refused by anyone. In a fury of temper, he decided
to avenge himself on the Guru for the indignity hurled on him.
Chandu Shah and Guru's enemy Prithi Chand Sodhi, complained to
Emperor Akbar that Adi Granth, which Guru Arjan had compiled has
derogatory remarks against Muslims and Hindus. Emperor Akbar asked for
Guru Arjan. Guru Arjan send Bhai Gurdas and Baba Buddha ji to the Mughal
court along with the copy of Holy Granth. When the holy book was opened,
the first hymn written by Guru Nanak Dev was read was from clay and light
God created the world. the sky,the earth, trees and water are made by Him.
Emperor heard it and was fully satisfied. However, Chandu Shah complained
that Bhai Gurdas had read this hymn from memory and not from Guru Granth
Sahib, so he got someone named Sahib Dayal from Town and made him read the
granth. This time hymnwas
You don't see God who dwells in your heart,
And you carry about an idol around your neck
Emperor was delighted to listen to the hymn and exonerated Arjan and Sikhs
of any wrong doings against any community. He bestowed honour of robes on
Baba Buddha and Bhai Gurdas ji and sent them back.
Akbar died soon thereafter and was replaced by his son, Prince
Salim, aka Jahangir. Jahangir was a debauched drunken, fanatic who
believed in whatever his Sunni Mullah told him. He has left his kingdom on
the whims of his queen Noorjahan and was always either drunk or hunting in
wilderness. Chandu Shah complained to Jehangir again that Granth has some
derogatory references to Islam and Hinduism. Jehangir issued orders for
Guru Arjan to revise Holy Granth and remove any references to Islam and to
pay two hundred thousands rupees as fine. The Guru told Mughal emperor
Jehangir that his money was the sacred trust of the Sikh community and the
hymns in the Holy Granth were revelation in praise of God: no one dare
alter them. King was on his way to Kashmir. He was in hurry so he asked
Murtza Khan to deal with< |
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