June 16th – The Day of Guru Arjan Dev Martyrdom

June 16th (according to the Sikh Calender it is also recognized on June 5th) of every year since 1606 has been very special for Sikhs  worlwide since they have commemorated the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev, the 5th Guru and the 1st Sikh Martyr. Before the arrest, torture and Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev, the Sikhs had nothing to do with weapons or violence, as all the Sikh Gurus had taught the message of compassion, love, dedication, hard work, worship of one God and the commitment to peace and harmony for all the peoples of the world.

During the Guruship of Guru Arjan thousands of the native people had began to follow the teachings of Sikhism.

The Islamic Mughal clergy, who had long chaffed at the tolerance of Akbar, grew ever more angry of the popularity and the growing following of the Sikh Gurus, but after the death of Akbar in 1605, in his son Jahangir they saw their best chance to destroy the Sikh institution. Jahangir, unlike his father was a Muslim funamentalist who soon was influenced with the idea of turning the whole of India into an Islamic State. Over time Jahangir become determined in arresting Guru Arjan, hoping to demoralize the Sikh population.

Many baseless allegations were soon levelled against Guru Arjan and Sikh community and is claimed that the rebellious Khusrau, Jahangir’s son who Akbar and many nobles of his Darbar (court) saw as a more fitting Emperor, worthy of ruling India, had been aided by Guru Arjan. But in the war of succession Jahangir had won and Khusrau had managed to hold onto Punjab alone.

In late May 1606, Guru Arjan Dev was arrested and brought to Lahore (now Pakistan) where he was subjected to severe torture by the Islamic Moghuls . Guru Arjan Dev was made to sit on a burning  plate after which red hot sand was poured over his head and body. Guru Ji’s body was blistered and burnt, as he was subjected to unrelenting torture. After several days, Guru Arjan Dev was allowed to take a cooling bath in the nearby river, Ravi.

It is said that thousands watched the Guru enter the river never to be seen again. Thus Guru Sahib embraced martyrdom on Jeth Sudi 4th (1st Harh) Samvat 1663, (May 16, 1606).