Guru Tegh Bahadur, “the prince of Martyrs and the Champion of religious freedom” was executed in 1675.The martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur was a momentous event and a turning point in the history of Sikh religion and community.It produced both immediate and far reaching effects which may be studied as under :

1. The martyrdom of the ninth Guru confirmed that to die for Dharma was a sacred tradition of the Sikh pontiffs :

The execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur confirmed that to make sacrifices and die for the protection of Dharma had become a tradition with the family of the Gurus. Guru Tegh Bahadur came from a family who had a unique record of service and sacrifice, the like of which, no single family in the history of country can claim.About seventy years ago, Guru Tegh Bahadur's grandfather, Guru Arjan Dev, suffered torture and execution at the hands of Mughal emperor Jahangir. His father Guru Hargobind first underwent long imprisonment and later was forced to enter into open conflict with the Mughal government. Now Guru Tegh Bahadur gave a courageous fight to the oppressive forces of the time and died a martyr so that the values he cherished might live. His noble legacy did not end with Guru Teg Bahadur. His son, the famous Guru Gobind Singh and his four grandsons, Ajit Singh, Jujhar Singh, Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh in their turn performed their part with doubled zeal and honour.

2. Led Guru Gobind Singh to make a great resolve :

The execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur produced an indelible impression on the mind of his son Guru Gobind Singh. His first thought, naturally was to avenge his father's tragic death. He felt-that his mind had sketched out his future career. He must stand up for the down-trodden Hindu community and its despised faith and to avenge their wrongs by every means in his power. He knew his limitations. He was aware that the Mughals dominated the country and had unlimited resources at their disposal. He was aware that the Hindu Rajas would practically support the Mohammedan government, and the mass of the Hindus had no desire to become independent of their rule. He also knew that his military strength and other resources were only equal to that of a petty chief. Despite all these hurdles, he was determined to cast the die, this decision of Guru Gobind Singh was the direct outcome of the execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur.

3. Created a wave of indignation among the Hindus :

Guru Tegh Bahadur's execution was universally regarded by the Hindus as sacrifice for their faith. The whole of the Punjab began to burn with indignation and revenge. All the Hindus of the Punjab were stirred to their very depths and they took a vow not to submit to the tyranny of the Mughals and fight them to the last to live with dignity and honour. The freedom loving and sturdy jats of Majha and Malwa were in need of a leader under whose banner they would light and avenge the insult done to their religion. This leadership was provided by the youthful Gobind.

4. Produced the militant bortherhood of Khalsa :

The execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur created such condition that Sikhism was threatened with extinction, root and branch. Guru Gobind Singh realised that there was no other way of self defence than the use of arms. So he decided to carry the programme of Guru Hargobind to its logical conclusion i.e., to covert the peaceful sect of spiritual devotees into a well-disciplined and well-organised military order. He gave this decision a practical shape in 1699 about 24 years after his father's execution. In the intervening period, he inculcated a spirit of self sacrifice for the sake of their religion among his followers. The creation of Khalsa had a miraculous effect in uplifting the depressed and down trodden. His touch transferred the dregs of humanity into droughty warriors, thoroughly self-respecting, eminently chivalrous and totally indifferent to hardships and sufferings.

5. Guru Tegh Bahadur's martyrdom saved Hinduism from extinction :

Guru Gobind Singh wrote in Bachitra Natak, the execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur saved the Hindu religion. When Guru Tegh Bahadur heard the woes of the Kashmiri Pundits, he rightly observed that there was a need of his supreme sacrifice, for without this, the reign of terror perpetrated by the Mughal tyrant would never come to an end. Indeed after Guru Tegh Bhadur's execution, the Hindus of Punjab, hitherto dredges of humanity, rose with a new fervour and determined to fight against the Mughal oppression. Their efforts did not prove futile and their religion which was in the danger of extinction by the fanaticism of Aurangzeb survived.

6. It contributed to the downfall of Mughal Empire :

By executing the pious and innocent Guru, Aurangzeb himself hastened the downfall of his mighty empire. By this, he stirred up the armed resistance of the Sikh saint soldiers led by Guru Gobind Singh. It did not end with the death of Guru Gobind Singh. The reaction continued and Banda Bahadur fought gallantly against the corrupt Muslim rulers of the Punjab. After Banda, the Sikhs gradually came under the Sikh chiefs and ultimately doubt to Ranjit Singh's carving out a great Sikh kingdom in the Punjab. No doubt there were many other forces working in different parts of India to disintegrate the Mughal empire but the contribution of the storm that arose in the Punjab after the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur was no less significant.The sacrifice of Guru Tegh Bahadur was a mighty challenge to the mightiest empire of the age, and this challenge was given in the metropolis, and to the Emperor in person. It bore its fruit in the course of time.

7. Various versions regarding the causes of Guru Tegh Bahadur's arrest and execution :

Various reasons for Guru Tegh Bahadur's arrest and consequent execution have been given by the scholars. The popular sikh tradition says that the Guru offered his head to stem the rising tide of Muslim fanaticism under Aurangzeb. But some scholars hold that the Guru was executed not for his religious activites but for political designs.
Dr. Indubhushan Banerji, after a careful study of both the versions of the Sikh historians and the account of Siyar-ul-Mutakhrin comes to the conclusion that the Guru suffered not because of political reasons but because of his religious activities. He observes, “We are definitely told that Tegh Bahadur was naturally of peaceful disposition, that he preferred to be called "Deg Bahadur" instead of "Tegh Bahadur." His peaceful nature and his spirit of tolerance and his writings clearly testify that he was neither a rebel nor an avaricious tyrant to indulge in loot and plunder. He was never ambitious for worldly power and prestige. Hence the underlying cause of Guru Tegh Bahadur's martyrdom was religious and not political.

The good must suffer to conquer evil.Christ died on the cross.Guru Arjan suffered unparalelled tortures. Similarly Guru Tegh Bahadur sacrificed his life for those suffered injustice and thus set the noble example of non-violence, non-retaliation, truthfulness and godliness.