Guru Tegh Bahadur

Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621–1675), born Tyag Mal in Amritsar, was the youngest son of Guru Hargobind, who renamed him for bravery in the Battle of Kartarpur. He lived in retreat at Bakala until 1664.

That year the dying words of Guru Har Krishan led the Sikhs to acclaim him ninth Guru; Sikh tradition tells how the merchant Makhan Shah recognised him through a secret vow. He founded Anandpur Sahib and left 115 hymns in the Guru Granth Sahib.

Sikh accounts say he defended Kashmiri Brahmins facing forced conversion under Aurangzeb; he was taken to Delhi and beheaded on the emperor's orders in November 1675.