Gurudwara Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur, Sikandra

Gurudwara Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur, Sikandra- Old sources mention the existence of a Shrine in a garden outside Agra, marking the spot where Guru Tegh Bahdur offered himself for arrest. This site had become obscure until traced and revived with the construction of the present magnificent Gurdwara near Sikandra, north of Agra by Sant Sadhu Singh Mauni during the 1970s. Gurdwara Sri Guru Ka Taal Sahib is the site where Sri Guru Tegh Bahudar Ji offered his voluntary arrest to Aurangazeb, the barbaric mughal emperor. Guru Ka Taal is near Sikandra in Agra. The Bhora Sahib was where the Guru Tegh Bahadur kept for 9 days. This historic structure dates back to the 17th century. Earlier it was a Taal (reservoir) in the area near Sikandra. It was built in 1610 AD to collect and conserve rainwater in Agra during Jahangir's reign. The water of the reservoir was used for irrigation purposes during the dry season. Sri Guru Tegh Bahudar Ji (along with Bhai Mati Das Ji, Bhai Sati Das Ji, Bhai Dyala Ji, Bhai Gurditta Ji, Bhai Udo Ji, and Bhai Jaita Ji) started his journey from Anandpur Sahib, stopping at Saifabad (Patiala), Cheeka, Jind, Rohtak, Janipur, Guru Sahib reached here at Agra. Guru Tegh Bahudar first stopped at where Gurdwara Sri Manji Sahib is situated, on the left of Gurdwara Sri Guru Ka Taal Sahib, within the same complex. A poor man named Hasan Ali was grazing goats his there. At the time Aurangzeb offered a reward of Rs 500 for information leading to the arrest of Sri Guru Tegh Bahudar Ji. As Guru Tegh Bahudar was going to submit himself voluntarily he allowed Hasan Ali to benefit from the reward money. Guru Tegh Bahudar was arrested and kept at the Bhora Sahib for 9 days before being taken to Delhi under strict security. Aurangzeb was a vicous religous persecutor who wanted India to become an islamic state. As Guru Tegh Bahadur stood up for religious freedom and refused conversion he was made a sacrifice and beheaded by a proxy islamic court in Delhi. The mughal empire collapsed soon afterwards.