Sikh Faith: Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev 16th June

At Goindwal on the banks of the river Beas lived a Hindu, Arjan by name, in the garb of a Pir or Sheikh. Thus, many innocent Hindus and even…Muslims he brought into his fold who beat the drum noisily of his self-appointed prophethood. He was called Guru. From all sides, worshippers came to offer their homage to him and put full trust in his word…For a long time I had harboured the wish that I should… bring him into the fold of Islam.

Jahangir demanded that Guru Arjan revise the Guru Granth. This of course the Guru refused to do. Jahangir asked Murtaza Khan to deal with the Guru who immediately jailed him, and ordered him to be tortured to death unless he complied. The Guru was cruelly tortured with burning sand for five long days, although many devout Muslims pleaded with Jahangir to spare him. He bore these brutalities with calm serenity.

On May 30, 1606 the Guru asked for a bath in the river Ravi by the side of the Mughal fort. His bare body was covered with blisters, Guru Arjan repeated over and over;

Sweet is Your will, O God; the gift of your Name alone I seek.

The Guru then calmly walked into the river bank, bidding his farewell to his followers and was gone forever, his body carried away by the cool, sweet waters.