The martyrdom
The Kashmiri Pandits come to Anandpur
A group led by Kirpa Ram brought news of forced conversions, and the child is said to have told Guru Ji that no one was worthier to give a head.
According to Kuir Singh's Gurbilas Patshahi 10, as quoted in the Encyclopaedia, a group of Kashmiri Pandits came to Chakk Nanaki in despair at the governor's forced conversions. Guru Ji heard them and sat lost in thought.
Young Gobind Das, later Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, came up and asked why Guru Ji looked so troubled. The earth carries a heavy load, came the reply, and only the sacrifice of someone truly worthy will lift it. The son answered that no one could be worthier than Guru Ji.
Guru Ji was pleased. The Pandits were told to send word to the emperor that if Guru Ji could be converted, all of them would accept Islam of their own will. Kirpa Ram and his companions, the Encyclopaedia says, sent that petition through the governor of Lahore, and the summons followed.
How do we know?
Several traditional accounts tell this story, without close independent support.
The Encyclopaedia's entry on Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji says early in 1675, its entry on Guru Ji says 25 May. The governor is Iftikhar Khan in the Encyclopaedia and Sher Afghan Khan in Macauliffe. The heart of this story has no early witness beyond the son's general statement.
- Later traditionDates the visit to 25 May 1675 and gives the exchange with the nine-year-old from Kuir Singh.[EoS]
- Later traditionNames Kirpa Ram as leader and says a petition was sent to the emperor through Zalim Khan, governor of Lahore.[EoS]
- Later traditionDates this work to 1751 and notes that its dates are often wrong.[EoS]
- Later traditionTells the same story with Sher Afghan Khan as governor, and has the Pandits go to Delhi with Guru Ji's message. (pp. 369-372)[Macauliffe]
- From the timeGives the theological core, a sacrifice for the marks of Hindu faith, without the story of the delegation in the passages read.[EoS]
