It was quite clear that by the words “Baba Bakale” Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji had meant his grand-uncle, Tegh Bahadur, nevertheless a whole contingent of claimants set themselves up at Bakala as the next Guru.
A sea merchant, Makhan Shah of Lubana had prayed to the Guru for his safe return from the seas and had promised an offering of 500 gold coins. Upon reaching Bakala he was confused at seeing all the would-be Gurus. He placed two coins in-front of each and bowed. Each blessed him. Knowing this was not the right Guru, Makan Shah moved to the next one, when he had gone through all the pretenders he felt very sad and despondent. Upon hearing of a holy person living in a ramshackle hut he decided to pay a visit. Inside Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji was in deep meditation. Placing two coins Makhan bowed. Guru Ji spoke “You promised 500 gold coins but you offer only two.” With this Makhan Shah had found the Guru and in a fit of happiness he climbed a building and shouted out “Guru ladho ray, Guru ladho ray ” – I have found the Guru , I have found the Guru.
Tegh Bahadur was a man of retiring habits who did not wish for comfrontation. But this very reluctance turned the Sikh masses in his favour. Guru Ji left Bakala for Amritsar where the doors of Harmindar Sahib were slammed shut by the corrupt masands. Guru Sahib Ji moved on and bought some land about five miles outside of Kiratpur and built a small village there and called itAnandpur (the haven of bliss). Here people flocked by there thousand to pledge allegiance to the Guru, and Guru Sahib Ji took extensive tours managing the centres.
Guru Sahib Ji left Anandpur Sahib and toured eastwards in Uttar Pardesh. Guru Ji travelled to Agra and arrived at Patna in the state of Bihar wherever he went he blessed the crowds that thronged to him. Here in 1666 Mata Gujri Ji gave birth to a son, Gobind Rai. Guru Sahib Ji could not spend much time with the infant as he had to return to the Punjab due to the religious persecution that Emperor Aurangzeb had embarked upon. As time went by the Hindus were being oppressed and persecuted even more, taxes were being levied upon them due to being non-muslim and they suffered much hardship.
In 1675 a delegation of Hindus from Kashmir had come to meet with the Guru carrying grave news. The Hindus of Kashmir were being put to death by the thousand if they did not accept Islam, they needed protection and they have come to the House of Guru Nanak. Gobind Rai, now aged nine years walked in on his father who was in deep thought. Asking what the matter was Guru Sahib Ji replied that the Hindus were in great threat and it needed a noble act of sacrifice from a very holy person. Gobind Rai responded by saying “What greater place is there then the House of Guru Nanak, go and protect their religion.” So, Guru Tegh Bahadur not being a Hindu himself made the ultimate sacrifice. Guru Ji travelled to Agra where together with a band of Sikhs they were captured by the imperial forces and brought infront of the Emperor.
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