Aurangzeb was determined to convert the entire Hindu population of India into Islam even by force. Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji (the 9th Sikh Guru of Sikhs) stood against the injustice on Hindus and it was then when Guru Ji was arrested.
Bhai Mati Dass Jiwas one of those Sikhs who were allowed by Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib to remain with him and be arrested along with him under the orders of Emperor Aurangzeb. The other two were Bhai Dyala Ji and Bhai Sati Dass Ji.
When Kazis, the learned scholars of Islam, failed to convince Guru Tegh Bahadur about the supremacy of their religion and found that the Guru was stead fast towards his own religion, they planned to terrify him. In this regard, they cut Bhai Mati Dass into two pieces with a big saw to terrify Guru Tegh Bahadur.
Bhai Mati Dass Ji while standing erect was tied between two posts. He was asked if he had any parting words, to which Bhai Mati Das answered, “I request only that my head be turned toward my Guru as I am executed.” Two executioners placed a double-handed saw on his head.
Watch the shaheedi video below:
Bhai Mati Dass serenely uttered “Ek Onkar” and started reciting the Japji Sahib, the great morning prayer of the Sikhs. He was sawn across from head to loins. Even as the body was being sawn into two, the Japji continued to reverberate from each part until it was all over.
