1 Their cruct death,
2 1760.
3 Tlis memory is not
4 revered.
5 Tis innovations in
6 the in-titutions of
7 Namk and Govind
8 Were resisted.
9 280 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB.
10 greatest ignominy. In order to give them a contemptible and ludicrous
11 appearance, they were forced to dress themselves in sheep skins, and were
12 then mounted on asses and camels, and exhibited in all the thoroughfares
13 and places of public resort of the city.
14 Bandé was placed on an elephant, with his face smeared with black, and
15 a woollen cap placed over his head, and an executioncr standing over him,
16 sword in hand. He was made to take the lead, as their mock chief. One
17 hundred of them were publicly beheaded that day amidst the jeers and
18 taunts of the mob.
19 Each succeeding day a similar number were exccuted, until the whole had
20 paid the penalty of their crimes. They met their doom with the utmost
21 indifference; nay, they even clamoured for priority of martyrdom. Bandas
22 execution was reserved for the last day. He was dragged from his cage, like
23 a wild beast, and then dressed in a princely robe, embroidered with gold, and
24 a scatlet turban. He was now arraigned before a tribunal who had al-
25 ready doomed him. The heads of his followers, who had been previously
26 executed, were paraded on pikes all round him. The executioner, with
27 drawn sabre, stood behind him, in readiness to carry out the sentence of his
28 judges. All the Omerahs of the court tauntingly asked him why he, a man
29 of such unquestionable knowledge and abilities, had committed such vil-
30 lainous and outrageous offences, which nothing but a lengthy stay in his
31 Satanic Majesty’s abode could expiate. He retorted that he was a scourge
32 in the hands of the Almighty for the chastisement of evil-doers, and
33 that that power was now given to others to chastise him for his transgres-
34 sions. His son was now placed in his lap, and he was ordered to cut his
35 throat, a knife being handed to him for that purpose. He complied with
36 the command without the slightest hesitation. His body was then torn
37 to pieces with red hot irons, “his sable spirit” (according to Mahomedan
38 historians) “taking its flight to the regions of the damned for which it
39 was so well fitted.” The Guru suffered this just retribution of heaven in
40 1760 A.D. Though bravery is a qualification which is highly meritorious,
41 and in all cases one which is handed down to posterity, yet the audaci-
42 ous achievements of this monster are an exception to the rule. His triumphs
43 are not remembered as heroic acts, but as malicious and cold-blooded
44 atrocities. His ruling and insatiable passion was that of pouring out
45 Mahomedan blood. At the present day his name is- never mentioned in
46 any part of India unaccompanied with maledictions on his savagery and blood-
47 thirsty propensities. His memory is held in the same detestation by the
48 Sikhs as by the Mahomedans. His policy was directly opposed to that
49 of Nanak and Govind, his predecessors. His innovations were forced upon
50 his followers, and those who showed the slightest scru ple in accepting them
51 were tortured as unmercifully and cruelly as the Mahomedans. He tor-
52 tured and put to death many of the staunchest adherents of Govind, be-
53 cause they had refused to comply with his new-fangled doctrines, which were,
54 in direct contravention of the tenets of their religion, as established by their
55 founder. He was so proud of his achievements in his pontifical” capacity,
56 that he actually wished his followers to adopt a livery of his own invention,
57 (in supersession of the blue dress which Nanak had ordered them to wear)
58 in order that his power asa spiritual leader wight be better known to the
59 world. He also changed their war-cry, from “Weh Guru ji ha Fat ch,”
60 ae Guru Jo ka Khalsé,” which had been enjoined by Govind, to “ Futeh
61 re hee A ame pe eenG which latter means, “Success to piety, success
62 eating hk - The esived his followers to abstain from meat and intoxl-
63 cee e Akalis, or the never-dying, the true and uncompro-
64 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh Ji eLibrary NamdhariElibrary@ gmail.com