Mark Cagnon

None said a word until Guru Tegh Bahadur, a quiet spiritual man, reminded him of the full vow of 500 coins. The moment confirmed Tegh Bahadur as the true ninth guru, which is... Fascinating story. I mean, kind of crazy if he knew this. I mean, somehow he must have known, I guess perhaps it is truly the spiritual path. But also it's funny to being like, yeah, you said 500, right?

None said a word until Guru Tegh Bahadur, a quiet spiritual man, reminded him of the full vow of 500 coins. The moment confirmed Tegh Bahadur as the true ninth guru, which is... Fascinating story. I mean, kind of crazy if he knew this. I mean, somehow he must have known, I guess perhaps it is truly the spiritual path. But also it's funny to being like, yeah, you said 500, right?

The dude's like, yo, like, please, like if I, you know, God, if I make it, I'll give my money to the guru. And then he was telling everyone, yeah, here's two bucks. And this guy was like, come on now. I need all that. But it also proved that he was truly in contact and truly enlightened.

The dude's like, yo, like, please, like if I, you know, God, if I make it, I'll give my money to the guru. And then he was telling everyone, yeah, here's two bucks. And this guy was like, come on now. I need all that. But it also proved that he was truly in contact and truly enlightened.

So this new guru, he was the youngest son of Guru Hagobind, and this was the guru that was known for carrying the two swords. And although he had lived a quiet sort of ascetic meditative life up until then, he stepped into leadership at a critical time.

So this new guru, he was the youngest son of Guru Hagobind, and this was the guru that was known for carrying the two swords. And although he had lived a quiet sort of ascetic meditative life up until then, he stepped into leadership at a critical time.

He traveled across India, spreading the core Sikh values of service and equality, and his leadership was tested during the reign of the Mughal emperor, who launched a campaign to forcibly convert all non-Muslims to Islam, starting... with the place known as Kashmir.

He traveled across India, spreading the core Sikh values of service and equality, and his leadership was tested during the reign of the Mughal emperor, who launched a campaign to forcibly convert all non-Muslims to Islam, starting... with the place known as Kashmir.

When a group of Kashmiri pandits, these are basically Hindu scholars, were threatened with death or conversion, they turned to this guru and they asked for help. And the guru told the Mughal authorities, if you can convert me, they will follow. Which is, I mean, a remarkable leadership that, you know, you have to understand these Mughal emperors are saying, hey, convert everyone.

When a group of Kashmiri pandits, these are basically Hindu scholars, were threatened with death or conversion, they turned to this guru and they asked for help. And the guru told the Mughal authorities, if you can convert me, they will follow. Which is, I mean, a remarkable leadership that, you know, you have to understand these Mughal emperors are saying, hey, convert everyone.

And they're going after the Hindu scholars. And this guy says, hey, Come for me. You don't want them. If you can get me, you can get them. And so this public challenge leads to his arrest. And then given the choice between conversion or death, he refuses to abandon his principles and was publicly executed in Delhi in 1675. Guru Teg Bahadur becomes a martyr for this religious freedom.

And they're going after the Hindu scholars. And this guy says, hey, Come for me. You don't want them. If you can get me, you can get them. And so this public challenge leads to his arrest. And then given the choice between conversion or death, he refuses to abandon his principles and was publicly executed in Delhi in 1675. Guru Teg Bahadur becomes a martyr for this religious freedom.

Not just for Sikhs, but for all people. He died really on behalf of Hindus, people that are of a different faith than him altogether. And his death would leave a deep impact on his own son, who would go on to lead the Sikh community into a new era. So that brings us into the 10th and the final human guru. And you'll understand why I'm saying human guru in just a second.

Not just for Sikhs, but for all people. He died really on behalf of Hindus, people that are of a different faith than him altogether. And his death would leave a deep impact on his own son, who would go on to lead the Sikh community into a new era. So that brings us into the 10th and the final human guru. And you'll understand why I'm saying human guru in just a second.

So Guru Gobind was only nine years old when he witnessed his father's execution and the followers of him abandoning his body after the execution because they weren't visibly identifiable as Sikhs. And this created a distinction. It created a problem within the Sikh community. And so what does he do?

So Guru Gobind was only nine years old when he witnessed his father's execution and the followers of him abandoning his body after the execution because they weren't visibly identifiable as Sikhs. And this created a distinction. It created a problem within the Sikh community. And so what does he do?

He basically creates a stronger identity within his people that would basically compel followers to uphold their values even in dangerous situations. So in 1699, Guru Gobind assembles Sikhs and dramatically calls for a human sacrifice. After the initial shock, one volunteer entered the Guru's tent. followed by the Guru. Moments later, the Guru emerged.

He basically creates a stronger identity within his people that would basically compel followers to uphold their values even in dangerous situations. So in 1699, Guru Gobind assembles Sikhs and dramatically calls for a human sacrifice. After the initial shock, one volunteer entered the Guru's tent. followed by the Guru. Moments later, the Guru emerged.

He walks out of the tent with a bloodied sword and calls for another volunteer. The scene repeats until five volunteers have now entered the tent. Each time he comes out with a sword covered in blood. And then finally, the Guru emerges with all five volunteers alive, dressed in these beautiful saffron robes. And he proclaimed them the Panj Paier. These are the five beloved ones.

He walks out of the tent with a bloodied sword and calls for another volunteer. The scene repeats until five volunteers have now entered the tent. Each time he comes out with a sword covered in blood. And then finally, the Guru emerges with all five volunteers alive, dressed in these beautiful saffron robes. And he proclaimed them the Panj Paier. These are the five beloved ones.