Martyrdom of Bhai Mani Singh

Bhai Mani Singh was one of the most respected Sikh scholars, a childhood companion of Guru Gobind Singh, and the Head Granthi of the Golden Temple. He was responsible for transcribing the final version of the Guru Granth Sahib.

In 1737, the tyrannical Mughal governor of Lahore, Zakariya Khan, arrested Bhai Mani Singh on false charges. The real issue was that Bhai Mani Singh was uniting the Sikhs. He was offered a stark choice: convert to Islam or be executed by having his body dismembered joint by joint (Band-Band).

The 90-year-old saint calmly rejected the offer of conversion, embracing death rather than forsaking his faith.

The executioner (Jallad) was brought forward. Out of pity for the very old man, the executioner raised his cleaver and prepared to chop off Bhai Mani Singh's hand from the middle of the forearm, trying to kill him faster.

Bhai Mani Singh stopped him. Pointing to the joints of his fingers, he said, 'You were ordered to cut me joint by joint (Band-Band). Start with the first joint of my index finger, then the next, then the wrist. Do not disobey your master's orders.'

The crowd was horrified, and the executioner trembled, but Bhai Mani Singh sat completely peaceful, continuously reciting Gurbani (Sukhmani Sahib) while his body was meticulously cut into pieces, attaining a glorious martyrdom.