5. The Unique Sacrifice
The sacrifice made was so great and so unique because the Guru was defending an ideology in which He Himself did not believe. His son the Great Guru Gobind Singh, has described this supreme act in His autobiography as follows:
"The Lord protected their frontal mark and sacred thread;
And performed a supremely heroic act in this age of ignorance.
To uphold righteousness, so supreme an act did He perform:
He gave His head, but did not utter a word of sorrow.
For the sake of righteousness, He did this great heroic deed;
He laid down His life but not the principles.
Miracles are a cheap way of fooling people;
True Prophets of God are ashamed of displaying occult powers.
Guru Tegh Bahadur broke His earthly vase on the head of the Emperor of Delhi;
And went to the Abode of God.
No one has ever done such a unique deed as did Guru Tegh Bahadur.
On the Ascent of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the whole world went into mourning.
Alas! Alas! rose the wailing cries from the earth;
While the shouts of Glory! Glory! resounded the heavens."