Aurangzeb's Religious Policy
Aurangzeb's religious policy was totally against Hindus, they had to pay more taxes then Muslims. Sir Mohd. Latif writes, "He discouraged the teaching of the Hindus, burnt to the ground the great Pagoda near Delhi, and destroyed the temple of Bishnath at Benares, and the great temple of Dera Kesu Rai at Mathura, said to have been built by Raja Narsingh Deo, at the cost of 33 lakh rupees. The gilded domes of this temple were so high that they could be seen from Agra 54 kms distant". On the site of temple he built a mosque at a great cost.
About in year 1690, the emperor issued an edict prohibiting Hindus from being carried in palanquins or riding on Arabian horses. All servants of state were ordered to embrace Islam religion, under pain of dismissal, those who refused were deprived of their post.
Hindu Revolts suppressed
1. The Jats: Gokal, a Jat of Tilpat revolted against the Governer of Mathura, Abdu Nabi, and shot him dead in an encounter. Aurangzeb defeated Gokal, his womenfolk were given to Muslims. Five thousand Jats were killed and seven thousand taken prisoners. (Jadunath Sarkar, page 152)
2. The Satnamis: One day in 1672, a Satnami picked up a quarrel with a Mughal soldier and soldier broke his head with a baton. Other Satnamis beat up the soldier. This riot became a revolt against Aurangzeb and he sent a 10,000 strong force. All Satnamis were killed and no trace of their sect was left. They lived around the area of Narnaul in Haryana and UP.
3. The Sikhs: Aurangzeb dealt with the Sikhs in same manner, In November 1675, Guru Tegh Bahadur was called upon to embrace Islam or death. His companion were most cruelly murdered.
4. The Rajputs: In December 1678, Maharaja Jaswant Singh of Jodhpur passed away. Aurangzeb annexed his kingdom and killed his two infant sons. A revolt spread out against Aurangzeb and annexation of Marwar was followed by Mewar. Maharana Raj singh of Udaipur was defeated. Chhittor was seized, 63 temples here and 173 temples in Jodhpur were demolished.
5. The Marathas: Aurangzeb reached Aurangabad on March 22, 1682. Shiva ji's son Shambu ji was arrested and tortured to death by him, so were many Marathas all over the current day 'Maharashtra'
6. Unorthodox Muslims: Aurangzeb was equally uncompromising against Shias, Sufi saints and liberal minded religious leaders. A few examples. In 1659, Mullan Shah Lahori, a disciple of Mian Mir was persecuted. In 1661, Mansur-e-sani Sufi Muhammad Said Sarmad and later another Sufi Saint Qalandar were beheaded for believing in Sufi principles. The famous Sufi saint Yahiya Chisti was badly maltreated for holding a musical gathering. (Ali Mohd. Khan, Mirat-e-Ahmadi). In 1669 Muharram was banned, many Shia Imams were executed. The religious head of Bohras and his 700 followers were shot dead. In 1670, wearing of Zarbaft clothes, embroided in golden threads was forbidden, even the son of Aurangzeb, Sultan Mohd. was killed for not following this order. The length of beard of all Muslims was fixed at four fingers or eight centimeters, extra lenght was to cut off. In 1772 Diwan Mohammad Tahir was executed for liberal interpretation of Islam. In 1683, Mir Hussain was exiled from Kashmir. (Pages 256-257, of 'History of Sikhs vol-1' by Hari Ram Gupta).
Guru Gobind Rai's contemplation.
Slowly but steadily these news were trickling down to Guru Gobind Rai. A moment of reflection reminded him that Guru Nanak had described the rulers of his time as tigers and dogs. That situation has not changed in 200 years. The policy of non-violence submission and surrender had produced no effect upon these ferocious tigers and mad dogs.
"After the most determined meditation on this sad state of affairs, the Guru came to the conclusion that to tyrannies was bad, but to bear tyranny patiently was worse".
The country did not belong to the king. The king belonged to the country. If the king was bad, people must rise in revolt. Without political liberty, religious, intellectual, social and economic freedom could not be achieved. Political freedom could be won by armies. The armies of suppressed people were non-existent. The spirit of brave Jats of Mathura and Delhi had been crushed. The heroic Satnamis had been completely wiped out of existence. The Rajput resistance was broken. The noble Shivajji had died young. His eldest son Shambuji had been hacked to pieces. His only son Shahu was in captivity.
The Guru's own house was no exception. His great grandfather, Guru Arjan, was tortured to death at Lahore. His grandfather Guru Hargobind had suffered 12 years of imprisonment. His father Guru Tegh Bahadur was executed. His most faithful follower, Bhai Mati Dass was sawn across from head to loins, while others were boiled or cut to pieces.
Thus, Guru sat about planning and preparing himself for the struggle to win freedom. His army was to be based on social justice. There could be no discrimination in the name of caste, creed and colour. His soldiers unpaid, ill-armed, poorly equipped and untrained were to be inspired with feelings of patriotism and nationalism.
to be continued...
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