Bhai Sati Das

Bhai Sati Das was a Sikh of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji's household who was put to death at Delhi on 11 November 1675, the day the Guru himself was beheaded. He was the younger brother of Diwan Mati Das. The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism describes the family as Chhibbar Brahmins of Kariala, now in Pakistan; Wikipedia places the village in Jhelum district and names their father as Hira Nand. Their grandfather Paraga had joined the Sikhs in Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji's time and fought the Mughal forces, and an uncle, Darbari Mall, served Guru Har Rai Ji and Guru Har Krishan Ji as Diwan.

Sati Das served Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and travelled with him. By the Bhatt Vahi Talauda he served as the Guru's cook; other accounts describe other duties, and some say he taught Persian to the young Gobind Rai.

Key moments

• 1665: seized with the Guru at Dhamtan, on the Guru's journey to the east.
• 1675: goes with the Guru from Anandpur. They are arrested, and the Guru reaches Delhi on 4 November 1675.
• 11 November 1675: he refuses to give up his faith. His brother Mati Das is sawn in two, and Sati Das is wrapped in cotton, set on fire and burned alive at Chandni Chowk.

Later Sikh tradition adds a third companion, Bhai Dyal Das (Dyala), who was also put to death. Accounts differ on the order: Wikipedia has Mati Das first, then Dyal Das, then Sati Das, then the Guru. The Encyclopaedia records the two brothers' deaths and the Guru's execution on the same day. Wikipedia also says Sati Das chanted the Waheguru gurmantar as the fire was lit.

He is remembered as one of the Shaheeds of the 1675 Delhi martyrdoms. Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib marks where the Guru was martyred, and a museum to Bhai Mati Das and Bhai Sati Das stands opposite it in Chandni Chowk.