The Decapitation of Baba Deep Singh

This rather striking image depicts the last moments of Baba Deep Singh (1682-1757) who is revered as one of the greatest martyrs in Sikh history. The story of his death is curious, to say the least. In those days the Sikhs were at war with the Mughal rulers of Northern India, vying for control of The Sikh's most sacred place, the Harimandir Sahib (Temple) in Amritsar. Baba Deep Singh was engaged in mortal combat near to the Temple with the Mughal General Attal Khan. Attal Khan inflicted a blow on Baba Deep Singh whilst Baba Deep Singh inflicted a blow on him. Both of their heads got separated from their bodies. At this point, a fellow warrior reminded Baba Deep Singh that he had once promised to put his head at the feet of the Guru in the Temple. On hearing this, Baba Deep Singh picked up his head with his left hand and continued to fight with his double-edged sword in his right hand. Baba Deep Singh managed to reach the Temple, where he gave up his head and breathed his last.
This might seem like a very tall tale (aren't all the best ones?) and one which you might easily dismiss as the product of an excess of religious fervour, but it occurs to me that there may be a seed of truth in it. I have wondered how long a person remains conscious following decapitation. What would it feel like? What sort of thoughts would he be thinking? I remember reading somewhere that experiments were conducted on the heads of guillotined prisoners in France. Apparently, someone came up with the idea of sticking needles into their tongues on the premise that an anguished expression would indicate the presence of consciousness. I'm sure I remember reading that some beheaded prisoners showed some sort of response for up to two minutes after their heads were severed. Following a little further research into the question of post-decapitation consciousness and how long it lasts for, there doesn't seem to be a definitive answer out there. I have come across answers ranging from ten to fifteen seconds, forty seconds and, of course, two minutes. What does seem to be the case however, is that one is aware of being beheaded and that this awareness does continue for some (albeit short) time after the head has been detatched from the body.

Bone Idle