Sri Guru Har Krishan Sahib

Guru Har Krishan Ji is the eighth Guru of the Sikhs. He is called the Bal (child) Guru. He became Guru at the age of five.

Birth place of Sri Guru Har Krishan Sahib

He was born on Sawan Vadi 10, (8 Sawan), Bikrami Samvat 1713,(July 7, 1656) at Kiratpur Sahib.

Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji

He was the second son of Guru Har Rai Sahib and Mata Krishan Kaur Ji (Sulakhni Ji).

Sri Harkrishan Ji

When Guru Har Rai Ji was asked who among his two sons Ram Rai and Har Krishan would be the next guru. Guru Ji asked the person to go with a needle and insert the needle in the leg of the bed where these two sat and recited baani. The sevadaar did the same and he was surprised to see that the needle went inside the bed where Guru Har Krishan Ji was reciting paath but it was not possible to insert the needle in the bed where Baba Raam Rai was reciting baani. The sevadaar obviously perplexed went to Guru Har Rai Ji to ask the meaning. Guru Ji explained that although, both of them were reciting the same baani, needle going inside the bed was symbolic of softness in the heart of Har Krishan Ji and Baba Ram Rai was tough in the heart. Since the child guru was to take up so many diseases on his own self, softness was of prime importance. Sri Harkrishan Sahib Ji at the age of about five years was declared as Eighth Sikh Guru by his father Guru Har Rai Sahib before his death in 1661.

Guru Har Krishan consoled the disciples.

When Guru Har Rai left for heavenly abode, Guru Har Krishan consoled the disciples. He asked them not to give way to despair but abide by the Will of the Almighty. He advised everyone to sing God’s praises and not weep or lament. As days went by, the disciples began pouring in from far and near. They were delighted to have a sight of the Guru. He sat on the throne, a small figure, and young in years, but matured in wisdom. He sat on the throne, a small figure and young in years, but matured in wisdom. Says Bhai Santokh Singh:

“The early morning sun looks small in size, but its light is everywhere.

So was Guru Har Krishan’s fame, without limit.”

           Those who came to see him were enlightened with true knowledge. They had their heart’s desires fulfilled and their sins erased. The Sikhs recognized him as the picture of Guru Nanak. They saw on Guru Har Krishan’s handsome face the same light as must have been on Guru Nanak’s. Guru Har Krishan had a rare ability in explaining passages from the Holy Granth. He delighted the hearts of his disciples by his commentaries. He reminded them to cherish the One God alone, and asked them to discard passions and learn the virtues of patience, charity and love. Thus Guru Har Krishan carried on the teaching of the Gurus and preserved intact the legacy he had inherited from them.

The elder brother of Guru Harkrishan Sahib was ex-communicated and disinherited due to his anti-Guru Ghar activities. Ram Rai complained to the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in Delhi that he had been overlooked because of his loyalty to the emperor. He also claimed that he had not received his due share of his father’s property. Ram Rai knew that before his death, Guru Har Rai Ji had publicly instructed Guru Har Krishan never to meet Aurangzeb. Ram Rai hoped if Guru Har Krishan met the emperor, it would be against his father’s wishes and the Sikhs would be displeased with their Guru. On the other hand, if Aurangzeb summoned Guru Har Krishan to Delhi, and he refused to go, then Aurangzeb would send troops to compel him. Aurangzeb favored Ram Rai, and summoned Guru Har Krishan to Delhi. The Sikhs were very apprehensive about young Guru Har Krishan travelling to Delhi and appearing at court.

Emperor Aurangzeb

To calm these worries, Aurangzeb sent Mirza Raja Jai Singh to escort the Guru to Delhi.

Raja Jai Singh Paying Homage to Sri Guru Har Krishan Ji

Raja Jai Singh a high court official and a Rajput ruler known for his devotion to the Sikh Gurus. Raja Jai Singh assured Guru Har Krishan that he would not have to meet the emperor personally while in Delhi. He also said there were many devout Sikhs in Delhi who were anxious to meet their Guru. Guru Har Krishan convinced the Sikhs at Kiratpur Sahib that he should go to Delhi. Guru Har Krishan, his mother, and a group of devotees set out for the long journey to Delhi. On the journey, Guru Har Krishan met a large crowd of devotees.

Sri Guru Harkrishanji getting meaning of Gita Shaloks expounded throuh Jhajju Jhiyur

When Guru was near Panjokhara (near Kurukshetra),  a Sikh requested with humility, “Sangat is coming from Peshawar, Kabul and Kashmir. Stay here a day so that they may have the chance to see you, Master.” The Guru agreed. In that village lived a pandit, Lal Chand by name, who was proud of his caste as well as of his knowledge. He came to see the Guru and spoke with derision: “It is said that you sit on the gaddi of Guru Nanak. But what do you know of the old religious books?” Chhajju Ram, the illiterate, dark-skinned village water-carrier, happened to pass by at that moment. Guru Har Krishan asked Dargah Mall to call him. As Chhajju Ram came, the Guru enquired if he would explain to the pandit the gist of the Bhagavat Gita. The illiterate villager astonished everyone by his cogent commentary on the sacred book. Lal Chand’s pride was overcome. Humbly he fell at the Guru’s feet. Both he and Chhajju Ram became the Guru’s disciples and travelled with him up to Kurukshetra. The former entered the fold of the Khalsa in Guru Gobind Singh’s time, and took the name of Lal Singh. Lal Singh met with a hero’s death fighting in the battle of Chamkaur on December 7, 1705.

Gurdwara Bangla Sahib

In Delhi, Guru Har Krishan stayed at Raja Jai Singh’s bungalow which is now the site of Gurdwara Bangla Sahib. The house was a spacious one “designed to suit all the seasons of the year.” The Sikhs of Delhi started coming in groups to see the Guru. They came chanting the holy songs and brought offerings with them. According to the Guru kian Sakhian, Guru Har Krishan visited the emperor’s court on Chet Sudi Naumi, 1721 Bk/ March 25, 1664. As says the Mahima Prakash, the emperor had planned a trial. He had two large trays laid out for the Guru. One of these displayed ornaments, clothes and toys. The other had in it a holy man’s cloakl. Both trays were presented to Guru Har Krishan. He rejected the tray containing ornaments and clothes, and accepted the one containing the cloak. The emperor was convinced of his holiness. He thought, he would invite him again and see him performing a miracle. Guru Har Krishan guessed what the emperor had in his mind. He told himself that he would not see his face again. He believed that no one should attempt a miracle and try to disturb the law of God. Guru Har Krishan knew how his father had punished Ram Rai, his elder brother, for showing feats in Aurangzeb’s court.

Sri Guru Har Krishan Ji in women dwelling place

The Rani had devised her own test. She asked her husband, Jai Singh, to bring the Guru to the women dwelling-house. The Guru accepted the invitation. At the entrance to the inner apartments of the palace, he was received by the Raja’s servants with due honor. As he stepped inside, the women, in their costly jewels and clothes, bowed in reverences. He walked past them acknowledging their greetings. As he came near one dressed modestly in a maid’s coarse homespun, he stopped and said, “You are the Rani. Why should you have dressed yourself in a maid’s suit?” The Rani bent her head in homage.

Guru Harkrishanji treating Cholera patients at Delhi

Within a short span of time Guru Harkrishan Sahib through his fraternization with the common masses gained more and more adherents in the capital. At the time, a swear epidemic of cholera and smallpox broke out in Delhi. The young Guru began to attend the sufferers irrespective of cast and creed. Particularly, the local Muslim population was much impressed with the purely humanitarian deeds of the Guru Sahib and nicknamed him Bala Pir (child prophet). Even Aurangzeb did not try to disturb Guru Harkrishan Sahib sensing the tone of the situation but on the other hand never dismissed the claim of Ram Rai also.

Sri Guru Har Krishan Ji

Suddenly one day, Guru Har Krishan became ill due to fever. The fever turned out to be an attack of smallpox. The Guru’s tender body was affected by the disease. The Guru’s mother, Mata Sulakkhani, became very sad. She said, “Son, you occupy the gaddi of Guru Nanak. You are the dispenser of the world’s sorrows and sufferings. Your very sight removes the ailments of others. Why do you lie sick now?” Guru Har Krishan replied, “He who has taken this mortal frame must go through sickness and disease. Both happiness and suffering are part of life. What is ordained must happen. This is what Guru Nanak taught. Whatever He does is His order. One must walk in the light of His command.”

Gurdwara Bala Sahib

Guru Har Krishan left Raja Jai Singh’s house to a camp on the bank of the river Jamuna. The Sikhs wondered why the Guru suffered. Why this darkness was surrounding the sun itself? They were in despair and wondered who would take the gaddi after him.  As per Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth, Guru Har Krishan instructed them in this manner: “Gurgaddi, Guru Nanak’s throne, is eternal. It is everlasting and will command increasing honor. The Granth is the Lord of all. He, who wants to see me, let him have faith and love to see the Granth. He will shed all his sins. He, who would wish to speak with the Guru, let him read the Granth with devotion. He who practices its teachings will obtain all the four padarathas, or cherished objects of human life. He who has faith gains all. He who is without faith acquires but little. None in this world liveth forever. The body is mortal. In the Granth abides the Guru’s spirit. Daily bow your head to it. So will you conquer your passions and attain liberation.”   Tears filled the eyes of Sikhs as they listened to what sounded like the last words of the Guru. Then mother Sulakkhani came forward. With tears in her eyes, she spoke, “How shall I live without thee, son? I was blessed when I came into this family married to the late Guru. I was blessed when you were born. Now I am cast into a bottomless ocean of sorrow. Who would be my rescuer? How does a fish live separated from water?” “The body is perishable,” said Guru Har Krishan. “As you learn to have faith in God’s Will, you will obtain the realms of sorrowlessness. Eternal peace will be yours.”   In the last moment Guru Harkrishan Sahib wished that nobody should mourn him after his death and instructed to sing the hymns of Gurbani.

Guru Har Krishan was in a critical state. Yet he did not fail to carry out his important responsibility before he left the mortal world. In his last moments, he was able to nominate his successor. He asked for the ceremonial marks of succession to be fetched. But all he could say was “Baba Bakale.” He meant that the next Guru would be found in the town of Bakala. The reference was unmistakably to Tegh Bahadur.

Guru Har Krishan passed away on Saturday, 16 April 1664.

Gurdwaras Associated With Guru Har Krishan Sahib

Gurdwara Kiratpur Sahib

Gurudwara  Kiratpur Sahib – Distt. Ropar.       Kiratpur Sahib was founded by the sixth Guru Sri Hargobind Sahib. Here the seventh and eighth Gurus were born and brought up. It was here that Guru Gobind Singh along with his followers received the sacred head of the ninth Guru Sri Tegh Bahadur, brought from Delhi with great devotion and respect by Bhai Jaita in 1675. The particular spot associated with and sanctified by it is known as Gurudwara Babangarh Sahib. The tenth Guru took the sacred head of his father in a procession to Anandpur Sahib for cremation. The Punjab Government has constructed a pillar here, which is inscribed with the following quotation from Guru Gobind Singh describing the unique martyrdom of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadurji, “The Lord (Guru Tegh Bahadur) protected their paste mark (Tilak) – and the sacred thread. A great deed he enacted in the age of kala (darkness)”.