Sri Guru Har
Rai Ji (The Gurus)
Sahib Sri Guru Har Rai Ji (1630 - 1661)
Guru Har Rai (1630 - 1661) was given the Gur Gaddi
at the age of 14. He was the grandson of Guru Har Gobind though without
his miitary genius. Guru Har Rai was a man of peace and love.
He was fond of serving the Sangat. He urged his followers to mediate
on the hymns of the Guru Granth Sahib and to lead a life of self-discipline.
Guru Har Rai tried to isolate himself from the
intrigues of the Mughal court. Dara Skikoh came to the Guru's place
and sought his blessing for success against his brother Aurangzeb.
As was the tradition of the Gurus, Har Rai helped him in his distress as
he would have helped any other man in difficulties. Aurangzeb captured
Dara and had him executed. Emperor Aurangzeb then called the Guru
to his court in connection with his alleged aassistance to Dara.
The Guru sent his son Ram Rai to the Mughal court. There, he worked
miracles and even changed the text of a line of the granth to please the
Emperor. Guru Har Rai was so completely displeased with Ram Rai on
this account that he disowned him.
Guru Har Rai was a man of great charity and generosity.
Once, the ancestors of the former ruler of Patiala, Nabha and Jind came
to the Guru's Darbar, crying for food and patting their bellies in token
of hunger. The Guru took pity on them and blessed them. Soon
thereafter, they acquired territories and became Rajahs.
Guru Har Rai loved his devotees and helped them
in times of need. One day Bhai Gobind of Kabul was so engrossed in
his meditation on the Guru that he held him love-fettered for the whold
day. Similarly, one morning the Guru spontaneously went to the house
of an old pious lady who had prepared loaves of bread for him with great
devotion. Knowing that his end was near, the Guru installed his five-year
old Harkrishan as the next Guru, early in October, 1661. |