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'''Guru Har Rai Ji''' ([[26 February]] [[1630]] - [[30 May]] [[1661]]) was the seventh of [[the Ten Gurus of Sikhism]] and became Guru on [[8 March]][[1644]] following in the footsteps of his grandfather, [[Guru Har Gobind]] Ji. Before Guru Ji died, he nominated [[Guru Har Krishan]] Ji, his son as the next Guru of the Sikhs. The following is a summary of the main highlights of Guru Ji life:
'''Guru Har Rai Ji''' ([[26 February]] [[1630]] - [[30 May]] [[1661]]) was the seventh of [[the Ten Gurus of Sikhism]] and became Guru on [[8 March]][[1644]] following in the footsteps of his grandfather, [[Guru Har Gobind]] Ji. Before Guru Ji died, he nominated [[Guru Har Krishan]] Ji, his son as the next Guru of the Sikhs. The following is a summary of the main highlights of Guru Ji life:

Revision as of 08:51, 15 January 2006

Guru Har Rai.jpg
7th Guru Mool Mantar.jpg

Guru Har Rai Ji (26 February 1630 - 30 May 1661) was the seventh of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism and became Guru on 8 March1644 following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Guru Har Gobind Ji. Before Guru Ji died, he nominated Guru Har Krishan Ji, his son as the next Guru of the Sikhs. The following is a summary of the main highlights of Guru Ji life:

  1. Continued the military traditions started by his grandfather Guru Har Gobind Ji
  2. Kept 2200 mounted soldiers at all times.
  3. Was disturbed as a child by the suffering caused to plants when they were accidentally destroyed by his robe.
  4. Made several tours to the Malwa and Doaba regions of the Punjab
  5. Guruji's son, Ram Rai, distorts Bani in front of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and is never again seen by the Guru. The Guru is supposed to have said, ” Ram Rai, you have disobeyed my order and sinned. I will never see you again on account of your infidelity.”

The Guru made his other son Guru at the age of only 5 years.


Brief Account

Guru Har Rai ji was the son of Baba Gurdita Ji and Mata Nihal Kaur Ji (also known as Mata Ananti Ji). Baba Gurdita was son of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind. Guru Har Rai ji married to Mata Kishan Kaur Ji (sometimes also reffered to as Sulakhni Ji) daughter of Sri Daya Ram Ji of Anoopshahr (Bulandshahr) in Utter Pradesh on Har Sudi 3, Samvat 1697. Guru Har Rai ji had two sons: Baba Ram Rai Ji and Sri Har Krishan Ji.


Although, Guru Har Rai Ji was a man of peace, he never disbanded the armed Sikh Warriors (Saint Soldiers), who earlier were maintained by his grandfather, Guru Hargobind. He always boosted the military spirit of the Sikhs, but he never himself indulged in any direct political and armed controversy with the contemporary Mughal Empire. Once on the request of Dara Shikoh (the eldest son of emperor Shahjahan), Guru Sahib helped him to escape safely from the bloody hands of Aurangzebs armed forces during the war of succession.


Once Guru Sahib was coming back from the tour of Malwa and Doaba regions, Mohamad Yarbeg Khan, (son of Mukhlis Khan, who was killed by Guru Hargobind in a battle) attacked the kafla of Guru Sahib with the force of one thousand armed men. The unwarranted attack was repulsed by a few hundred Saint Soliders of Guru Sahib with great courge and bravery. The enemy suffered a heavy loss of life and fled the scene. This self-defense measure, (a befitting reply to the unwarranted armed attack of the privileged muslims), was an example for those who professed the theory of so called non-violence or "Ahimsa Parmo Dharma". Guru Sahib often awarded various Sikh warriors with gallantry awards.


Guru Sahib also established an Aurvedic herbal medicine hospital and a research centre at Kiratpur Sahib. There also he maintained a zoo. Once Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of Shah Jahan fell seriously ill by some unknown disease. The best physicians available in the country and abroad were consulted, but there was no improvement. At last the emperor made a humble request to Guru Sahib for the treatment of his son. Guru Sahib accepting the request, handed over some rare and suitable medicines to the messenger of the emperor. The life of Dara Shikoh was saved from the cruel jaws of death. The emperor, whole heartily thanked and wanted to grant some "Jagir", but Guru Sahib never accepted.


Guru Har Rai Ji also visited Lahore, Sialkot, Pathankot, Samba, Ramgarh and many places of Jammu and Kashmir region. He established 360 Sikh missionary seats (Manjis). He also tried to improve the old corrupt Masand system and appointed pious and committed personalities like Suthre Shah, Sahiba, Sangtia, Mian Sahib, Bhagat Bhagwan, Bahagat Mal and Jeet Mal Bhagat (also known as Bairagi), as the heads of Manjis.


Guru Har Rai Sahib faced some serious difficulties during the period of his guruship. The corrupt massands, Dhir Mals and Minas always tried to preclude the advancement of Sikh religion. After the death of Shah Jahan, the attitude of the state headed by Aurangzeb towards the non-muslims, turned hostile. Emperor Aurangzeb made an excuse for the help rendered to prince Dara Shakoh by Guru Sahib during the war of succession and framed false charges against Guru Sahib who was summoned to Delhi. Baba Ram Rai Ji appeard on behalf of Guru Sahib in the court. He tried to clarify some mis-understandings regarding Guru Ghar and Sikh faith, created by Dhirmals and Minas. Yet another trap, which he could not escape, was to clarify the meaning of the verse "The Ashes of the Mohammadan fall into the potter's clot, it is moulded into pots and bricks, and they cry out as they burn". Baba Ram Rai in order to please the emperor and gain his sympathy distorted Gurbani. When Guru Har Rai Ji was informed about this incident, he immediately excommunicated Ram Rai Ji from the Sikh Panth and never met him, through the later pleaded repeatedly for forgiveness. Thus Guru Sahib established a strict property for the Sikhs against any alteration of original verse in Guru Granth Sahib and the basic conventions set up by Guru Nanak Sahib.


Dara Shikoh

Panth prakash quote.jpg

Bhai Gonda

Langar

Ram Rai

The next Guru


Preceded by:
Guru Hargobind
(19 June 1595 - 03 March 1644)
Guru Har Rai Followed by:
Guru Har Krishan
(7 July 1656 - 30 March 1664)


These are the Ten Gurus of Sikhism

Guru Nanak | Guru Angad Dev | Guru Amar Das | Guru Ram Das | Guru Arjan | Guru Hargobind | Guru Har Rai | Guru Har Krishan | Guru Teg Bahadur | Guru Gobind Singh