Guru Har Krishan
Encyclopedia
Guru Har Krishan (23 July 1656 – 30 March 1664) was the eighth of the Eleven Gurus of Sikhism. He became Guru on 7 October 1661, succeeding his father, Guru Har Rai
. After his death from smallpox, his granduncle, Guru Tegh Bahadur, became the next Guru of the Sikhs.
Guru Har Krishan Ji was born in Kiratpur Sahib
, Rupnagar
, Punjab
, India
to Guru Har Rai
and Kishan Kaur (Mata Sulakhni). Before his death in October 1661, Guru Har Rai designated his younger son Har Krishan as the next Guru. Har Rai chose Har Krishan, rather than his elder son Ram Rai, because Ram Rai was in collusion with the Mughal Empire
. Har Krishan was only five years old when he succeeded his father as Guru.
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 when Guru Har Krishan Ji was doing paath but not when Baba Raam Rai was doing it. 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 rough in the heart. Since the child guru was to take up so many diseases on his own self, softness was of prime importance. Thus next Guru came to be Guru Har Krishan Ji at the age of 5 years. Its the first time in the history when the light of the Guru had entered a small child.
Ram Rai complained to the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb
in Delhi
that he had been passed over 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 Aurengzeb. 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. To calm these worries, Aurangzeb sent Mirza Raja Jai Singh I
to escort the Guru to Delhi. Mirza Raja Jai Singh I
was a high court official and a Rajput
ruler known for his devotion to the Sikh Gurushttp://www.sikh-history.com/sikhhist/gurus/nanak8.html.
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 see and hear 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 was met by large crowds of devotees.
As the legend goes, at Panjokhara Sahib, a jealous Brahmin
taunted the Guru, mangling his name, which was close to that of the Hindu
god Krishna
. The Brahmin said “Your Guru is called Har Krishan, a mere child of eight years! Krishna, the incarnation of Vishnu
, uttered the Gita
, which is the repository of all the eternal truths. If your Guru also calls himself Krishna, let him expound the truths of Gita to us.” Hearing this, a poor water-carrier named Chhajju stood up, and proclaimed that anyone could expound on the Gita if he were so blessed by the Guru. Guru Har Krishan touched Chhajju with his walking stick, and Chhajju immediately began to expound the philosophy of the Gita. The Brahmin was so humbled by the spectacle that he fell to Guru Har Krishan's feet and asked forgiveness for his arrogance.
When they reached Delhi, Guru Har Krishan and his party were the guests of Raja Jai Singh. Every day, large numbers of Sikh devotees flocked to see the Guru. A smallpox
epidemic was then raging in Delhi. Guru Har Krishan helped to heal many sick people. Coming in contact with so many people every day, he too was infected and taken seriously ill. On March 30, 1664, Guru Har Krishan decided to name his successor. He called for five coins and a coconut. He took them, and being too weak to move, waved his hand three times in the air, and said "Baba Bakala", meaning his successor was to be found in Bakala. Guru Har Krishan then suddenly died at the age of seven.
One of the historic gurdwaras in India, the Bangla Sahib in Delhi was built on the site where Guru Har Krishan helped the sick, and he also died himself of smallpox at Gurudwara Bala Sahib.
Guru Har Rai
Guru Har Rai was the seventh of ten living Gurus of the Sikhs who became Guru on 8 March 1644 following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Guru Har Gobind, who was the sixth guru. Before he died, he nominated five year old Har Krishan, his youngest son as the next Guru of the Sikhs...
. After his death from smallpox, his granduncle, Guru Tegh Bahadur, became the next Guru of the Sikhs.
Kiratpur Sahib
Kiratpur also known as Kiratpur Sahib is a town in Rupnagar district, Punjab, India. The town is the location of the Gurdwara Patal Puri where Sikhs take ashes of their dead.-Kiratpur Sahib Town:...
, Rupnagar
Rupnagar
Rupnagar is a city and a municipal council in Rupnagar district in the Indian state of Punjab. It was formerly known as Ropar. The town of Rupnagar is said to have been founded by a Raja called Rokeshar, who ruled during the 11th century and named it after his son Rup Sen. It is also the site of...
, Punjab
Punjab (India)
Punjab ) is a state in the northwest of the Republic of India, forming part of the larger Punjab region. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest as well as the Pakistani province of Punjab to the...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
to Guru Har Rai
Guru Har Rai
Guru Har Rai was the seventh of ten living Gurus of the Sikhs who became Guru on 8 March 1644 following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Guru Har Gobind, who was the sixth guru. Before he died, he nominated five year old Har Krishan, his youngest son as the next Guru of the Sikhs...
and Kishan Kaur (Mata Sulakhni). Before his death in October 1661, Guru Har Rai designated his younger son Har Krishan as the next Guru. Har Rai chose Har Krishan, rather than his elder son Ram Rai, because Ram Rai was in collusion with the Mughal Empire
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
. Har Krishan was only five years old when he succeeded his father as Guru.
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 when Guru Har Krishan Ji was doing paath but not when Baba Raam Rai was doing it. 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 rough in the heart. Since the child guru was to take up so many diseases on his own self, softness was of prime importance. Thus next Guru came to be Guru Har Krishan Ji at the age of 5 years. Its the first time in the history when the light of the Guru had entered a small child.
Ram Rai complained to the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
in Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
that he had been passed over 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 Aurengzeb. 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. To calm these worries, Aurangzeb sent Mirza Raja Jai Singh I
Jai Singh I
Mirza Raja Jai Singh was a senior general of the Mughal Empire and a ruler of the kingdom of Amber . His father was Maha Singh the Raja of Garha, and his mother was Damayanti, a princess of Mewar.The great Raja Man Singh of Amber had several sons, the most capable of whom were the eldest Jagat...
to escort the Guru to Delhi. Mirza Raja Jai Singh I
Jai Singh I
Mirza Raja Jai Singh was a senior general of the Mughal Empire and a ruler of the kingdom of Amber . His father was Maha Singh the Raja of Garha, and his mother was Damayanti, a princess of Mewar.The great Raja Man Singh of Amber had several sons, the most capable of whom were the eldest Jagat...
was a high court official and a Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
ruler known for his devotion to the Sikh Gurushttp://www.sikh-history.com/sikhhist/gurus/nanak8.html.
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 see and hear 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 was met by large crowds of devotees.
As the legend goes, at Panjokhara Sahib, a jealous Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
taunted the Guru, mangling his name, which was close to that of the Hindu
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
god Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
. The Brahmin said “Your Guru is called Har Krishan, a mere child of eight years! Krishna, the incarnation of Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
, uttered the Gita
Bhagavad Gita
The ' , also more simply known as Gita, is a 700-verse Hindu scripture that is part of the ancient Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata, but is frequently treated as a freestanding text, and in particular, as an Upanishad in its own right, one of the several books that constitute general Vedic tradition...
, which is the repository of all the eternal truths. If your Guru also calls himself Krishna, let him expound the truths of Gita to us.” Hearing this, a poor water-carrier named Chhajju stood up, and proclaimed that anyone could expound on the Gita if he were so blessed by the Guru. Guru Har Krishan touched Chhajju with his walking stick, and Chhajju immediately began to expound the philosophy of the Gita. The Brahmin was so humbled by the spectacle that he fell to Guru Har Krishan's feet and asked forgiveness for his arrogance.
When they reached Delhi, Guru Har Krishan and his party were the guests of Raja Jai Singh. Every day, large numbers of Sikh devotees flocked to see the Guru. A smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
epidemic was then raging in Delhi. Guru Har Krishan helped to heal many sick people. Coming in contact with so many people every day, he too was infected and taken seriously ill. On March 30, 1664, Guru Har Krishan decided to name his successor. He called for five coins and a coconut. He took them, and being too weak to move, waved his hand three times in the air, and said "Baba Bakala", meaning his successor was to be found in Bakala. Guru Har Krishan then suddenly died at the age of seven.
One of the historic gurdwaras in India, the Bangla Sahib in Delhi was built on the site where Guru Har Krishan helped the sick, and he also died himself of smallpox at Gurudwara Bala Sahib.