1. Shri Guru Har krishan Sahib Ji
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. He was
born at Kiratpur Sahib. He
was the second son of Guru
Har Rai Sahib and Mata
Krishan Kaur Ji.
Kiratpur Sahib
FATHER Guru Har Rai Ji
MOTHER Krishan Kaur ji (Sulakhni Ji)
DATE OF BIRTH July 07, 1656
PLACE OF BIRTH Kiratpur Sahib, Ropar
YEAR & TIME AT GUR GADHI 03 June, 1661, 2 year and 6 months.
REGIMS Aurangzeb
AGE 8
JYOTI-JOT DAY March 30, 1664

2. 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
in 1661.

3. 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.

4. 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.
To calm these worries, Aurangzeb sent Mirza Raja Jai Singh to escort
the Guru to Delhi.

5. 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.
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

6. Gurudwara Shri Panjokhra Sahib, Ambala

7. 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.

8. 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.
Gurudwara Shri Bangla Sahib

9. 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.

10. 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.”

11. Guru Har Krishan left Raja Jai Singh’s house to a camp on the bank of the river Jamuna.
Tears filled the eyes of Sikhs as they listened to what sounded like the last words of the
Guru. 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. 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. The ashes of Guru Harkrishan
were brought from Delhi and immersed near Gurdwara Patal Puri, Kiratgarh Sahib in the
river Sutlej in 1664.

13. Gurupurab Diyaan Lakh lakh vadhaiyaan Ji