He was the grandson of Guru Har Gobind Sahib Ji. His father ‘was Baba Gurditta and mother ‘was Nihal Kaur, He was born at Kiratpur (in Hoshiarpur District) on January 16, 1630, He had an older brother, Dhirmal. He was married to Kishan Kaur and had two sons: Ram Rai and Har Krishan and had one adopted daughter ‘Anup Kaur.
He grew up in a natural environment in Kiratpur. He got his basic education there He was well rainedin the use of arms and religious duties. So when Guru Har Gobind ‘was looking for a suevessor, he was the natural choice. Guru Har Rai Si assumed Guruship at the age of fourteen after the death of Guru Har Gobind. His older brother Dhirmal was very jealous of it. He started bothering Har Rai by one way or another. In contrast to Dhirmal, Har Rai was very polite and mild natured. He simply ignored Dhirmal, He maintained a cavalry of 2200 horses but he rarely engaged himself in the war. He ‘went for hunting but never killed an animal. He would catch them alive and keep them in his personal 200 at Kiratpur. He will also pick up an orphan and unwanted animals and take care of them. Once passing through a garden, his loose dress struck a flower off its stem. He felt so bad about it after that whenever he was wearing a loose dress he would keep-unfolds so that the gown could be tucked under his arms.
All his life he served the sick and the poor. He maintained a free medical clinic for the poor. When Dara Shikoh, eldest son of Shah Jahan fell ill, no cure could be found for his illness. He was given ‘medicine from Guru’s clinic which cured him. At that time Guru Har Rai ignored the enmity of the Mughals with Sikhs.
He spent most of his time preaching and reorganizing missionary work. He went to Malwa for preaching. During this time, he blessed the poor orphans. With Guru’ blessing off springs of these orphans became the Rulers of Patiala, Nabha and Jind. He also got more copies made of Guru Granth Sahib.
After Shah Jehan’s death, there was a fight among his sons and Dara Shikoh fled from Delhi. Guru Har Rai helped him with the army so he could safely cross the river but later on he was caught by his younger brother, Arangzeb, and put to death. After Aurangzeb got established, he started spreading Muslim religion by force. He called Guru Har Rai to Delhi Guru Jidid not go himself butsent his eldest son, Ram Rai. He was given information not to show any miracles and tell the truth but he mis-interpreted a verse of Guru Nanak just to please Aurangzeb. When Guru Har Rai came to know about it, he felt so bad that he disowned his son for the sake of principles of Guru’s House. He appointed his younger son, Har Krishan, as the Eighth Guru.
‘One day addressing his Sikhs he said, “Any one may come to you at any-time and should go back satisfied. You should do service in such a way that the poor guest may not feel he is partaking of some charity but as if he had come to the Guru’s House which belonged to all in equal measure. He who has more should consider it as God’s trust and share it in the same spirit.
Man is only an instrument of service the given of good is God. The temple and the mosques may be repaired and rebuilt but not a broken heart.
He left for Lord’s abode on Oct. 6, 1661 at the age of 31 at Kiratpur.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 11, 1986