Guru Har Krishan was the eighth Guru of Sikhs. He was the younger son of Guru Har Rai. He was born to Krishan Kaur on July 7,1656A.D…As guru Har Rai was not happy with his elder son Ram Rai because of his having changed the text of a line of the Adj Granth in the Mughal court at Delhi, he appointed Guru Harkrishan as his successor in October, 1661 A.D. at the tender age of five. That is why Guru Harkrishan is also known as Bal Guru (Child Guru).
On a complaint by Ram Rai, Aurangzeb called Guru Harkrishan to Delhi. He came to Delhi and stayed at the bungalow of Raja Jai Singh (now known as Gurdwara Bangla Sahib) but refused to meet the king. Cholera was raging in Delhi at that time. The Guru provided a healing touch to the sick. He was himself taken ill and died on MARCH 30, 1664 A.D. and was cremated on the banks of Yamuna in Delhi where now stands Gurdwara Bala Sahib.
On his last day, the Guru called for five Paise and a coconut. He took them and not being able to move his body waved his hand three times in the air by way of pointing out his successor and said “Baba Bakale” i.e. his successor will be found in the village of Bakala. The words were deeply Significant as they helped in maintaining the line of succession.
The Guru’s life, though short chronologically speaking, made the foundation of Sikhism much Stronger by maintaining the hallowed traditions of self-sacrifice, truthfulness, care for others and fearless resolve and by providing continuity in the line of succession. His pontificate is marked by the revival of Mughal interference in Sikh affairs.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 3, 1996
