Guru Har Rai’ was the seventh Gum of the Sikhs. Like his grandfather, Gurt’Har Gobind, he was a soldier as well as a saint. He had strong body, as all soldiers should have. He was a fast and skilful rider. At the same time, he had a very tender heart, like all true from his early life, he had shown a combination of strength of body and tenderness of heart. But his day to day life was molded more by his tenderness of heart than by his strength of body. The main guiding principles in life were two. Both of them were the result of his tenderness of heart. The first of these principles was to do good to others. He felt joy in doing good to others, even to those who were his enemies. Nothing was more pleasing to him than a good and kind act. The second principle of his life was to avoid causing pain, harm or grief to anyone. Guru Har Rai fashioned his life and activities in the light of these two guiding principles. This fact will be clear from what is given below: He ran a free dispensary for all. His storehouse contained even most rare and costly medicines. All the sick and injured persons who came there for treatment, were served with care and tenderness. In this way, he put into practice his principle of doing good to others. We know that Guru Nanak started the practice of running the Guru’s or free kitchen. This practice was followed by the later Gurus, too. Free food was given to all during the usual hours of the morning and evening meals. Guru Hare Repaid special attention to the Guru’s langar. To those who worked in the free kitchen, he gave the following instructions, ‘The kitchen must be open to all comers, day and night, at all hours. Additional food’ must always be kept ready, even after the usual hours of meals. Whoever comes to the kitchen early or late, must be served properly; none should be sent away disappointed. If you refuse food to a hungry visitor, you cause him pain and suffering. To cause pain or grief to anyone s heart is a sin. Remember always what Baba Farid has said in this connation, He has said,
Al men’s hearts are jewels, it is
wicked to cause them grief or pain
If you desire to see the dear Lord, cause
no grief or pain to anyone’s heart.”
The heart deserves more care and respect than even the temple or the mosque. The temple and mosque can be re paired or rebuilt. But it is impossible to re pair or re build a broken heart.” He desired his Sikhs to act in the same manner. He desired them to run free kitchen and to share their food with others. When his Sikhs came to visit him, he used to ask them, ‘Do you run free kitchens? Do you share your food with others? Do you feed persons who come after the time fixed for distribution of food?’ He used to tell them, ‘No one who comes to your door for food, should go away disappointed. Treat all such visitors in the same way as you treat your relations. Serve them with affection, even if they come before or after the time fixed for distribution of food.”
He would then repeat to them Baba Farid’s words given above he would also tell them his own views on the matter. Guru Har Rai ‘was almighty hunter like his grandfather. In the afternoon, he often used to mount his horse and go out hunting. He chased and caught wild animals like the deer. But he did not kill them. His tender heart would not let him do so. He brought them home and let them loose in his zoo. They were protected and fed there with kindness and care.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 2, 1996
