Jyoti Jot Shri Guru Har Rai Ji

Guru Har Rai was born on January 16, 1630, in Kiratpur to Baba Gurditta the eldest son of Guru Hargobind. From a very young age, he exhibited sensitivity to all living things and endeared himself to his grandfather Guru Hargobind. Thus, living a life of humility, Guru Har Rai Ji inspired others to do the same. Guru Har Rai Sahib was the son of Baba Gurdita Ji, the eldest son of Guru Hargobind, and Mata Nihal Kaur Ji(also known as Mata Ananti Ji). His father died when he was just 8 years old. He spent his life at his birthplace of Kiratpur. He would spend his morning and evenings listening to devotional music and giving lectures on the writing of the Gurus. He was fond of hunting but never kill the animal whereas keeping them as pets in his zoo. The Guru would also eat simple food which was earned by the labor of his own hands. Followers from far would come to Kiratpur to seek his blessings. Guru Har Rai also traveled a lot in order to spread the message of Sikhism to the masses. He sent Bhagwan Gir to eastern India to preach Sikhism. Another disciple Bhai Pheru was sent to Rajasthan and Suthre Shsh was appointed to Delhi. Guru Har Rai also had the challenge of maintaining unity within the Sikh party, as his older brother continued to cause problems over the years, trying to split the Sikh movement. He started several public singing and ure recital traditions in Sikhism. The katha style recitals were added by Guru Har Rai, to the sabad kirtan tradition. He also added the akhand kirtan of continuous chanting as well as the tradition of jotian da kirtan a Satsang singing of ures. He loved nature and the story related to it was once Guru Har Rai as a young boy accidentally battered a flower in his garden with his gown. He was very much hurt by this incident and loved and preserve nature and started the medicinal herb garden known as called Naulakha Baagh. When Mughal emperor Shah Jahan’s eldest son Dara Shikoh was seriously ill, Guru Har Rai sent a herbal medicine which cured him. Guru Har Rai was asked why he was helping the Mughal prince Dara Shikoh whose forefathers had persecuted Sikhs and Sikh Gurus. Har Rai is believed to have replied that if a man plucks flowers with one hand and gives them away using his other hand, both hands get the same fragrance. The emperor Shah Jahan was very much pleased with Guru and forget his enmity and vowed that he would never again cause him annoyance. ince Ram Rai had proved a disappointment to his father, Guru Har Rai appointed his younger son as the next Guru. Har Krishan became the eighth Guru at age 5 after Guru Har Rai’s death because of natural causes on October 6, 1661. The Sikh devotees were inconsolable at the untimely death of Guru Har Rai and it was the new Guru Har Krishan who consoled the followers, telling them to accept God’s will.