Shri Guru Har Krishan Ji

Guru Har Krishan was born in 1656 in Kiratpur, Hoshiapur. His father was Guru Har Rai, the seventh Guru and his mother was Mata Krishan Kaur Ji. Guru Har Rai's elder son, Ram Rai had alienated himself by befriending the Guru's enemies at Delhi and was therefore not considered to assume Guruship. Thus in year 1661, Guru Ji transferred the 'Divine Light' to his second son, Har Krishan, who was just five years old at that time.

During his reign as the Guru, he proved to be the symbol of service, purity and truth. In other words he displayed all the qualities of a spiritual guide.

Guru Har Krishan's fame had spread all around and his devotees worshipped him as a holy being. During his visit to Panjokhra, a Pundit observed sarcastically that though he was called the 'Guru', he did not know the Gita. This remark reached the Guru and the Pundit was called to his presence. Guru Ji, asked the Pundit to get hold of any person he liked for listening to the Gita. The Pundit caught hold of Chhaju, who didn't know anything about the Gita at all. The Guru cast a divine look at Chhaju and then asked the Pandit to recite a Shloka (verse) from the Gita.

To everyone's surprise, Chhaju explained each and word that the Pundit had recited. The Pundit was amazed and bowed his head at the Guru's feet and asked for forgiveness.

Guru Ji was mainly involved in helping the sick and relieving them from their distress. During his stay in Delhi, when he went on his rounds, his very sight (darshan) gave the children and their parents physical relief, mental and spiritual solace. His divine look cast a miraculous spell on the sick. Their pain and suffering seemed to vanish the moment the Guru appeared before the patients.

The small pox epidemic was very severe and raging in full fury in the city. Ultimately the Guru took over the disease upon his own body to ward off the epidemic.

He offered supreme sacrifice of his body at the altar of God to relieve everyone from distress and pain.

Guru Har Krishan was hardly eight years old when he left this world in 1664. Even at that early age he remembered a great many hymns of his predecessors and quoted them with amazing appropriateness. After he became the Guru, he naturally had the divine light of Guru Nanak kindled in him. Tender and docile, Guru Har Krishan received respect and devotion from high and low. Before he passed away he indicated to his mother and all those present that his successor was in Bakala, thereby referring to Guru Tegh Bahadur, who had settled there.

People had the firm conviction that reciting the name of Guru Har Krishan would cure them of all ills. Even to this day the devotees of all castes and creed, who come to worship and pay homage at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib (in Delhi), built in his memory, have on their lips...

"Sri Har Krishan ji dhiayee… Jis dhithe sab dukh jaye."

(Meditate on the name of Guru Har Krishan, and all your troubles will go away.)