SIKH GURUS

GURU HAR RAI SAHIB
(1630 - 1661)

GURU HAR RAI SAHIB (1630 - 1661), son of Baba Gurditta (and grandson of Guru Hargobind Sahib), was born at Keeratpur Sahib. In 1640, he was married to Mata Sulakkhani . She gave birth to Ram Rai, Rup Kaur and (Guru) Harkrishan Sahib.

(Guru) Har Rai Sahib was installed as the Seventh Nanak on March 18, 1642. He carried out Sikh missionary activity in the temporal and transcendental spheres. He developed the Sikh centre at Keeratpur Sahib and in the surrounding areas. Guru Har Rai Sahib established 360 Sikh missionary seats (each heded by a Masand) in various parts of the sub-continent. Guru Har Rai Sahib consolidated the Sikhs into a united cohesive force. He taught the Sikhs the art of political administration. Guru Har Rai Sahib undertook several missionary journeys throughout Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir etc. In 1659-60, Guru Sahib undertook a long missionary journey of the Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. He visited Lahore, Jalalpur Jattan, Galotian Khurd, Sialkot, Srinagar, Akhnur, Jammu, Ramgarh, Khirarhi, Samba, Pathankot etc.

Guru Sahib had a very strong army of 2200 horses and a large number of soldiers. In 1658, the war of succession broke out among the children of Shah Jahan, the Mogul emperor. The major battle was fought between the armies of Aurangzeb and Dara Shikoh. Dara Shikoh, after a major defeat, moved towards the Punjab. The army of Aurangzeb chased Dara Shikoh. Guru Har Rai Sahib blocked the movement of Aurangzeb's army so that Dara Shikoh could escape. This incident angered Aurangzeb. When Aurangzeb got settled, he sent summons to Guru Sahib. Guru Sahib sent his elder son Ram Rai to Delhi. When Ram Rai tried to please Aurangzeb, Guru Sahib excommunicated him (Ram Rai) and chose his younger son (Guru) Harkrishan Sahib as his successor. He died at Keeratpur Sahib, in 1661