ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>HAR R&#256I GUR&#362 (1630-1661)</TITLE> <style type="text/css"> .BODY { background-color: #EAF1F7; background-image: url('images/gtbh.jpg'); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed; background-position: center; color: #0066CC;} .C1{text-align: justify;color: #0066CC;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .BIB{text-align: center;color: #000099;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .CONT{text-align: right;color: #FF0000;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} </style><META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="HAR,RI,GURj,Person,Person"> <META http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></HEAD> <BODY class="BODY" oncontextmenu="return false" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false"> <FONT ALIGN="JUSTIFY" FACE="Tahoma"> <p class="C1">&#65279HAR R&#256I, GUR&#362 (1630-1661), the seventh Gur&#363 of the Sikh faith, was the son of B&#257b&#257 Gurditt&#257 and grandson of Gur&#363 Hargobind, N&#257nak VI. He was born on 16 January 1630 at K&#299ratpur, in present-day Ropa&#7771 district of the Punjab. In 1640, he was married to Sulakkha&#7751&#299, daughter of Day&#257 R&#257m of An&#363pshahr, in Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh. He was gentle by nature and had a devout temperament. He was Gur&#363 Hargobind's favourite grandchild, and he had been given the name of Har R&#257i by the Gur&#363 himself. Once, record old texts, Har R&#257i was returning home after his riding exercise. From a distance he saw Gur&#363 Hargobind sitting in the garden. He at once got off his horse to go and do him homage. In this hurry, his robe was caught in a bush and a few of the flowers were broken from their stems. This pained Har R&#257i's heart. He sat down on the spot and wept bitterly. Gur&#363 Hargobind came and consoled him. He also advised him: "Wear your robe by all means, but be careful as you walk. It behoves God's servants to be tender to all things." There was a deeper meaning in the Gur&#363's words. One must live in this world, and yet be master of oneself.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Gur&#363 Hargobind knew Har R&#257i to be the fittest to inherit the "light" from him. He nominated him as his successor and consecrated him Gur&#363 before departing this life on 3. March 1644.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Gur&#363 Har R&#257i kept the stately style Gur&#363 Hargobind had introduced. He was attended by 2, 200 armed followers, but no further conflict with the ruling power occurred. He established three important preaching missions called <i>ba<u>kh</u>shishes</i> for the spread of Gur&#363 N&#257nak's teaching. First was that of Bhagv&#257n Gir, renamed Bhagat Bhagv&#257n, who established missionary centres in eastern India. The second was that of Sa&#7749gat&#299&#257, renamed Bh&#257&#299 Pher&#363, who preached in R&#257jasth&#257n and southern Punjab. Gur&#363 Har R&#257i also sent Bh&#257&#299 Gond&#257 to K&#257bul, Bh&#257&#299 Natth&#257 to &#7692h&#257k&#257 and Bh&#257&#299 Jodh to Mult&#257n to preach. The ancestors of present-day families of B&#257ga&#7771&#299&#257&#7749 and Kaithal preached in the M&#257lv&#257 region. Gur&#363 Har R&#257i himself travelled extensively in this area and a large number of people accepted his teaching. He confirmed the blessing earlier bestowed by Gur&#363 Hargobind on a poor boy, Ph&#363l, who became the founder of the families of Pa&#7789i&#257l&#257, N&#257bh&#257 and J&#299nd. These families ruled in their territories in the Punjab until recent years.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; K&#299ratpur was Gur&#363 Har R&#257i's permanent seat. Here disciples and visitors came to seek blessings and instruction. The Gur&#363 kept the daily practice of his predecessors. The institution of <i>la&#7749gar</i>, community eating, continued to flourish. Gur&#363 Har R&#257i chose himself the simplest fare which was earned by the labour of his own hands. In the morning, he sat in the <i>sa&#7749gat</i> and explained the Sikh doctrine. He did not compose any hymns of his own, but quoted those of his predecessors in his discourses. He often repeated to his followers the following verses of Bh&#257&#299 Gurd&#257s, <i>V&#257r&#257&#7749</i> (XXVIII. 15) :</p> <blockquote class="C1"><p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A true Sikh rises before the night ends,</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And turns his thoughts to God's Name,</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To charity and to holy bathing.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He speaks humbly and humbly he walks,</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He wishes everyone well and he is joyed to give away gifts from his hand.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He sleeps but little,</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And little does he eat and talk.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Thus he receives the Gur&#363's true instruction.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He lives by the labour of his hands and he does good deeds.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;However eminent he might become,</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He demonstrates not himself.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He sings God's praises in the company holy men.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Such company he seeks night and day.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Upon Word is his mind fixed,</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And he delights in the Gur&#363's will.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Unenticed he lives in this world of enticement.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</blockquote></p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Gur&#363 Har R&#257i was at Goindv&#257l when D&#257r&#257 Shukoh, heir apparent to the Mu<u>gh</u>al throne, entered the Punjab fleeing in front of the army of his brother, Aura&#7749gz&#299b, after his defeat in the battle of S&#257m&#363ga&#7771h on 29 May 1658. At Goindv&#257l, where he arrived in the last week of June 1658, he called on Gur&#363 Har R&#257i, and sought the consolation of his blessing. The prince was of a liberal religious disposition, and had a natural inclination for the company of saintly persons. He was especially an admirer of the famous Muslim S&#363f&#299, M&#299&#257&#7749 M&#299r, who was known to the Sikh Gur&#363s. Sikh tradition also recalls how D&#257r&#257 Shukoh had once been cured of a serious malady with herbs sent to him by Gur&#363 Har R&#257i. In his affliction now he readily took the opportunity of having an audience with the Gur&#363. According to Sar&#363p D&#257s Bhall&#257, <i>Mahim&#257 Prak&#257sh</i>, Gur&#363 Har R&#257i deployed his own troops at the ferry to delay Aura&#7749gz&#299b's army which was pursuing D&#257r&#257 close at his heels.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Gur&#363 Har R&#257i left Goindv&#257l on a tour of the districts where the Sikh faith had taken root in the time of his predecessors. He travelled further on to Kashm&#299r. The Bais&#257kh&#299 of 1660 was celebrated at Si&#257lko&#7789 in the home of Nand L&#257l Pur&#299, grandfather of Haq&#299qat R&#257i, the martyr. The journey was resumed in the company of Sikhs such as Makkha&#7751 Sh&#257h, the Lub&#257&#7751&#257 trader, and &#256&#7771&#363 R&#257m, father of Kirp&#257 R&#257m Datt who later led to the presence of Gur&#363 Te<u>gh</u> Bah&#257dur a group of Kashm&#299r&#299 Pa&#7751&#7693its driven to dire distress by State persecution. Gur&#363 Har R&#257i arrived at Sr&#299nagar, via M&#257rta&#7751d, on 19 May 1660, and visited Mo&#7789&#257 &#7788&#257&#7751&#7693&#257, the village to which his disciple, Makkha&#7751 Sh&#257h belonged. On his way back, he stopped at Akhn&#363r and Jamm&#363. At the latter place, the local <i>masand</i>, Bh&#257&#299 K&#257hn&#257, waited on him with the <i>sa&#7749gat</i>.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; D&#257r&#257 Shukoh's meeting with Gur&#363 Har R&#257i was misrepresented to Emperor Aura&#7749gz&#299b. Highly coloured stories were carried to him. His officials and courtiers reported to him that Gur&#363 Har R&#257i was a rebel and that he had helped the fugitive prince, D&#257r&#257. Further, that the Sikh Scripture contained verses derogatory to Islam. The Empror asked R&#257j&#257 Jai Si&#7749gh of &#256mber to have Gur&#363 Har R&#257i brought to Delhi. The R&#257j&#257's envoy, Har&#299 Chand, who reached K&#299ratpur on the Bais&#257kh&#299 day of 1661, presented the royal summons. Gur&#363 Har R&#257i wondered why he had been called to Delhi and, to quote Bh&#257&#299 Santokh Si&#7749gh, <i>Sr&#299 Gur Prat&#257p S&#363raj Granth</i>, he said, "I rule over no territory, I owe the king no tax, nor do I want anything from him. There is no connection of teacher and disciple between us, either. Of what avail will this meeting be?" He sent instead his elder son, R&#257m R&#257i, his minister, D&#299w&#257n Darg&#257h Mall, escorting him. According to the <i>Gur&#363 k&#299&#257&#7749 S&#257kh&#299&#257&#7749</i>, Gur&#363 Har R&#257i blessed his young son as he seated him in the carriage and exhorted him: "Answer squarely and without fear any questions the Emperor may ask. Exhibit no hesitation. Read the Granth attentively as you make halts on the way. The Gur&#363 will protect you wherever you might be." Gurd&#257s, of the family of Bh&#257&#299 Bahilo, was asked to accompany R&#257m R&#257i with a copy of the (Gur&#363) Granth S&#257hib. In order to please the Emperor, R&#257m R&#257i deliberately misread one of the lines from the (Gur&#363) Granth S&#257hib. This was reported by the Sikhs accompanying him to Gur&#363 Har R&#257i, who anathematized him for altering Gur&#363 N&#257nak's utterance. Debarred from presence before the Gur&#363, R&#257m R&#257i retired to Dehr&#257 D&#363n. Gur&#363 Har R&#257i chose his younger son, Har Krishan, to be his successor and had him anointed as Gur&#363 before he passed away at K&#299ratpur on 6 October 1661.</p> </font> <p class="BIB"> BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"> Bhall&#257, Sar&#363p D&#257s, <i>Mahim&#257 Prak&#257sh</i>. Patiala, 1971<BR> <li class="C1"> Santokh Si&#7749gh, Bh&#257&#299, <i>Sr&#299 Gur Prat&#257p S&#363raj Granth</i>. Amritsar, 1927-33<BR> <li class="C1"> Gi&#257n Si&#7749gh, Gi&#257n&#299, <i>Panth Prak&#257sh</i>. Patiala, 1970<BR> <li class="C1"> Padam, Pi&#257ra Si&#7749gh, and Gi&#257n&#299 Garj&#257 Si&#7749gh, eds., <i>Gur&#363 k&#299&#257&#7749 S&#257kh&#299&#257&#7749</i>. Patiala, 1986<BR> <li class="C1"> Satib&#299r Si&#7749gh, <i>Nirbhau Nirvair</i>. Jalandhar, 1984<BR> <li class="C1"> Macauliffe, Max Arthur, <i>The Sikh Religion</i>. Oxford, 1909<BR> <li class="C1"> Gupta, Hari Ram, <i>History of the Sikhs</i>, vol. I. Delhi, 1973<BR> <li class="C1"> Khushwant Singh, <i>A History of the Sikhs</i>, vol. I, Princeton, 1963<BR> </ol><p class="CONT">Bhagat Si&#7749gh<br></p><BR> </font> <img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""> </HTML></BODY>