(26 February 1630 -16 October 1661)

Born: 6 February 1630

Place of birth: Kiratpur (Ropar)

Parents: Sri Baba Gurditta Ji and Mata Nihal Kaur Ji

Spouse: Mata Sulakhni Ji

Period: Emperor Shahjehan and later Aurangzeb reigned over Delhi

Died: 16 October 1661

According to Sikh history Guru Har Rai Ji was the embodiment of valour, devotion and compassion. He was a brave general and commanded an army of 2200 mounted Sikh soldiers. He not only showed compassion towards the poor and the deprived, he helped them in practical ways too.

He was born to Mata Nihal Kaur and Baba Gurditta Ji on 26 February 1630. He was trained and educated under the supervision of the sixth guru Sri Guru Hargobind Ji. He was an extremely sensitive being. Once Guru Hargobind Ji saw him in the garden looking very remorseful and asked him what was the matter. With a heavy heart he replied that the brushing of his robe against a plant had caused the flower petals to disintegrate. Guru Hargobind Ji told him, " My son, when one undertakes big responsibilities and dons large robes, one should be careful while carrying out the duties."

When Guru Har Rai Ji grew up he kept an army but never fought a battle. His life was full of bestowal. There is many a story about that. In village Behram, district Gurdaspur there was an unsightly child called Suthra Shah. His family members had thrown him on a heap of filth. His sight repulsed everybody. One day Guru Har Rai Ji was passing by. He saw him, picked him up and took care of him. Guru Ji blessed him by saying that one day this child will become Suthra (the clean one). Indeed he had many followers by the time he grew up.

Then there was a man called Dev Giri from Budh Gaya who came to Punjab. After meeting Guru Ji he became a Sikh and was given the name Bhagat Bhagwan by him. Later he went back to Bihar and started preaching Sikhism there.

Once while touring the Malwa region, Guru Ji met a man called Bhai Kala. He brought two of his nephews Phool and Sandali with him. The children played music on their stomachs like on drums. Guru Ji asked Kala what was the reason for doing that. Kala informed that the boys were orphans and had not had any food for days. So they are asking for a bestowal. Guru Ji proclaimed that these boys would become the owners of the area in future. Later on his wife’s insistence Kala brought his two sons too to Guru Ji, seeking a bestowal. Guru Ji said, " That was altogether a different moment. However your sons too will become land owners." According to Sikh history, the descendants of Phool became the owners of Nabha State and the progeny of Sandali became the feudal lords of Patiala State.

When the then Emperor of India Shahjehan fell ill his sons divided the territories amongst themselves. Shujah took Bengal, Gujrat was taken over by Murad, Dara Shikoh took Punjab and Aurangzeb claimed Deccan. They started fighting with each other for the throne while their father was still alive. Aurangzeb took Murad with him and started a fight against Dara Shikoh. Shahjehan was put into confinement. Dara lost the battle and ran away to Punjab. He wrote to Guru Har Rai Ji and went to meet him at Kiratpur. Guru Ji offered his hospitality to a man seeking refuge. Aurangzeb was told that Guru Har Rai has helped Dara Shikoh and he summoned Guru Ji to Delhi. However, Guru Ji sent his elder son Ram Rai instead. Aurangzeb was a cunning man. He cornered Ram Rai and asked why a hymn saying "mitti musalman ki perai payi ghumiar" (One may think that the buried body of a Moslem is sacred, but even that becomes dust and reaches the hands of a potter) was included in bani?