| Revision as of 12:59, 21 May 2023 editJassu712 (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users774 edits →Dara ShikohTags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit Advanced mobile edit← Previous edit | Revision as of 16:16, 28 May 2023 edit undoMian Singh (talk | contribs)100 editsNo edit summaryTags: Reverted Visual editNext edit → | ||
| Line 12: | Line 12: | ||
| | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1661|10|06|1630|01|16}} | | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1661|10|06|1630|01|16}} | ||
| | death_place = ], ], ] <br> {{small|(present-day ], ], ])}} | | death_place = ], ], ] <br> {{small|(present-day ], ], ])}} | ||
| | period = 1644–1661 | | period = 1644–1661 | ||
| | other_names = ''Seventh Master''<br>''Seventh Nanak' | | other_names = ''Seventh Master''<br>''Seventh Nanak' | ||
| | predecessor = ] | | predecessor = ] | ||
| | successor = ] | | successor = ] | ||
| | parents |
| parents = ]<br /> ] | ||
| | spouse = Mata Krishen Devi<br /> Mata Kot Kalyan | |||
| ] (mother) | |||
| ⚫ | | children = ]<br /> ] | ||
| ] (father in law) | |||
| ] (mother in law)<ref>"Sri Gur Panth Prakash" by Rattan Singh Bhangoo:</ref><ref>"Sri Gur Sobha" by Sainapati</ref><ref>Bhai Gurdas Vaaran</ref><ref>"Gurbilas Patshahi 6" by Koer Singh</ref> | |||
| | spouse = Mata Krishen Devi (also known as Sulakhni, Kot Kalyani,<ref>{{cite web |title=History - Darbar Shri Guru Ram Rai Ji Maharaj - Dehradun |url=http://www.sgrrdarbar.org/history.aspx |website=www.sgrrdarbar.org}}</ref> or Kishan Kaur) | |||
| ⚫ | | children = ]<br> ] | ||
| | native_name = ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਇ | | native_name = ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਇ | ||
| | native_name_lang = pa | | native_name_lang = pa | ||
| | native name lang = pa | | native name lang = pa | ||
| | signature = Autograph of Guru Har Rai.jpg | | signature = Autograph of Guru Har Rai.jpg | ||
| | death_cause = ] | |||
| }} | }} | ||
| {{Sikhism sidebar}} | {{Sikhism sidebar}} | ||
| '''Guru Har Rai''' ( |
'''Guru Har Rai''' (<small>Punjabi pronunciation:</small> {{IPA-pa|gʊɾuː ɦəɾ ɾaːɪ|}}; 16 January 1630 – 6 October 1661)<ref name=eosghr>{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/TheEncyclopediaOfSikhism-VolumeIiE-l/page/n275 |title=Har Rai, Guru (1630–1661) |author=Bhagat Singh |editor=Harbans Singh|display-editors=etal| website=Encyclopaedia of Sikhism |publisher=Punjabi University Patiala |access-date=16 January 2017}}</ref> was the seventh of ten human Gurus in the Sikh Qaum.<ref name=britharrai>, Encyclopedia Britannica (2015)</ref> He was a warrior, doctor, zoologist, leader and poet.<ref name=":1">{{cite book |author=J. S. Grewal |url=https://archive.org/details/sikhsofpunjab0000grew |title=The Sikhs of the Punjab |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-521-63764-0 |pages=–63, 67–69 |url-access=registration}}</ref> | ||
| Guru Har Rai became the Guru of the Sikh religion at the age of 14, on 3 March 1644, after the death of his grandfather ].<ref name="Mandair2013p50">{{cite book|author=Arvind-Pal Singh Mandair|title=Sikhism: A Guide for the Perplexed |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vdhLAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA50 |year=2013|publisher=Bloomsbury Academic|isbn=978-1-4411-0231-7|pages=50–51}}</ref> He guided the Sikhs for about seventeen years, till his death at age 31.<ref name="Mandair2013p50" /><ref name="Grewal1998p67">{{cite book|author=J. S. Grewal|title=The Sikhs of the Punjab|url= https://archive.org/details/sikhsofpunjab0000grew|url-access=registration|year=1998|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-63764-0|pages=–69}}</ref> Guru Har Rai is notable for having the largest zoological park, largest hospital and maintaining an army of the ] without going to war. He supported the moderate Sufi influenced ] instead of conservative ] influenced ] as the two brothers entered into a war of succession to the Mughal Empire throne.<ref name="Mandair2013p50"/> He was asked to validate himself in the Mughal court hence he sent his son, ], to represent him. Ram Rai when posed with a question by Aurangzeb about a quote in the ] changed the text to suit his narrative and hence was excommunicated from the Sikh Qaum.<ref name=":1" /> | |||
| Guru Har Rai is notable for maintaining the large army of Sikh soldiers that the sixth Sikh Guru had amassed, yet avoiding military conflict. He supported the moderate Sufi influenced ] instead of conservative ] influenced ] as the two brothers entered into a war of succession to the Mughal Empire throne.<ref name="Mandair2013p50"/> | |||
| Later Aurangzeb planned three invasions of Kiratpur although all three had failed due to internal issues. Due to the tactical difficulties in attacking Kiratpur, Aurangzeb sent Ram Rai's followers to poison him.<ref name="Suraj">{{cite book |author=Ajit Singh Aulakh |url=https://sikhbookclub.com/Book/Sri-Gur-Partap-Suraj-Granth-Vol-7-Steek-Gur-Itihaas-Sri-Guru-Har-Rai-Ji,-Sri-Guru-Har-Krishan-Ji |title=Sri Gur Partap Suraj Granth Vol 7 Steek Gur Itihaas Sri Guru Har Rai Ji, Sri Guru Har Krishan Ji}}</ref> Some Sikh literature spell his name as '''Hari Rai''' and '''Harrai'''.<ref name="Singh2014p400">{{cite book|author1=Pashaura Singh|author2=Louis E. Fenech|title=The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8I0NAwAAQBAJ |year=2014|publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-969930-8|page=400}}</ref> | |||
| == Family and Early Life == | |||
| ==Biography== | |||
| Guru Har Rai was born to Nihal Kaur and Baba Gurditta into |
Guru Har Rai was born to Nihal Kaur and Baba Gurditta into an Udasi Sikh household. His father, although an Udasi, was very religious and was the leader of the Udasis. He was very religious at a young age although did not follow the Udasis and followed his grandfather; the leader of the mainstream Sikh Qaum. His father died while he was 8 years old. At age 10, in 1640, Guru Har Rai was married to Mata Kishan Devi the daughter of Raja Daya Ram, the ruler of Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh who was also a Sikh of Guru Hargobind and later Guru Har Rai. Later he was wedded to Mata Kot Kalyan of Peshawar, they had two children, Ram Rai and Har Krishan, the latter of whom became the eighth ].<ref name=":1" /> | ||
| His elder brother Dhir Mal had gained encouragement and support from ], with free land grants and Mughal sponsorship. Dhir Mal attempted to form a parallel Sikh tradition and criticised his grand father and sixth Guru, Hargobind. The sixth Guru disagreed with Dhir Mal, and designated the younger Har Rai as the successor. | |||
| ⚫ | ==Religious Influence== | ||
| ⚫ | Authentic literature about Guru Har Rai life and times are scarce, he left no texts of his own and some Sikh texts composed later spell his name as "Hari Rai".<ref>{{cite book|author1=Louis E. Fenech |
||
| ⚫ | He started several public singing and scripture recital traditions in Sikhism. The ''katha'' or discourse style recitals were added by Guru Har Rai to the '']'' singing tradition of Sikhs. He also added the '']'' or continuous scripture singing tradition of Sikhism, as well as the tradition of ''jotian da kirtan'' or collective folk choral singing of scriptures.<ref name="Singh2014p400" /> | ||
| === |
===Reforms=== | ||
| ⚫ | The third Sikh leader ] had started the tradition of appointing '']'' (zones of religious administration with an appointed chief called ''sangatias''),<ref name="cole20">{{cite book |author1=William Owen Cole |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zIC_MgJ5RMUC&pg=PA22 |title=The Sikhs: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices |author2=Piara Singh Sambhi |publisher=Sussex Academic Press |year=1995 |isbn=978-1-898723-13-4 |pages=20–21}}</ref><ref name="FenechMcLeod2014p29">{{cite book |author1=Louis E. Fenech |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xajcAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA29 |title=Historical Dictionary of Sikhism |author2=W. H. McLeod |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-4422-3601-1 |pages=29–30}}</ref> introduced the '']'' ("the tenth" of income) system of revenue collection in the name of Guru and as pooled community religious resource,<ref name="Farhadian2015p342">{{cite book |author=Charles E. Farhadian |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5VV-BAAAQBAJ&pg=PT342 |title=Introducing World Religions |publisher=Baker Academic |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-4412-4650-9 |pages=342}}</ref> and the famed '']'' tradition of Sikhism where anyone, without discrimination of any kind, could get a free meal in a communal seating.<ref name="FenechMcLeod2014p29" /> | ||
| Guru Har Rai provided medical care to ], possibly when he had been poisoned by Mughal operatives.<ref name=britharrai/><ref name="Mandair2013p50"/> According to Mughal records, Guru Har Rai provided other forms of support to Dara Shikoh as he and his brother Aurangzeb battled for rights to succession. Ultimately, Aurangzeb won, arrested Dara Shikoh and executed him on charges of ] from Islam. In 1660, Aurangzeb summoned Guru Har Rai to appear before him to explain his relationship with Dara Shikoh.<ref name="Mandair2013p50"/> | |||
| ⚫ | The organisational structure that had helped Sikhs to grow and resist the Mughal persecution had created new problems for Guru Har Rai. The donation collectors, some of the ]s (local congregational leaders) led by Dhir Mal – the older brother of Guru Har Rai, all of them encouraged by the support of ], land grants and Mughal administration – had attempted to internally split the Sikhs into competing movements, start a parallel guruship, and thereby weaken the Sikh Qaum. Thus a part of the challenge for Guru<ref name="eosghr" /> Har Rai was to keep Sikhs united.<ref>{{cite book |author=Surjit Singh Gandhi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qw7-kUkHA_0C&pg=PA365 |title=History of Sikh Gurus Retold: 1469–1606 C.E |publisher=Atlantic Publishers |year=2007 |isbn=978-81-269-0857-8 |pages=365–367}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H5cQH17-HnMC&pg=PA345 |title=Holy People of the World: A Cross-cultural Encyclopedia |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2004 |isbn=978-1-57607-355-1 |page=345}}</ref> | ||
| In the Sikh tradition, Guru Har Rai was asked why he was helping the Mughal prince Dara Shikoh whose forefathers had persecuted Sikhs and Sikh Gurus. Guru Har Rai is believed to have replied that if a man plucks flowers with one hand and gives it away using his other hand, both hands get the same fragrance.<ref>{{cite book|author=Arvind-Pal Singh Mandair|title=Sikhism: A Guide for the Perplexed |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vdhLAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA226 |year=2013|publisher=Bloomsbury Academic|isbn=978-1-4411-0231-7|pages=226 with note 7}}</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | He appointed new masands such as Bhai Jodh, Bhai Gonda, Bhai Nattha, Bhagat Bhagwan (for eastern India), Bhai Pheru (for Rajasthan), Bhai Bhagat (also known as Bairagi), as the heads of Manjis. | ||
| After Aurangzeb won the succession war in 1658, he summoned Guru Har Rai in 1660 to explain his support for the executed Dara Shikoh. Guru Har Rai sent his elder son Ram Rai to represent him. Aurangzeb kept the 13 year old Ram Rai as hostage, questioned Ram Rai about a verse in the Adi Granth – the holy text of Sikhs. Aurangzeb claimed that it disparaged the Muslims. Ram Rai changed the verse to appease Aurangzeb instead of standing by the Sikh scripture, an act for which Guru Har Rai excommunicated his elder son, and nominated the younger Har Krishan to succeed as the next Guru of Sikhism. | |||
| == Sikh scriptures == | |||
| ===Death and succession=== | |||
| ⚫ | The common Sikh belief is that Guru Hargobind and Guru Har Rai did not contribute to any Bani at all.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Sardar Harjeet |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fleka3YEE8sC&q=a+couplet+attributed+to+Guru+Har+Rai&pg=PA100 |title=Faith & Philosophy of Sikhism |date=2009 |publisher=Gyan Publishing House |isbn=978-81-7835-721-8 |pages=103–104 |language=en}}</ref> This is not entirely true as Guru Har Rai is said to have wrote the Salok Mahalla Satvaan and Guru Hargobind wrote the Brahm Kavach.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-08-26 |title=Guru Gobind Singh Ji reciting Brahm Kavach - Gurbilas P10 |url=https://www.manglacharan.com/post/guru-gobind-singh-ji-reciting-brahm-kavach-gurbilas-p10 |access-date=2023-05-28 |website=Manglacharan |language=en}}</ref> | ||
| He appointed his 5-year-old youngest son ] as the eighth Guru of the Sikhs before his death. | |||
| ⚫ | This Mahalla of Guru Har Rai is in the Kiratpuri Bir of the Guru Granth Sahib. Although it is clearly marked as a composition of Guru Har Rai the seventh Mina Guru Miharban also used the marker leaving open the possibility of mistaken attribution.<ref name=":0" /> The Salok does not appear in any of the texts containing the writings of Miharban. At the same time no text about the Sikh Gurus lives reference Guru Har Rai writing Bani.<ref>Faith and Philosophy of Sikhism Pg.103</ref> It can therefore be securely attributed to Guru Har Rai. Gurus each had their own way of starting poems or couplets.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Sardar Harjeet |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fleka3YEE8sC&q=a+couplet+attributed+to+Guru+Har+Rai&pg=PA100 |title=Faith & Philosophy of Sikhism |date=2009 |publisher=Gyan Publishing House |isbn=978-81-7835-721-8 |language=en}}</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | ==Influence== | ||
| ⚫ | He started several public singing and scripture recital traditions in Sikhism. The ''katha'' or discourse style recitals were added by Guru Har Rai to the '']'' singing tradition of Sikhs. He also added the '']'' or continuous scripture singing tradition of Sikhism, as well as the tradition of ''jotian da kirtan'' or collective folk choral singing of scriptures.<ref name="Singh2014p400"/> | ||
| ⚫ | Guru Har Rai's was: ''Through the voice of Har Rai, the Guru.''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Pashaura |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aiwpDwAAQBAJ&q=a+couplet+attributed+to+Guru+Har+Rai&pg=PT212 |title=The Guru Granth Sahib: Canon, Meaning and Authority |date=2003-09-26 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-908773-0 |language=en}}</ref> | ||
| ===Reforms=== | |||
| ⚫ | The third Sikh leader ] had started the tradition of appointing '']'' (zones of religious administration with an appointed chief called ''sangatias''),<ref name=cole20>{{cite book|author1=William Owen Cole |
||
| ⚫ | Authentic literature about Guru Har Rai life and times are scarce, he left no texts of his own and some Sikh texts composed later spell his name as "Hari Rai".<ref>{{cite book |author1=Louis E. Fenech |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xajcAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA148 |title=Historical Dictionary of Sikhism |author2=W. H. McLeod |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-4422-3601-1 |page=148}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author1=Pashaura Singh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8I0NAwAAQBAJ |title=The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies |author2=Louis E. Fenech |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2014 |isbn=978-0-19-969930-8 |page=41}}</ref> Some of the biographies of Guru Har Rai written in the 18th century such as by Kesar Singh Chhibber, and the 19th-century Sikh literature are highly inconsistent.<ref>{{cite book |author=Surjit Singh Gandhi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vZFBp89UInUC&pg=PA590 |title=History of Sikh Gurus Retold: 1606–1708 C.E |publisher=Atlantic Publishers |year=2007 |isbn=978-81-269-0858-5 |pages=590–591 with note 2}}</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | The organisational structure that had helped Sikhs to grow and resist the Mughal persecution had created new problems for Guru Har Rai. The donation collectors, some of the ]s (local congregational leaders) led by Dhir Mal – the older brother of Guru Har Rai, all of them encouraged by the support of ], land grants and Mughal administration – had attempted to internally split the Sikhs into competing movements, start a parallel guruship, and thereby weaken the Sikh |
||
| == Wars == | |||
| ⚫ | He appointed new masands such as Bhai Jodh, Bhai Gonda, Bhai Nattha, Bhagat Bhagwan (for eastern India), Bhai Pheru (for |
||
| Guru Har Rai provided medical care to ], possibly when he had been poisoned by Mughal operatives.<ref name="britharrai" /><ref name="Mandair2013p50" /> According to Mughal records, Guru Har Rai provided other forms of support to Dara Shikoh as he and his brother, Aurangzeb, battled for rights to succession. During Dara Shikoh's war of succession with his brother Aurangzeb after the death of their father, Shah Jahan, a war started between the two brothers. Guru Har Rai, Raja Tara Chand and Raja Sarmad were the only three major influential leaders who supported Dara Shikoh, and hence Dara Shikoh planned to visit the northern regions of the Mughal Empire as it was where most Mughal troops were.<ref name="Suraj" /> He visited Guru Har Rai who provided him with horses and weapons.<ref name="Suraj" /> Ultimately, Aurangzeb won, arrested Dara Shikoh and executed him on charges of ] from Islam. In 1660, Aurangzeb summoned Guru Har Rai to appear before him to explain his relationship with Dara Shikoh.<ref name="Mandair2013p50" /> In the Sikh tradition, Guru Har Rai was asked why he was helping the Mughal prince Dara Shikoh whose forefathers had persecuted Sikhs and Sikh Gurus. Guru Har Rai is believed to have replied that if a man plucks flowers with one hand and gives it away using his other hand, both hands get the same fragrance.<ref>{{cite book |author=Arvind-Pal Singh Mandair |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vdhLAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA226 |title=Sikhism: A Guide for the Perplexed |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-4411-0231-7 |pages=226 with note 7}}</ref> | |||
| Once more Guru Har Rai was asked to explain himself over an issue in the Adi Guru Granth; he sent his elder son Ram Rai to represent him.<ref name="Suraj" /> Aurangzeb kept the 13 year old Ram Rai as hostage, questioned Ram Rai about a verse in the Adi Guru Granth.<ref name=":02">{{cite book |author=Harinder Singh Mehboob |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fDbxCQAAQBAJ&dq=Nahar+Khan+Saharanpur&pg=PT13 |title=Sikh Scripture |date=2015 |isbn=9781503546615}}</ref> Aurangzeb claimed that it disparaged Islam and was blasphemy.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Gandhi |first=Surjit Singh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vZFBp89UInUC&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA593&dq=Guru+Har+Rai+poisoned&hl=en |title=History of Sikh Gurus Retold: 1606-1708 C.E |date=2007 |publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist |isbn=978-81-269-0858-5 |language=en}}</ref> Ram Rai changed the verse to appease Aurangzeb instead of standing by the Sikh scripture, an act for which Guru Har Rai excommunicated his elder son, and nominated the younger Har Krishan to succeed as the next Guru of Sikhism.<ref name=":2" /> | |||
| == Salok Mahalla Satvaan (7) == | |||
| ⚫ | The common Sikh belief is that Guru Hargobind |
||
| ⚫ | === Battle of Sutlej === | ||
| ⚫ | This |
||
| Mukhlis Khan, a general in the Lahore Suba, held a grudge over the Sikh religion as Guru Hargobind had killed his father in battle.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uV7ajtWJJTgC&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&dq=Guru+Har+Rai+poisoned&q=Guru+Har+Rai+poisoned&hl=en |title=The Sikh Review |date=1998 |publisher=Sikh Cultural Centre |language=en}}</ref> When Guru Har Rai was crossing the Satluj; Bhai Gaura arrived with his armed detachment and diverted Mukhlis Khan's soldiers away from the Guru.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Kamboj |first=B. P. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yaBD20uaPfQC&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA17&dq=Guru+Har+Rai+poisoned&hl=en |title=Early Wall Painting of Garhwal |date=2003 |publisher=Indus Publishing |isbn=978-81-7387-139-9 |language=en}}</ref> Guru Har Rai blessed him and gave him the reward of becoming the Masand of Malwa.<ref name=":3" /> | |||
| === Planned Invasions of Kiratpur === | |||
| ⚫ | Guru Har Rai's was: ''Through the voice of Har Rai, the Guru.''<ref>{{Cite book|last=Singh|first=Pashaura|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aiwpDwAAQBAJ&q=a+couplet+attributed+to+Guru+Har+Rai&pg=PT212|title=The Guru Granth Sahib: Canon, Meaning and Authority|date=2003-09-26|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-908773-0|language=en}}</ref> | ||
| Due to the Dara Shikoh controversy, Aurangzeb sent General Zalam Khan with 10,000 soldiers to attack Kiratpur. On the way Zalam Khan ate uncooked meat and died due to severe stomachaches. After his death the imperial army departed to their homes.<ref name="Suraj" /><ref name="Macauliffe1909">{{cite book |last1=Macauliffe |first1=Max Arthur |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.69685/page/n319/mode/2up?q=zalam |title=The Sikh Religion, its gurus, sacred writings and authors, Vol 4 |date=1909 |publisher=Clarendon Press |location=Oxford |pages=306}} ]</ref> Following Zalam Khan’s death Aurangzeb sent General Thude Khan from Kandahar. When his army arrived at ], a bodyguard of his, who was a Sikh of Guru Har Rai, killed him while he slept. Upon seeing Zalam Khan die the imperial force decided to leave as they has no commander.<ref name=":02" /> | |||
| In the final invasion Aurangzeb sent General Nahar Khan, the ] of ], to destroy Kiratpur and arrest the Guru. However, when he and his army reached Yamuna Nagar, ] spread in his army. Nahar Khan along with half of his army died while the remaining army left and said that it was a curse of Guru Har Rai. After this no general was sent to attack Kiratpur and many believed those who tried to attack Kiratpur were cursed.<ref name="Suraj" /><ref name=":02" /> | |||
| === Poisoning === | |||
| Aurangzeb sent Mahant Gurbaksh Deva and Gurdas Deva and Tara Deva of Delhi to meet Guru Har Rai who cooked food for him in a poisoned ''tamoli'' (Pahadi pan).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Baagha |first=Ajit Singh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6xRXAAAAMAAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&dq=Guru+Har+Rai+poisoned&q=Guru+Har+Rai+poisoned&hl=en |title=Banur Had Orders: A Critical Study, of an Hitherto Unknown Hukamnamah of Guru Gobind Singh |last2=Singh (Guru) |first2=Gobind |date=1969 |publisher=Ranjit Printers & Publishers |language=en}}</ref> According to a Tibetan inscription from the doctors who worked at his hospital it was poison which was administered to him by Ram Rai, his son on the orders of Aurangzeb.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Jagraj |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rFm9_Jc1ykcC&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA223&dq=Guru+Har+Rai+poisoned&hl=en |title=A Complete Guide to Sikhism |date=2009 |publisher=Unistar Books |isbn=978-81-7142-754-3 |language=en}}</ref> | |||
| == Gallery == | == Gallery == | ||
| Line 77: | Line 80: | ||
| File:Guru Har Rai painting.jpg|Guru Har Rai, the Seventh Guru (ca.1800–1825 Pahari painting) | File:Guru Har Rai painting.jpg|Guru Har Rai, the Seventh Guru (ca.1800–1825 Pahari painting) | ||
| </gallery> | </gallery> | ||
| ==Battles== | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 16:16, 28 May 2023
The seventh Sikh Guru
| Guru Har Rai | |
|---|---|
| ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਇ | |
 Guru Har Rai receives a devotee. Family workshop of Nainsukh of Guler, Punjab Hills, ca.1790 | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | (1630-01-16)16 January 1630 Kiratpur Sahib, Lahore Subah, Mughal Empire (present-day Rupnagar district, Punjab, India) |
| Died | 6 October 1661(1661-10-06) (aged 31) Kiratpur Sahib, Lahore Subah, Mughal Empire (present-day Rupnagar district, Punjab, India) |
| Cause of death | Poisoning |
| Spouse | Mata Krishen Devi Mata Kot Kalyan |
| Children | Ram Rai Guru Har Krishan |
| Parent(s) | Baba Gurditta Mata Nihal Kaur |
| Other names | Seventh Master Seventh Nanak' |
| Signature |  |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Sikhism |
| Religious career | |
| Period in office | 1644–1661 |
| Predecessor | Guru Hargobind |
| Successor | Guru Har Krishan |
Guru Har Rai (Punjabi pronunciation: [gʊɾuː ɦəɾ ɾaːɪ]; 16 January 1630 – 6 October 1661) was the seventh of ten human Gurus in the Sikh Qaum. He was a warrior, doctor, zoologist, leader and poet.
Guru Har Rai became the Guru of the Sikh religion at the age of 14, on 3 March 1644, after the death of his grandfather Guru Hargobind. He guided the Sikhs for about seventeen years, till his death at age 31. Guru Har Rai is notable for having the largest zoological park, largest hospital and maintaining an army of the Akal Sena without going to war. He supported the moderate Sufi influenced Dara Shikoh instead of conservative Sunni influenced Aurangzeb as the two brothers entered into a war of succession to the Mughal Empire throne. He was asked to validate himself in the Mughal court hence he sent his son, Ram Rai, to represent him. Ram Rai when posed with a question by Aurangzeb about a quote in the Adi Guru Granth changed the text to suit his narrative and hence was excommunicated from the Sikh Qaum.
Later Aurangzeb planned three invasions of Kiratpur although all three had failed due to internal issues. Due to the tactical difficulties in attacking Kiratpur, Aurangzeb sent Ram Rai's followers to poison him. Some Sikh literature spell his name as Hari Rai and Harrai.
Family and Early Life
Guru Har Rai was born to Nihal Kaur and Baba Gurditta into an Udasi Sikh household. His father, although an Udasi, was very religious and was the leader of the Udasis. He was very religious at a young age although did not follow the Udasis and followed his grandfather; the leader of the mainstream Sikh Qaum. His father died while he was 8 years old. At age 10, in 1640, Guru Har Rai was married to Mata Kishan Devi the daughter of Raja Daya Ram, the ruler of Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh who was also a Sikh of Guru Hargobind and later Guru Har Rai. Later he was wedded to Mata Kot Kalyan of Peshawar, they had two children, Ram Rai and Har Krishan, the latter of whom became the eighth Guru.
His elder brother Dhir Mal had gained encouragement and support from Shah Jahan, with free land grants and Mughal sponsorship. Dhir Mal attempted to form a parallel Sikh tradition and criticised his grand father and sixth Guru, Hargobind. The sixth Guru disagreed with Dhir Mal, and designated the younger Har Rai as the successor.
Religious Influence
He started several public singing and scripture recital traditions in Sikhism. The katha or discourse style recitals were added by Guru Har Rai to the sabad kirtan singing tradition of Sikhs. He also added the akhand kirtan or continuous scripture singing tradition of Sikhism, as well as the tradition of jotian da kirtan or collective folk choral singing of scriptures.
Reforms
The third Sikh leader Guru Amar Das had started the tradition of appointing Manji (zones of religious administration with an appointed chief called sangatias), introduced the dasvandh ("the tenth" of income) system of revenue collection in the name of Guru and as pooled community religious resource, and the famed langar tradition of Sikhism where anyone, without discrimination of any kind, could get a free meal in a communal seating.
The organisational structure that had helped Sikhs to grow and resist the Mughal persecution had created new problems for Guru Har Rai. The donation collectors, some of the Masands (local congregational leaders) led by Dhir Mal – the older brother of Guru Har Rai, all of them encouraged by the support of Shah Jahan, land grants and Mughal administration – had attempted to internally split the Sikhs into competing movements, start a parallel guruship, and thereby weaken the Sikh Qaum. Thus a part of the challenge for Guru Har Rai was to keep Sikhs united.
He appointed new masands such as Bhai Jodh, Bhai Gonda, Bhai Nattha, Bhagat Bhagwan (for eastern India), Bhai Pheru (for Rajasthan), Bhai Bhagat (also known as Bairagi), as the heads of Manjis.
Sikh scriptures
The common Sikh belief is that Guru Hargobind and Guru Har Rai did not contribute to any Bani at all. This is not entirely true as Guru Har Rai is said to have wrote the Salok Mahalla Satvaan and Guru Hargobind wrote the Brahm Kavach.
This Mahalla of Guru Har Rai is in the Kiratpuri Bir of the Guru Granth Sahib. Although it is clearly marked as a composition of Guru Har Rai the seventh Mina Guru Miharban also used the marker leaving open the possibility of mistaken attribution. The Salok does not appear in any of the texts containing the writings of Miharban. At the same time no text about the Sikh Gurus lives reference Guru Har Rai writing Bani. It can therefore be securely attributed to Guru Har Rai. Gurus each had their own way of starting poems or couplets.
Guru Har Rai's was: Through the voice of Har Rai, the Guru.
Authentic literature about Guru Har Rai life and times are scarce, he left no texts of his own and some Sikh texts composed later spell his name as "Hari Rai". Some of the biographies of Guru Har Rai written in the 18th century such as by Kesar Singh Chhibber, and the 19th-century Sikh literature are highly inconsistent.
Wars
Guru Har Rai provided medical care to Dara Shikoh, possibly when he had been poisoned by Mughal operatives. According to Mughal records, Guru Har Rai provided other forms of support to Dara Shikoh as he and his brother, Aurangzeb, battled for rights to succession. During Dara Shikoh's war of succession with his brother Aurangzeb after the death of their father, Shah Jahan, a war started between the two brothers. Guru Har Rai, Raja Tara Chand and Raja Sarmad were the only three major influential leaders who supported Dara Shikoh, and hence Dara Shikoh planned to visit the northern regions of the Mughal Empire as it was where most Mughal troops were. He visited Guru Har Rai who provided him with horses and weapons. Ultimately, Aurangzeb won, arrested Dara Shikoh and executed him on charges of apostasy from Islam. In 1660, Aurangzeb summoned Guru Har Rai to appear before him to explain his relationship with Dara Shikoh. In the Sikh tradition, Guru Har Rai was asked why he was helping the Mughal prince Dara Shikoh whose forefathers had persecuted Sikhs and Sikh Gurus. Guru Har Rai is believed to have replied that if a man plucks flowers with one hand and gives it away using his other hand, both hands get the same fragrance.
Once more Guru Har Rai was asked to explain himself over an issue in the Adi Guru Granth; he sent his elder son Ram Rai to represent him. Aurangzeb kept the 13 year old Ram Rai as hostage, questioned Ram Rai about a verse in the Adi Guru Granth. Aurangzeb claimed that it disparaged Islam and was blasphemy. Ram Rai changed the verse to appease Aurangzeb instead of standing by the Sikh scripture, an act for which Guru Har Rai excommunicated his elder son, and nominated the younger Har Krishan to succeed as the next Guru of Sikhism.
Battle of Sutlej
Mukhlis Khan, a general in the Lahore Suba, held a grudge over the Sikh religion as Guru Hargobind had killed his father in battle. When Guru Har Rai was crossing the Satluj; Bhai Gaura arrived with his armed detachment and diverted Mukhlis Khan's soldiers away from the Guru. Guru Har Rai blessed him and gave him the reward of becoming the Masand of Malwa.
Planned Invasions of Kiratpur
Due to the Dara Shikoh controversy, Aurangzeb sent General Zalam Khan with 10,000 soldiers to attack Kiratpur. On the way Zalam Khan ate uncooked meat and died due to severe stomachaches. After his death the imperial army departed to their homes. Following Zalam Khan’s death Aurangzeb sent General Thude Khan from Kandahar. When his army arrived at Kartarpur, India, a bodyguard of his, who was a Sikh of Guru Har Rai, killed him while he slept. Upon seeing Zalam Khan die the imperial force decided to leave as they has no commander.
In the final invasion Aurangzeb sent General Nahar Khan, the faujdar of Saharanpur, to destroy Kiratpur and arrest the Guru. However, when he and his army reached Yamuna Nagar, Cholera spread in his army. Nahar Khan along with half of his army died while the remaining army left and said that it was a curse of Guru Har Rai. After this no general was sent to attack Kiratpur and many believed those who tried to attack Kiratpur were cursed.
Poisoning
Aurangzeb sent Mahant Gurbaksh Deva and Gurdas Deva and Tara Deva of Delhi to meet Guru Har Rai who cooked food for him in a poisoned tamoli (Pahadi pan). According to a Tibetan inscription from the doctors who worked at his hospital it was poison which was administered to him by Ram Rai, his son on the orders of Aurangzeb.
Gallery
-
Guru Hargobind (right) with his grandson, the young Har Rai (left).
-
Guru Har Rai, Pahari painting.
-
Portrait of Guru Har Rai holding a blue flower
-
Guru Har Rai, the Seventh Guru (ca.1800–1825 Pahari painting)
References
- ^ Bhagat Singh. Harbans Singh; et al. (eds.). "Har Rai, Guru (1630–1661)". Encyclopaedia of Sikhism. Punjabi University Patiala. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
- ^ Har Rai: Sikh Guru, Encyclopedia Britannica (2015)
- ^ J. S. Grewal (1998). The Sikhs of the Punjab. Cambridge University Press. pp. 62–63, 67–69. ISBN 978-0-521-63764-0.
- ^ Arvind-Pal Singh Mandair (2013). Sikhism: A Guide for the Perplexed. Bloomsbury Academic. pp. 50–51. ISBN 978-1-4411-0231-7.
- J. S. Grewal (1998). The Sikhs of the Punjab. Cambridge University Press. pp. 67–69. ISBN 978-0-521-63764-0.
- ^ Ajit Singh Aulakh. Sri Gur Partap Suraj Granth Vol 7 Steek Gur Itihaas Sri Guru Har Rai Ji, Sri Guru Har Krishan Ji.
- ^ Pashaura Singh; Louis E. Fenech (2014). The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies. Oxford University Press. p. 400. ISBN 978-0-19-969930-8.
- William Owen Cole; Piara Singh Sambhi (1995). The Sikhs: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices. Sussex Academic Press. pp. 20–21. ISBN 978-1-898723-13-4.
- ^ Louis E. Fenech; W. H. McLeod (2014). Historical Dictionary of Sikhism. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 29–30. ISBN 978-1-4422-3601-1.
- Charles E. Farhadian (2015). Introducing World Religions. Baker Academic. p. 342. ISBN 978-1-4412-4650-9.
- Surjit Singh Gandhi (2007). History of Sikh Gurus Retold: 1469–1606 C.E. Atlantic Publishers. pp. 365–367. ISBN 978-81-269-0857-8.
- Holy People of the World: A Cross-cultural Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. 2004. p. 345. ISBN 978-1-57607-355-1.
- ^ Singh, Sardar Harjeet (2009). Faith & Philosophy of Sikhism. Gyan Publishing House. pp. 103–104. ISBN 978-81-7835-721-8.
- "Guru Gobind Singh Ji reciting Brahm Kavach - Gurbilas P10". Manglacharan. 26 August 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- Faith and Philosophy of Sikhism Pg.103
- Singh, Sardar Harjeet (2009). Faith & Philosophy of Sikhism. Gyan Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-7835-721-8.
- Singh, Pashaura (26 September 2003). The Guru Granth Sahib: Canon, Meaning and Authority. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-908773-0.
- Louis E. Fenech; W. H. McLeod (2014). Historical Dictionary of Sikhism. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 148. ISBN 978-1-4422-3601-1.
- Pashaura Singh; Louis E. Fenech (2014). The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies. Oxford University Press. p. 41. ISBN 978-0-19-969930-8.
- Surjit Singh Gandhi (2007). History of Sikh Gurus Retold: 1606–1708 C.E. Atlantic Publishers. pp. 590–591 with note 2. ISBN 978-81-269-0858-5.
- Arvind-Pal Singh Mandair (2013). Sikhism: A Guide for the Perplexed. Bloomsbury Academic. pp. 226 with note 7. ISBN 978-1-4411-0231-7.
- ^ Harinder Singh Mehboob (2015). Sikh Scripture. ISBN 9781503546615.
- ^ Gandhi, Surjit Singh (2007). History of Sikh Gurus Retold: 1606-1708 C.E. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. ISBN 978-81-269-0858-5.
- The Sikh Review. Sikh Cultural Centre. 1998.
- ^ Kamboj, B. P. (2003). Early Wall Painting of Garhwal. Indus Publishing. ISBN 978-81-7387-139-9.
- Macauliffe, Max Arthur (1909). The Sikh Religion, its gurus, sacred writings and authors, Vol 4. Oxford: Clarendon Press. p. 306. Wikisource
- Baagha, Ajit Singh; Singh (Guru), Gobind (1969). Banur Had Orders: A Critical Study, of an Hitherto Unknown Hukamnamah of Guru Gobind Singh. Ranjit Printers & Publishers.
- Singh, Jagraj (2009). A Complete Guide to Sikhism. Unistar Books. ISBN 978-81-7142-754-3.
Bibliography
- Macauliffe, M.A. (1909). The Sikh Religion: Its Gurus Sacred Writings and Authors. Low Price Publications. ISBN 81-7536-132-8.
- Singh, Khushwant (1963). A History of the Sikhs: 1469-1839 Vol.1 (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-567308-5.
External links
- Guru Har Rai, Sikhs.org
- Guru Har Rai, Sikh-History.com
- Guru Har Rai, Official Website of Gurudwara Shri Guru Har Rai Village Bhungarni
| Preceded byGuru Hargobind | Sikh Guru 3 March 1644 – 6 October 1661 |
Succeeded byGuru Har Krishan |
