Sikhism: Guru Har Krishan Ji – The Eighth Sikh Guru – 08/10
🌼 The Child Guru, Healer of Delhi, and Radiant Soul of Purity
Guru Har Krishan Ji (1656–1664 CE), the eighth Guru of Sikhism, is remembered as the “Bala Guru”—the youngest to ever hold the Guruship. At just 5 years old, he became the Guru, and in his short but divinely impactful life, he healed the sick, served the poor, and embodied humility, compassion, and divine light.
He is especially revered as the “Siri Har Krishan Sahib Ji – Bimariyan Da Bhanjan” — the remover of suffering and diseases, and a shining light of Sikh Dharma during a dark hour in Mughal history.
“ਬਾਲ ਗੁਰੁ ਹਰਿ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨੁ ਧਿਆਈਐ ਜਿਸ ਡਿਠੈ ਸਭਿ ਦੁਖ ਜਾਇ ॥”
Meditate upon the Child Guru Har Krishan—by whose sight, all pain departs.
👶 Birth and Divine Childhood
- Born: 7 July 1656 CE at Kiratpur Sahib, Punjab
- Parents: Guru Har Rai Ji and Mata Krishan Kaur Ji
- Name Meaning: Har Krishan = “The Lord Krishna” (symbol of divine charm and healing grace)
Even in early childhood, Guru Har Krishan Ji was:
- Spiritually gifted, calm, and deeply loving
- Capable of quoting Gurbani verses and explaining deep truths
- Loved by the sangat for his divine aura and healing touch
📿 Becoming the Eighth Guru
In 1661 CE, Guru Har Rai Ji, on recognizing the ego in his elder son Ram Rai, passed the Guruship to his younger son Har Krishan Ji, at the age of just 5 years old.
A divine statement: Guruship is not about age or scholarship, but purity of soul and oneness with the Divine.
🕊️ Spiritual Mission in Delhi
In 1664, at the request of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, Guru Har Krishan Ji arrived in Delhi, where a severe smallpox and cholera epidemic had broken out.
Instead of staying in the safety of royal quarters, he:
- Served the sick and dying personally
- Distributed clean water and medicine
- Blessed even those of different religions or castes
- Contracted smallpox himself during seva—but never stopped serving others
He became known as “Bala Pir” among Muslims and “Sache Patshah” among Hindus.
🔥 Final Moments – Light Merges into Light
At the young age of just 7 years and 5 months, Guru Har Krishan Ji left his body on 30 March 1664, at Raisaana (now Gurudwara Bangla Sahib) in Delhi.
Before departing, when asked who should be the next Guru, he softly whispered:
“Baba Bakale”
(meaning: “The next Guru resides at Bakala”—referring to Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji)
His final words were not of pain or fear, but of graceful clarity, ensuring the Guru lineage continued unbroken.
✨ Divine Virtues of Guru Har Krishan Ji
| Virtue | Lived Example |
|---|---|
| Compassion (Daya) | Served diseased and poor during epidemic |
| Humility (Nimrata) | Never sought glory despite public admiration |
| Seva (Service) | Gave his own health to serve others |
| Oneness (Ik Onkar) | Saw no boundaries of religion, status, or age |
| Light (Jyot) | Embodied the wisdom of the Gurus before him despite his youth |
📜 Reverence in Sikh Ardas (Daily Prayer)
Guru Har Krishan Ji is remembered daily in the Sikh Ardas:
“ਤੇਗ ਬਹਾਦਰ ਸੀ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਕਰੀਨ ॥
ਸ੍ਰੀ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਇ ਹੇ ਤਿਸ ਦੀ ਆਰਜਾ ॥
ਸ੍ਰੀ ਹਰਿ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨ ਧਿਆਈਐ, ਜਿਸ ਡਿਠੈ ਸਭਿ ਦੁਖ ਜਾਇ ॥”
Let us meditate on Guru Har Krishan Ji, upon whose glance, all suffering disappears.
🌍 Legacy of Guru Har Krishan Ji
| Contribution | Impact |
|---|---|
| Healer of Delhi | Treated cholera/smallpox victims, regardless of caste or creed |
| Youngest Guru | Proved spiritual maturity is not tied to age |
| Embodiment of Service | Became a model of self-sacrifice in seva |
| Link in Guru lineage | Rightly pointed to Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji at Bakala |
| Universal Love | Revered by Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims, and beyond |
💡 Life Lessons from Guru Har Krishan Ji
| Modern Challenge | Wisdom from Guru Ji |
|---|---|
| Child neglect | Even children can carry divine power and wisdom |
| Medical crisis | Serve with love and self-sacrifice, like Guru Ji in Delhi |
| Ageism | Do not judge capability by age—see the light within |
| Disease & pain | Guru Ji’s blessing still comforts the sick |
| Service & ego | Serve quietly and purely—let actions speak louder |
🏞️ Gurudwara Bangla Sahib – A Living Memory
- Located in the heart of Delhi, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib stands where Guru Har Krishan Ji resided and served.
- The sarovar (pool) is said to contain healing waters blessed by Guru Ji’s grace.
- To this day, millions visit to find solace and cure.
🔚 Conclusion
Guru Har Krishan Ji proved that the body may be small, but the soul can shine with infinite light. In a world often obsessed with age, power, and pride, he radiated purity, wisdom, and seva, silently healing where others fled.
He became the living embodiment of “Chhota Guru – Vadda Kirpa” — a young master with great mercy.
“ਸ੍ਰੀ ਹਰਿ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨ ਧਿਆਈਐ, ਜਿਸ ਡਿਠੈ ਸਭਿ ਦੁਖ ਜਾਇ ॥”
Let us meditate upon Guru Har Krishan Ji, by whose sight all suffering is removed.