| (161) Question:- |
When and where was Guru Harkrishan Sahib born and who were his parents? |
| Answer:- |
Shri Harkrishan Sahib was the younger son of Guru Har Rai Sahib and Mata Krishan Kaur. He was born on 7th July 1656 at Kiratpur |
| (162) Question:- |
Why did Guru Har Rai Sahib prefer his younger son Shri Harkrishan Sahib to his elder son Ram Rai for making his successor? |
| Answer:- |
When Shri Ram Rai went to the Court of Emperor, Aurangzeb, he changed one of the verses of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and uttered, "Mitti Baimaan Di" instead of 'Mitti Musalmaan Di'. Apart from this, he indulged in the display of miracles just to please the Emperor. The display of miracles was contrary to the principles of Sikh Religion. That is why the 7th Guru considered his younger son as more suitable for Gurudom rather than his elder son. Guru Harkrishan Sahib was given Gurudom on 7th October 1661. |
| (163) Question:- |
(a) While going to Delhi, the Guru is stated to have stayed at a place Panajokhara. What important incident took place there?
(b) Why did Shri Guru Harkrishan Sahib go to Delhi and what happened there?
(c) How did Guru Ji provide relief to the people ailing with smallpox?
(d) What arrangement was made by Guru Harkrishan Sahib for appointing his successor before leaving his worldly abode? |
| Answer:- |
(a) Panajokhara is a village about 10 km. from Ambala City. While going to Delhi, the Guru left Kiratpur on 22nd Jan. 1664 along with a large number of followers. They reached Panjokhara on the third day. The Guru directed the Sikhs as not to accompany him beyond that place. The Sikhs obeyed and stayed back. It is further recorded in traditions that a Brahmin of Panjokhara named, Lal Chand, had remarked that the Guru was too young to know anything of the old religious books. The Guru then called an illiterate person, named Chhajju, and made him explain to the pandit the gist of Bhagwat Geeta. It was done with a view to humble the pride of the self-conceited brahmin. The Pandit realised his mistake and showed reverence for the Guru. Now there stands a Gurdwara known as Gurdwara Sri Harkrishan Sahib in commemoration of his stay and the incident that occured.
(b) After Guru Harkrishan was given Gurudom, Shri Ram Rai, feeling himself deprived of his right, put up his case before Emperor, Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb directed Raja Jai Singh Swaai to call the child Guru from Delhi. Raja Jai Singh sent his Minister Paras Ram to Delhi to bring the Guru respectfully. Guruji was accompanied by his mother and some followers. Raja Jai Singh arranged for the stay of the Guru in the garden of his bungalow which was called Bangla and which is now called Gurdwara Bangla Sahib at Delhi.
(c) When Guru ji reached Delhi, the smallpox epidemic was widespread in that area. Guru Ji got constructed a small Pond and gave water from that Pond to the people. This water had become nectar by the touch of the hand of the Guru. Many people who took this water were cured. In commemoration thereof now stands Gurdwara Bangla Sahib where that small pond is still there. Lacs of people take a handful of the nectar from there and get peace of mind. It is in view of this gesture of the Guru, that we recite in our daily prayer.
ਸ੍ਰੀ ਹਰਿਕ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਨ ਧਿਆਇਐ ਜਿਸ ਡਿਠੇ ਸਭਿ ਦੁਖ ਜਾਇ॥
Sri Harkrishan dhiaaeeai Jis dithe sabh dukh jaae.
Remember and meditate upon respected Guru Harkrishan
Whose very sight dispels all pains and sorrows.
(d) While curing people in Delhi of smallpox, Guru Harkrishan Sahib himself fell ill. It is this disease only which proved fatal. Gurdwara Bala Sahib in Delhi is the place where Guru Ji breathed his last. When he was asked about his successor, Guru Ji's indication was to Guru Tegh Bahadur who was at Baba Bakala. Guru Tegh Bahadur, being the younger brother of Baba Gurditta Ji, was related to Guru Harkrishan Sahib as his grandfather. |
| (164) Question:- |
Give information regarding the birth, parentage, marriage, and issues of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. |
| Answer:- |
Guru Tegh Bahadur, the 9th in the line of Guru Nanak, was the youngest of the 5 sons of the 6th Guru, Guru Har Gobind. The name of his mother was Nanaki. The Guru was born on Baisakh Vadi 5, 1678 Bk/last April 1621 AD at Amritsar. He was married to Gujari on 4th Feb. 1633 at Kartarpur. Gujari was the daughter of one Lal Chand of Lakhnaur near Ambala, who had migrated and settled at Kartarpur. Guru Tegh Bahadur had only one son, named, Gobind Rai, who later on became the 10th Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. |
| (165) Question:- |
Briefly describe the childhood period of Guru Tegh BahadurJi. |
| Answer:- |
Shri Tegh Bahadur spent the earlier years of his life at Amritsar, where he was trained by Bhai Buddha Ji in the marshal acts of archery and horsemanship. Bhai Gurdas was his tutor for the study of scriptures. The Guru had a contemplative bent of mind from his very childhood and was fond of music and poetry. His mystical temperament is reflected in his compositions. Shri Tegh Bahadur had also taken part in the battle of Kartarpur, and it is said that it was because of his skill and valour shown in this battle that he was given the name of Tegh Bahadur, meaning thereby the Master of the Sword. When Guru Har Gobind shifted to , Kiratpur, Tegh Bahadur accompanied him, and remained under the spiritual guidance of his father till 1644. When the 6th Guru passed away, passing on his succession to Har Rai. Tegh Bahadur then shifted to Bakala. |
| (166) Question:- |
When Guru Harkrishan had indicated that his successor was at Bakala, what was the situation at Bakala? |
| Answer:- |
Bakala is a place on Beas-Batala Road. After the death of 6th Guru in 1644, Shri Tegh Bahadur had shifted along with his wife and mother to Bakala, which was, in fact, Mata Nanaki's father's ancestral home place. He started living there spending most of his time in meditation at a secluded place in the house. When people came to know that the next Guru is stationed at Bakala, they started pouring in at the place from near and far places. Since nobody knew who will be the successor of Guru Harkrishan, 22 imposters set up their Gaddies (seats) and each one of them claimed that he was the real Guru. The Master of these artificial Gurus misled the people and took them to their respective camps for collecting money. This made the situation so confusing for the people that the discovery of the true Guru became a vexed question. |
| (167) Question:- |
Who was the prominent among 22 persons who claimed to be the Guru. |
| Answer:- |
The most important of these persons was the grandson of Guru Hargobind Sahib and the son of Baba Gurditta Ji, named Dhirmal. As pointed out earlier, Dhirmal had established his hold at KartarPur and Was in possession of the original compilation of the Adi-Granth. After the death of his father, Baba Gurditta, he considered himself to be the real claimant to the spiritual throne. A good number of persons visited him because of his being in possession of the Holy Book. |
| (168) Question:- |
How was Guru Tegh Bahadur discovered to be the true Guru? Who discovered him? |
| Answer:- |
There was a devotee of the house of the Guru named Makkhan Shah Lubana. He was a trader. It is believed that once his ship was caught in a storm and at that time he had thought that when he will Visit the guru, he will make an offering of 500 gold coins. It may be mentioned here that the devotes at that time were keeping 1/10th of their income i.e. Daswand to be presented to the guru for religious purposes.
Thus, when Makkhan Shah Lubana reached Bakala, he also like others, got considerably confused. He started paying obeisance and offering two Gold mohars to each of the 22 Gurus sitting there. When he did not feel satisfied, on enquiries, he came to know that there was another saintly soul sitting inside the house separately, but not making any claim. Makhan Shah went to this saintly personality, who was Tegh Bahadur, and bowed before him after placing in front of him the two gold mohars, as he had done in case of others. Shri Tegh Bahadur blessed him, but said that how is it that his offering was considerably short of what he had promised when he was in trouble. Hearing these words, Makhan Shah immediately went upstairs and began shouting from the house-top: "Guru Ladho Re, Guru Ladho Re." (That the Guru is found). This announcement diverted the people from the imposters to the real Guru, the successor of Guru, Harkrishan, the 9th Master on the spiritual throne of Guru Nanak. |
| (169) Question:- |
What followed the discovery of Guru Tegh Bahadur to be the real Guru at Bakala? When was the Guru formally anointed as the Guru? |
| Answer:- |
This discovery made most of the imposters flee from there. However, Dhir Mall's men attacked Guru Tegh Bahadur's house and ransacked it. There was retaliation from Makkhan Shah and other followers of the 9th Guru. Guru remained peaceful and allowed Dhir Mall to take whatever he wanted including his copy of the Holy Book. Guru Tegh Bahadur was formally anointed as Guru on 11th August 1664. |
| (170) Question:- |
What were the places visited by Guru Tegh Bahadur after his formally taking over? |
| Answer:- |
Guru Tegh Bahadur had been touring extensively for the propagation of Sikh religion even before his becoming the Guru. After his takeover, on the request of Makhan Shah, he decided to visit among many other places, the holy city of Amritsar, which was his birthplace also. The Guru wanted to visit Hari Mandir Sahib to pay his obeisance, but he was not allowed to enter by the possessors of the Shrine. The Guru then sat outside the Parkarima at which place now exists Gurdwara Thara Sahib as a memorial to Guru's stay there for a few hours. Thereafter, the Guru rested at a place outside the city and at this site also there is a memorial to his memory called Gurdwara Damdama Sahib. There is one more Gurdwara called Gurdwara Kotha Sahib which is associated with this visit of the Guru. It is said that at this place also, the Guru had rested and was served with food by one of his lady devotees. |
