(Amrit Pal Singh ‘Amrit’)

Born in Samvat 1711 Bikrami in the city of Sri Keeratpur Sahib Ji, Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji was the eighth Guru of Sikhs. He was son of seventh Guru, Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji.

When Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji was the Guru, the King of India, Aurangzeb summoned him to his court. Guru Ji sent his elder son Ram Rai to Aurangzeb’s court. Ram Rai was a child of 10-11 years. He stayed for a long period in Delhi and used to attend the court of the King. By his wisdom, he earned respect for him in the court.

Once, there was a discussion on a line of the Gurbani ‘Mitti Musalmaan Kee‘. Ram Rai was asked to explain why the word ‘Musalmaan’ was used in that line. Instead giving a suitable explanation, Ram Rai replied that the exact word was ‘Be-imaan’, not ‘Musalmaan’. Thus, he made a serious mistake by changing the Gurbani.

When Guru Har Rai Ji heard this, he discarded his son forever.

Before leaving for his divine abode, Guru Har Rai Ji appointed his younger son, Sri Guru Harkrishan Ji the next Guru. Ram Rai was not happy to know this. He indulged himself in conspiracies against Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji. In a result, Aurangzeb summoned him to his court in Delhi, the capital city.

However, Guru Ji reached Delhi, but he refused to meet the King Aurangzeb. When Aurangzeb came to know this, he went himself to meet Guru Ji in Guru’s camp. Guru Ji again refused to meet him. Divaan Dargah Mal Ji, a Sikh, had to talk to Aurangzeb. After that, the King returned.

(Guru) Teg Bahadur Sahib Ji, the youngest son of Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, reached village ‘Bakaala’ from his long journey. Guru Harkrishan Ji appointed him the next Guru and said to his Sikhs, “Baba Basai Graam Bakaale” (Grandfather lives in village Bakaala). Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib Ji was grandfather (brother of real grandfather) of Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji.

In Samvat 1721 Bikrami, when he was just 8 years old, Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji left for his heavenly abode in Delhi.

(Amrit Pal Singh ‘Amrit’)

Born in Samvat 1688 Bikrami, Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji was the seventh Guru. He was younger son of Baba Gurditta Ji and grandson of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, the sixth Guru.

Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji established Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji on the holy throne in Samvat 1692 Bikrami, when he was just 4 years old. Baba Gurditta Ji, father of Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji, had already died. Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji left for his heavenly residence in Samvat 1695 Bikrami in the age of 48 years.

Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji was married in Samvat 1697 Bikrami. In Samvat 1705 Bikrami, his first son Ram Rai was born to his second wife Mother Panjaabo Ji. In Samvat 1711 Bikrami, his second son (Guru) Harkrishan Sahib Ji was born to his first wife Mother Krishan Kaur (Kot Kalyani) Ji.

In Samvat 1717 Bikrami, Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji established his son Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji on the holy throne. In Samvat 1718 Bikrami, Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji left for his heavenly abode in Sri Keeratpur Sahib Ji, a city in Punjab.

(Amrit Pal Singh ‘Amrit’)

Born in Samvat 1647 Bikrami, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji was son of Guru Arjan Dev Ji and Mother Ganga Ji. Thus, he was grandson of the fourth Guru, Sri Guru Ramdas Ji.

In Samvat 1660 Bikrami, when he was 13 years old, (Guru) Hargobind Sahib Ji was married to Mother Damodari Ji.

He was appointed the sixth Guru by his father and the fifth Guru, Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji. In Samvat 1663 Bikrami, Guru Arjan Dev Ji was martyred in the city of Lahore (now in Pakistan).

In Samvat 1667 Bikrami, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji was married to Mother Nanaki Ji.

The enemies of Guru’s house conspired and in result, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji was imprisoned in the fort of Gwalior (now Madhya Pradesh State of India). There was a big role of Prithi Chand (elder brother of Guru Arjan Dev Ji) and Chandu Saahi (‘Saahi’ is a ‘Gotra’ of ‘Khatri’ caste) in this conspiracy.

Meanwhile, Jahangeer, the King of Delhi fell ill. His wife, Noorjahaan, asked him that it was not good to imprison any saint, like Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji. Bhai Gajaa-dhar Ji and Bhai Haridas Ji cured the disease of the King. Now, the King decided to release Guru Ji. However, Guru Ji asked to release 52 Hindu kings also, who were imprisoned in the fort of Gwalior. At last, Guru Ji was released with 52 kings.

The King Jahangeer also handed Chandu Saahi over to Guru Ji. Chandu was responsible for martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji. However, the angry Sikhs killed Chandu in the streets of Lahore.

In Samvat 1669 Bikrami, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji was married to Mother Mahadevi Ji. Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji had five sons and a daughter. His two sons, Baba Gurditta Ji and Ani Rai Ji, were born to Mother Damodari Ji. Two sons, Soorat Singh Ji and Baba Atal Ji, were born to Mother Mahadevi Ji. A son, Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib Ji, and a daughter, Bibi Veero Ji, were born to Mother Nanaki Ji.

For different reasons, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji had to fight four battles against the rulers. Guru Ji won all the battles.

In Samvat 1692 Bikrami, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji established his grandson, Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji, on the holy throne. Three years later, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji left for his heavenly abode in Samvat 1695 Bikrami. He was just 48 years old.

(Amrit Pal Singh ‘Amrit’)

The youngest son of the fourth Guru Sri Guru Ramdas Ji and mother Bibi Bhani Ji, Guru Arjan Dev Ji was born in Samvat 1610 Bikrami. In Samvat 1622 Bikrami, (Guru) Arjan Dev Ji was married to Bibi Ram Deyee Ji. Guru Amardas Ji, the third Guru, himself tied ‘Sehra’ on (Guru) Arjan Dev Ji’s head.

In Samvat 1638 Bikrami, Guru Arjan Dev Ji was appointed the fifth Guru by his father and fourth Guru Sri Guru Ramdas Ji. In Samvat 1646, Guru Arjan Dev Ji was married mother Ganga Ji. In Samvat 1647 Bikrami, Guru Arjan Dev Ji and mother Ganga Ji become parents of their only son, (Guru) Hargobind Sahib Ji.

Guru Arjan Dev Ji’s elder brother Prithi Chand wanted to become the Guru by himself, but Guru Ramdas Ji established Guru Arjan Dev Ji on the holy throne. At that time, Prithi Chand remained silent, though he was not happy by heart. When Guru Arjan Dev Ji could not become father for a long period, Prithi Chand started to believe that now his own son would be the next Guru. But, then (Guru) Hargobind Sahib Ji was born in Guru Arjan Dev Ji’s house. Now, Prithi Chand lost his hopes. He started to think that (Guru) Hargobind Sahib Ji was an obstacle in getting the Gurushipe for his son. Therefore, he decided to kill (Guru) Hargobind Sahib Ji. He hobnobbed with a Brahman. It was finalised that (Guru) Hargobind Sahib Ji would be distributed poison.

However, that sinner Brahman died himself. Guru Arjan Dev Ji recited a ‘Shabd’ in this circumstance: –

Lep Na Laago Til Ka Mool.
Dusht Brahman Mooya Hoye Kai Sool.
(The poison had absolutely no harmful effect. But the wicked Brahman died in pain. ) (Sri Guru Granth Sahib JI, page 1137).

Prithi Chand did not give up. He appointed another person, named Roopa Dogra, to give poison to child (Guru) Hargobind Sahib Ji. Even this time again all went in vain, because child Hargobind Sahib Ji did not eat the ‘Choori’, in which the poison was mixed.

Guru Arjan Dev Ji compiled ‘Pothi Sahib’, which is mostly known as ‘Sri Adi Granth Sahib’, which was installed in Sri Darbar Sahib, in the city of Sri Amritsar Sahib Ji.

However, Prithi Chand could not succeed to kill (Guru) Hargobind Sahib Ji, he did not give up either. Instead, he started to oppose Guru Arjan Dev Ji openly. He got the help of Chandu Saahi, who was a minister in Mughal government. Chandu wanted his daughter to be married with (Guru) Hargobind Sahib Ji, but Guru Arjan Dev Ji refuse to do so. Now, Chandu wanted to settle his score. Many fanatics were not happy with Guru Arjan Dev Ji’s religious movement. All these factors caused a big conspiracy agianst Guru Arjan Dev Ji. In a result, Guru Arjan Dev Ji was summoned to the Lahore court.

Guru Arjan Dev Ji established his son, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, on the holy throne and went to the city of Lahore. He was arrested and was brutally tortured by orders of Chandu Saahi.

Guru Ji was tortured for seven months. In Samvat 1663 Bikrami, he left for his heavenly abode.