Guru Har Rai

Who was Guru Har Rai?

Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji was the seventh of the Sikh Gurus. He became Guru on 8 March 1644 following the footsteps of his grandfather. Just before his death at age 31, Guru Har Rai Sahib passed the Guru Gaddi to His Younger Son, the five year old Guru Har Krishan.

Guru Har Rai Sahib was the Son of Baba Gurdita and Mata Nihal Kaur. Baba Gurdita was son of the Sixth Guru Guru Hargobind Sahib. Guru Har Rai Sahib married Mata Kishan Kaur the daughter of Sri Daya Ram . Guru Har Rai had and two sons: Baba Ram Rai and Guru Harkrishan.

Although, Guru Har Rai was a man of peace, he never disbanded the armed Sikh Warriors, who earlier were maintained by his grandfather, Guru Hargobind. He always boosted the military spirit of the Sikhs, but he never indulged in any direct political or armed controversy with the Mughal Empire. Once, Dara Shikoh, came to Guru Har Rai asking for help in the war of succession launched by his half-brother Aurangzeb. The Guru had promised his grandfather to use the Sikh Cavalry only in defense. Therefore, Guru used it to help Dara Shikoh escape safely from the hands of Aurangzeb's armed forces by having his Sikh warriors hide all the ferry boats at the river crossing after they had been used by Dara Shikoh during his escape. No weapons were fired.