Youngest Guru in Sikh History?
Children do you know who was Guru Har Krishan and why Guru Har Krishan Jayanti is celebrated on July 23?
There are very few devotees of God in human history who have achieved a high level of spirituality at a small age. Guru Har Krishan was one of them. All other Sikh Guru”s sat on the gaddi, the ‘ throne of Guru ship’ when they were over the age of 12, but only Guru Har Krishan sat on the gaddi when he was just five years of age.
Seeing the age of Guru Har Krishan once a Brahmin went to test the knowledge of Guru. When he met the Guru he wasn”t respectful at all and challenged the Guru, “You must be greater than Sri Krishna. Why don”t you tell me the meaning of the Gita and explain it?” The Guru replied, “Brahmins speak of God but don”t feel it.” The Guru read his thoughts and said, “You think I am too young to understand divine knowledge. Yet if a fellow Sikh can explain the Gita to you, than the Guru does too. Go outside and find any Sikh. He will explain the Gita to you on behalf of me.” The Brahmin thought he was very clever.
He decided to find a person who couldn”t even read or write. The Brahmin found a Sikh boy who looked as if he was completely uneducated. The boy didn”t have a normal mind and his body didn”t function like most people. “What is your name?” Asked the Brahmin. The boy stuttered, “Ch…. Chhhh…….. Chaju.” The Brahman thought “He can hardly say his name, let’s see him give deep explanations of the Gita, ha-ha.” So they went to see the Guru. The Brahmin chose the most difficult paras of the Gita for Chaju to explain. The Guru said, “Chaju, you are now a very wise scholar. I want you to explain the Gita.” And the Gur took his staff and touched Chaju”s head with it. Chaju began to explain the mysterious passage, in a clear and understandable way. The Brahmin was surprised that Chaju explained the line perfectly. He picked out another very difficult line . Chaju explained that also clearly and in a very simple language.
The Brahmin couldn”t believe what he was hearing. He just heard explanations of the Gita that he hadn”t heard before. He said to the Guru,”Forgive me, I thought you were just a little boy who couldn”t know anything. I am just a proud man with useless knowledge. You are one with God and know everything. God speaks through you. I am like a child before you.”
Guru Har Krishan Sahib was born on Sawan Vadi 10, (8 Sawan), Bikrami Samvat 1713, July 23, 1656) at
Kiratpur Sahib. He was the second son of Guru Har Rai Sahib and Mata Krishan Kaur .It is said that once when Guruji came and stayed in Delhi there was a smallpox epidemic which resulted in many deaths. By Guruji’s blessing, the lake at Bangla Sahib provided a cure for thousands. Exposing himself to his many devotees he too succumbed to smallpox. In the last moment Guru Harkrishan Sahib wished that nobody should mourn over his death and instructed to sing the hymns of Gurbani. Thus the “Bala Pir” passed away at the age of seven on Chet Sudi 14,(3rd Vaisakh), BikramiSamvat 1721, (March 30, 1664) slowly reciting the word Waheguru till the end.
He unselfishly, without the thought of danger to himself, served many people. This is true sewa, to care for the sick even at the risk of one”s own life. He was cremated at the Bala Sahib Gurdwara. This was the place where he had camped to look after the sick and suffering poverty stricken people of Delhi. He is remembered by the Muslims as Bala Pir and by the Hindus as Balmukand. In their invocation prayer (ardas) written by Guru Gobind Singh, the Sikhs repeat everyday these words,”Contemplate on Guru Har Krishan, the vision of whose divine personality dispels all sorrow and suffering.”
He was succeeded by Guru Tegh Bahadur who became the ninth Guru of Sikhs.
Gurdwara Bangla Sahib which is in Delhi was constructed in Guruji’s memory. This is where he stayed during his visit to Delhi. This was originally the palace of Raja Jai Singh, who was a devotee of the Guru.
—Aniket Raja
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