Guru Har Rai Ji
ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਇ ਜੀ
Born: 16 January 1630 • Joyti Jot: 6 October 1661 at Kiratpur
| Father’s Name: | Baba Gurditta Ji |
| Mother’s Name: | Mata Nihal Kaur Ji |
| Spouse Name: | Mata Kishan Kaur Ji |
| Children’s Name: | Ram Rai, Har Krishan Ji |
| Cities Founded: | Himalayan centers |
| Baani(s): | No hymns |
| Contemporary Rulers: | Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb |
| Message: | Compassion, herbal medicine, environmental conservation |
| Special Contribution: | Herbal medicine clinics, medicinal gardens, animal welfare |
| Journeys: | Punjab, Himalayas |
| Joyti Jot: | 6 October 1661 at Kiratpur |
Quick Facts
Sri Guru Har Rai Ji (1630–1661) was the seventh of the ten Sikh Gurus, succeeding his grandfather, Guru Hargobind Ji. His period of Guruship (1644–1661) was characterized by a focus on peace, compassion, and missionary activity, though he maintained the military readiness established by his predecessor.
Biography & Contributions
Born in 1630, Guru Har Rai Ji was known for his extreme compassion and sensitivity towards all living beings from a very young age. He was appointed Guru at the age of 14, succeeding his grandfather. He emphasized spiritual discipline and service while maintaining the armed contingent of 2,200 horsemen for the defense of the faith, without engaging in any actual battle. Guru Har Rai Ji had a great passion for nature and healing. He maintained an extensive herbal medicine garden and zoo at Kiratpur Sahib (his headquarters), using his deep knowledge of Ayurvedic medicine to heal the sick and the needy, including people and animals. This commitment to physical well-being alongside spiritual health defined his Guruship. He significantly boosted the organizational structure of the Sikh faith by appointing dedicated preachers, known as Sangat leaders, to spread the Guru’s teachings into the Malwa and Doaba regions of Punjab and as far as the modern states of Rajasthan and Maharashtra. This expansion solidified the growth achieved by the Masand system. While he was a spiritual leader of peace, he strictly adhered to the principles of the Adi Granth and the teachings of his predecessors. He famously disowned his elder son, Ram Rai, for attempting to please the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb by deliberately misinterpreting a line of Gurbani, reinforcing the sanctity and inviolability of the scripture. Guru Har Rai Ji passed away in 1661. His decision to appoint the young Har Krishan Ji as the eighth Guru highlighted the principle that the spiritual light of the Guruship was independent of age, resting entirely on the divine merit and lineage of the spirit.