Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji
ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਕ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਨ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਜੀ
Born: 7 July 1656 • Joyti Jot: 30 March 1664 died of smallpox at Delhi
| Father’s Name: | Guru Har Rai Ji |
| Mother’s Name: | Mata Kishan Kaur Ji |
| Spouse Name: | Not married |
| Children’s Name: | None |
| Cities Founded: | None |
| Baani(s): | No hymns |
| Contemporary Rulers: | Aurangzeb |
| Message: | Healing and service during epidemic |
| Special Contribution: | Youngest Guru, served smallpox victims, Bal Guru |
| Journeys: | Kiratpur to Delhi |
| Joyti Jot: | 30 March 1664 died of smallpox at Delhi |
Quick Facts
Sri Guru Har Krishan Ji (1656–1664) was the eighth of the ten Sikh Gurus. Appointed at the tender age of five, his brief Guruship (1661–1664) was marked by his profound spiritual wisdom and miraculous service to the suffering people during a smallpox epidemic in Delhi. He is often remembered as the “Bal Guru” (Child Guru).
Biography & Contributions
Born in Kiratpur Sahib in 1656, Guru Har Krishan Ji was the youngest Guru in Sikh history. His appointment challenged the notion that spiritual leadership required old age, demonstrating that the “Light of Nanak” (the divine spirit of the Guruship) was passed down through spiritual merit, not physical maturity. His elder brother, Ram Rai, disputed the succession and sought Mughal intervention. Despite his young age, Guru Har Krishan Ji displayed great courage and spiritual wisdom. He was brought to Delhi to settle the succession dispute, though he refused to meet Aurangzeb directly, maintaining the Sikh principle of non-submission to the states undue influence over religious matters. He stayed at the house of Raja Jai Singh (where Gurdwara Bangla Sahib now stands). During his time in Delhi, a devastating epidemic swept the city. Ignoring the political pressure, the young Guru devoted himself entirely to alleviating the suffering of the local population, regardless of their caste or religion. He personally supervised the distribution of clean water and relief, earning him immense respect and the title “Bala Pir” (Child Saint). When questioned about his spiritual status due to his age, Guru Har Krishan Ji publicly demonstrated his connection to the divine spirit. He touched the head of an illiterate water carrier named Chhajju and instantly empowered him to eloquently explain the deep philosophy of the Gita, proving that the spiritual light resided in him. Succumbing to smallpox himself after tirelessly serving the sick, Guru Har Krishan Ji passed away in Delhi in 1664. His last words, “Baba Bakale,” directed the Sikhs to find the true ninth Guru in the village of Bakala, thereby preventing his brother Ram Rai from usurping the Guruship.