Sri Guru Har Krishan Sahib Parkash Utsav 2019: Remembering Eighth Guru of Sikhs on 363th Jayanti

Parkash Utsav of the eighth Guru of Sikhs Sri Guru Har Krishan Sahib will be celebrated on July 26 this year. Guru Har Krishan Sahib was the second son of the seventh Guru, Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib and Mata Krishan Kaur. In 1661, Guru Har Rai Sahib declared Guru Har Krishan Sahib as the next Sikh Guru. He succeeded Guru Har Rai on October 20, 1661, at an age of five years. Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Parkash Utsav 2019: Remembering Ninth Guru of Sikhs on 399th Jayanti.

Guru Har Krishan was born on Sawan Vadi 10, Bikrami Samvat 1713 at Kiratpur Sahib. Aurangzeb, the emperor of Delhi at that time, wanted Guru Har Rai’s elder son Ram Rai to be the next Sikh Guru. Aurangzeb called the seventh guru to his court, but Guru Har Rai instead of going himself, he sent his elder son Ram Rai.

Before his death, the seventh Guru, cautioned Guru Har Krishan not to meet Aurangzeb. However, after Guru Har Rai’s death, Aurangzeb sent Raja Jai Singh of Amber to invited Guru Har Krishan to appear in the Mughal court. The eighth guru agreed to Auranzeb’s invitation and moved toward Delhi. When he arrived in Delhi, Guru Har Krishan contracted smallpox and his meeting with Aurangzeb was cancelled. Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti 2019: Date and Significance of Prakash Parv to Mark 352nd Birth Anniversary of Tenth Sikh Guru.

Guru Har Krishan died in 1664. Before his death, the eighth guru said, "Baba Bakale". The Sikh religious leaders of that time interpreted that the next Sikh guru would be in Baka Bakala, a village town in Punjab. This created confusion as near about twenty-two posers and self-appointed successors sprung up in the small village Bakala. After few months of confusion, in August 1664, Sikh Sangat headed by some prominent Sikhs from Delhi, arrived at village Bakala and acknowledged Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji as the Ninth Guru.

In the last moment, the eight guru expressed a wish that nobody should mourn his death. He instructed his disciples to sing the hymns of Gurbani. Guru Har Krishan passed away on Chet Sudi 14, (3rd Vaisakh), Bikrami Samvat 1721. His last rites were performed in Delhi, later a gurudwara was built at the site of his cremation which is now known as Bala Sahib Gurdwara. Guru Har Krishan Sahib had the shortest reign as Guru, lasting only 2 years, 5 months and 24 days.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 26, 2019 08:45 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).