Guru Har Rai Ji

Guru Har Rai Ji, the seventh Sikh Guru, was born in 1630 at Kiratpur Sahib. The grandson of Guru Hargobind Ji, he became Guru at the age of fourteen. Despite maintaining an army of 2,200 horsemen as established by his grandfather, Guru Har Rai Ji was known for his gentle and compassionate nature, his love for nature, and his commitment to preserving the environment.

Guru Har Rai Ji established one of the earliest free hospitals and herbal dispensaries, reflecting the Sikh principle of serving humanity. He maintained an extensive herbal garden and provided free medicines to all who needed them, regardless of faith or status. He continued the tradition of missionary work, sending Sikh preachers to distant regions to spread the message of Guru Nanak. He particularly emphasized the importance of maintaining the purity of Gurbani (the Guru's word), declaring that even one word of the sacred scripture should not be altered.

During the Mughal succession wars, Guru Har Rai Ji gave herbal medicine to the ailing Prince Dara Shikoh (the liberal Mughal prince), though he maintained political neutrality. When Emperor Aurangzeb summoned him to Delhi, the Guru sent his elder son Ram Rai instead. When Ram Rai altered a verse of Gurbani to please the Emperor, Guru Har Rai Ji disowned him, demonstrating that the integrity of scripture was paramount. He appointed his younger son, Har Krishan, as the next Guru.