Har Krishan Sahib Ji

Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji was born on 7 July 1656 in Kiratpur Sahib, the younger son of Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji. He was appointed the eighth Sikh Guru at the remarkably young age of five years, following his father's wish. He is the youngest of all the Ten Gurus and holds a place of special reverence — often depicted as a child with a chauri (fly whisk), radiating divine light. Sikhs lovingly call him Bala Pir, the 'Child Saint'.

Despite his age, Guru Har Krishan demonstrated extraordinary spiritual wisdom and compassion. A famous encounter tells of a Brahmin scholar named Lal Chand who came to test the boy Guru, certain that a five-year-old could not expound the Bhagavad Gita. Guru Har Krishan selected Chhaju, a poor, illiterate water-carrier from the village, touched him with his stick, and Chhaju then delivered a profound, learned commentary on the Gita — astonishing the scholar and demonstrating the Guru's divine grace.

Emperor Aurangzeb summoned Guru Har Krishan to Delhi, allegedly to settle a dispute with Ram Rai (his elder brother who also claimed the Guruship). The young Guru arrived in Delhi in 1664. Here he encountered a devastating smallpox and cholera epidemic raging through the city. Rather than retreating to safety, the eight-year-old Guru personally served the sick and dying — distributing food, water, and medicine, offering comfort, and tending to Hindus and Muslims alike without discrimination. The site where he served the sick is today marked by Gurudwara Bangla Sahib in New Delhi, one of the most visited Sikh shrines in India.

Guru Har Krishan himself contracted smallpox while serving the sick. Before leaving this world in 1664 at just eight years of age, he uttered 'Baba Bakale' — indicating that the next Guru would be found in the village of Bakala, where Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji was then living in meditation. His selfless sacrifice during the epidemic and his extraordinary spiritual maturity despite his age make him one of the most beloved figures in Sikh history.