Childhood        Guru Hargobind Saheb Ji had five sons. The eldest son, Baba Gurditta ji had two sons of his own – Baba Dhir Mal and Guru Har Rai Ji. Guru Har Rai Saheb’s parkash (birth) took place on January 16, 1630 in Kiratpur. He learned to read the scriptures Guru Hargobind Saheb Ji, who also trained him to use various weapons.         From a very young age he was attuned to meditation. Once, record old texts, Guru Har Rai Ji was returning home after his riding exercise. From a distance he saw guru Hargobind sitting in the garden. He at once got off his horse to go and do him homage. In this hurry, his robe was caught in a bush and a few of the flowers were broken from their stems. This pained Har Rai's heart. He sat down on the spot and wept bitterly. Guru Hargobind came and consoled him. He also advised him : "Wear your robe by all means, but be careful as you walk. It behooves God's servants to be tender to all things." There was a deeper meaning in the Guru's words. One must live in this world, and yet be master of oneself.         Guru Har Rai Ji was appointed the seventh guru in 1643 by Guru Hargobind Saheb Ji. The sixth guru also gave Guru Har Rai Ji a boon – he said that you will never have to go to war. If someone comes to fight you they will see defeat before they even reach you.         He was both a soldier and a saint. The Guru was very strong physically and always kept an army of 2,200 soldiers with him. He also built a fort named Patalgarh near Kiratpur which was used to store weapons and Ammunition. Back to Main Page   | Gurmat Studies Foundation | Guru Nanak Academy | Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Gatka Akhara | Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!