Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Har Krishan Ji Mahraj, the dispeller of sufferings is an epitome of obedience. Their obedience to their father and Parmatma is truly exemplary. Let us look at some events from their life where they taught us on how to live in Guru's Hukam.
INSTRUCTION OF GURU HAR RAI JI
When the seventh Guru, Guru Har Rai Ji Mahraj (father of Guru Har Krishan Ji) was preparing to leave to Sachkand, they gave their son a final instruction which was to never do or give Darshan to Aurangzeb. This instruction was one that Guru Har Rai Ji themself practiced by never meeting Aurangzeb because of three reasons. The reasons were firstly because their grandfather (Guru Hargiobind Ji) also disallowed the audience of the Emperor, and secondly, Aurangzeb was a deceitful person. Third reason was because Aurangzeb had murdered his own father and brothers. Considering all this reasons, Guru Har Krishan Ji was instructed to never visit the Emperor's court or meet him while reminding him on the fate of his brother (Ram Rai - who volunteered to meet Aurangzeb and changed Gurbani pangti to appease Aurangzeb) that faced harsh consequence (excommunicated) of doing so.
RESENTFUL RAM RAI
Initially Aurangzeb did not have the intention of calling Guru Har Krishan Ji to Delhi to meet. However, Ram Rai who was resentful when he heard that his younger brother was installed on the Gurgadhi throne, incited Aurangzeb to invite Guru Har Krishan Ji to Delhi to meet the emperor.
Why?
Because Ram Rai wanted Guru Har Krishan Ji to disobey his father's instruction of not meeting the emperor and if that happens, the Sanggat would lose Shardha to Guru Ji because they all know about Guru Har Rai Ji's bachan to not meet the emperor. Ram Rai also thought if Guru Har Krishan Ji declines Aurangzeb's invitation, the emperor would be angry and will send his army to attack Guru Ji. Therefore, he told Aurangzeb about Guru Har Krishan Ji’s spiritual powers and requested him to invite the young Guru to his court to witness for himself the Guru’s ability to perform the great miracles as the emperor was a fan of such things. The emperor was initially disagreeing to invite Guru Har Krishan Ji as they were of a very young age. When Ram Rai suggested this invitation to Aurangzeb, one of the Rajput Kings, Raja Jai Singh who was also present there suggested that the only way Guru Har Krishan Ji should be invited is with utmost respect through a humble respect.
It is to be noted that Raja Jai Singh had a personal longing and Shardha to do darshan of Guru Har Krishan Ji as well. Considering this, Jai Singh was seen by Aurangzeb to be the right person to initiate the efforts to invite Guru Har Krishan Ji to Delhi.
LEAVING TO DELHI
Guru Har Krishan Ji on the other hand was firm about their decision to obey their father's instruction and not meet Aurangzeb. They however agreed to come to Delhi considering the deep longing of Raja Jai Singh and to give Darshan to the Sanggat of Delhi with the same condition that they will not meet the emperor. When the Sanggat learnt that Guru Ji is leaving to Delhi, large number of devotees from near and far started coming to see Guru Ji day and night. Since people of the time used to walk from one place to another, the younger members of the family ran forward and reach earlier to request Guru Ji to wait for their elders who would take longer time to reach. Being the loving person they were, Guru Ji always waited for the Sanggat to arrive. So the trip to Delhi got delayed and many days passed until one fine day when Guru Ji finally commenced their journey to Delhi leaving Kiratpur Sahib with a number of fully dressed mounted soldiers and the Nishan Sahib held up leading the journey.
PANJOKHRA SAHIB
They had to stop for few days at some places as there were a lot of Sanggat coming to do their Darshan. One of the places they stopped were at Panjokhra Sahib where Raja Jai Singh’s representative humbly requested before Guru Ji “Dear Guru Ji, we have made too many stopover’s in our journey which is delaying us tremendously. Please be graceful and help to quicken our journey without any further delay”
Guru Ji then saw a pond with lots of sands around it and they started playing like a child, collecting all the sand at one place and making a pillar with their two small hands. Guru Ji then said “Whoever wishes for my darshan and wants to get their desires fulfilled, they may come to this place. Their sorrows will vanish. The ones who comes here and perform Ardaas with love and humbleness, their plea shall reach me and their prayer will be answered promptly".
ARROGANT PANDIT
It was here at Panjokhra Sahib that an arrogant pandit (scholar) by the name of Lal Chand possessing vast knowledge of prominent scriptures, was doubtful of Guru Ji. He was unhappy with the name of Guru Har Krishan Ji claiming that Guru Ji has kept even a bigger name than Lord Krishan who wrote the Bhagvad Gita but Guru Ji probably can't even give him the meanings of Saloks in Bhagvad Gita. Hearing this from the Pandit, a Sikh conveyed the message to Guru Ji who replied to the Sikh:
"This Pandit has no faith and if he wants answers, bring him to me. He shall receive all answers. Despite of the knowledge he has, he is inflicted with the disease of blindness in form of ego, thus the arrogant behavior. Whoever considers themselves to be great, they are in fact being blinded by their self-created pride and not able to sense or adopt good virtues. Just like a blind person can't walk on a physical path properly, an ego blinded person go astray from the path of truth and their goal to merge into Parmatma remains unfulfilled so they remain separated. He has a double disease because not only he is proud of his Brahmin caste, but also his knowledge. Satguru Nanak Dev Ji Mahraj is the only one who can relieve this Pandit from this disease and save him from the suffering that he is going through. Call him so that his pain can be removed and you too will be blessed for bringing him.”
When brought over, Guru Ji said to the Pandit "Even if I recite the meanings of Bhagvad Gita now, you may say that I am just fortunate to be born as the son of Guru Har Rai Ji and would have been given the most finest knowledge. So, please search for a person of your choice and bring him to me. He will answer all your questions.” Listening to Guru Ji, the Pandit approached a mute, deaf and totally illiterate person, Chajju Ram who delivered water from house to house and brought him to Guru Ji. When they arrived, Guru Ji blessed their holy gaze to Chhajju Ram who lost consciousness of the outside world, and went into Samadhi (deep meditation). Then, he started reciting the Bhagvad Gita, with remarkably accent and linguistic intonation of the Sanskrit language. On witnessing this, the Pandit's ego was shattered and he fell at the feet of Guru Har Krishan Ji Mahraj. Such was Guru Har Krishan Ji who just by their holy gaze removes not only physical illnesses but also mind diseases like ego.
ਸ੍ਰੀ ਹਰਿ ਕਿਸ਼ਨ ਧਿਆਈਐ ਜਿਸ ਡਿਠੇ ਸਭਿ ਦੁਖਿ ਜਾਇ ॥
Remembering Guru Har Krishan Ji Mahraj, by whose sight all the sufferings vanish.
AURANGZEB'S REQUEST
Guru Ji spent another night there and left for Delhi the next day. Upon reaching Delhi, Guru Ji reminded Raja Jai Singh again then he should not be pressured to meet Aurangzeb at any point. Aurangzeb on the other hand sent a messenger to meet Guru Ji and enquire if he can have darshan of Guru Ji. Guru Ji replied:
" My elder brother (Ram Rai) is competent and always meets the Emperor. I only listen and obey the instruction of my father, the Guru who instructed me not to meet the Emperor and I am only allowed to meet the Sanggat if ever I came to Delhi. My father mentioned that the two us (brothers) should not be in the same place as my brother is unhappy with me. So please pass this message to the Emperor and tell him that I will always obey my father’s word.
Hearing this, the Emperor’s messenger was amazed with Guru Ji’s honesty in expressing the truth, with folded hands he said, “You are so young but Your thoughts so matured and Your determination is just like an unconquerable warrior. Many people look forward to meeting the Emperor but you are firm with Your principles which cannot be influenced in any manner. There has not been a single person whom the Emperor had strong desire to meet except for You but You are very firm with Your decision. No one has ever declined the Emperor’s order.” The messenger praised Guru Ji, folded his hands and prostrated before Guru Ji. He left the place in total astonishment and delivered the message to Aurangzeb.
There was an infectious disease outbreak in Delhi at that time. The healing powers of Guru Ji and the help they were rendering, spread throughout the city and in the neighborhood of Delhi. People from all walks of life flocked to Guru Ji to heal their physical and mental ailments. Many were cured by just doing Darshan of Guru Ji and Guru Ji's compassion began to be praised in every house. The news also reached the court of the Emperor as well as to Ram Rai.
RAM RAI'S CURSE
Hearing the praise of Guru Ji from Aurangzeb, Ram Rai got extremely angry as a result of his jealousy. In the Emperor's court, he said, “The person that you all are praising of no use as He is young and the small pox disease has been deadly especially for children. There is no way an infected child could survive therefore He will also be infected by the small pox disease which will last till His last breath and He will leave His body soon.”
It is to be noted that when Ram Rai was younger, he was given a boon by his father (Guru Har Rai Ji) that whatever he utter would come true. Therefore, his hateful utterance regarding Guru Har Krishan Ji is a form of curse that is supposed to come true. When Guru Har Krishan Ji heard about his brother's hateful curse to them, they chose to accept that whatever Ram Rai said (about Guru Ji contracting small pox and leaving their physical body) will come true because they don't want their father's boon/bachan to turn out false. Even though Guru Mahraj themself are not subjected to any curse, they chose this utterance to come true just to fulfill their father's bachan to Ram Rai that whatever he says shall come true. Indeed, in the end, they did leave their physical body after being contracted by small pox. Such extreme extent was the obedience and respect of Guru Har Krishan Ji Mahraj to their father.
FUTURE OF RAM RAI
However, after hearing the curse of Ram Rai, Guru Har Krishan Ji Mahraj uttered the future of Ram Rai saying "I have not even met Aurangzeb and still Sri Ram Rai is burning in the fire of jealousy. For as long as he is alive he will always burn in the fire of jealousy. He wants a legacy but he will never have any son and will be burned alive by his own Masands". The reason why Guru Ji uttered such Bachan was because if they did not say anything, the Sikhs will think that Guru Ji is powerless and wonder why Guru Har Rai Ji made them the next Guru. They will conclude that their present Guru does not have the same power as the previous Gurus. When the Sikhs have such impression, they would lose faith on the Guru and would not attain liberation as a result. That is why Guru Ji uttered such words; once again to not have anyone questioning their father, the Guru's decision in choosing them as the next Guru. This Bachan was also fulfilled as Ram Rai never had a son and was burnt alive by his Masands later on during the time of Guru Gobind Singh Ji Mahraj.
BAHADUR SHAH VISIT ATTEMPT
Aurangzeb was still eager to do Darshan of Guru Mahraj for two reasons - firstly he wanted to see Guru Ji perform miracles and secondly, since many were healed by Guru Ji, he too wanted to be blessed by Guru Ji. So, he sent his son, Bahadur Shah who was around the age of Guru Ji assuming that Guru Ji would give Darshan considering the young age of the son. Hearing this, Guru Ji got veils tied around them and refused to meet Bahadur Shah again citing the reason being to obey their father's Hukam. Raja Jai Singh suggested Guru Ji to write something as a blessing instead since they do not want to meet Aurangzeb. Guru Ji then got the following Shabad by Guru Nanak Dev Ji to be written in Farsi and given to the Emperor.
ਮ꞉ ੧ ॥
First Mehl:
ਕਿਆ ਖਾਧੈ ਕਿਆ ਪੈਧੈ ਹੋਇ ॥
What good is food, and what good are clothes,
ਜਾ ਮਨਿ ਨਾਹੀ ਸਚਾ ਸੋਇ ॥
If the True Lord does not abide within the mind?
ਕਿਆ ਮੇਵਾ ਕਿਆ ਘਿਉ ਗੁੜੁ ਮਿਠਾ ਕਿਆ ਮੈਦਾ ਕਿਆ ਮਾਸੁ ॥
What good are fruits, what good is ghee, sweet jaggery, what good is flour, and what good is meat?
ਕਿਆ ਕਪੜੁ ਕਿਆ ਸੇਜ ਸੁਖਾਲੀ ਕੀਜਹਿ ਭੋਗ ਬਿਲਾਸ ॥
What good are clothes, and what good is a soft bed, to enjoy pleasures and sensual delights?
ਕਿਆ ਲਸਕਰ ਕਿਆ ਨੇਬ ਖਵਾਸੀ ਆਵੈ ਮਹਲੀ ਵਾਸੁ ॥
What good is an army, and what good are soldiers, servants and mansions to live in?
ਨਾਨਕ ਸਚੇ ਨਾਮ ਵਿਣੁ ਸਭੇ ਟੋਲ ਵਿਣਾਸੁ ॥੨॥
O Nanak, without the True Name, all this paraphernalia shall disappear. ||2||
JOTI JOT
Guru Har Krishan Ji was always obedient to Parmatma, be it in the form of his father, the Guru or to the Hukam of Parmatma. This is evident when Guru was infected by small pox and was to preparing to leave their physical body. Raja Jai Singh humbly plead " Guru Ji, people get cured from doing Your Darshan, You are full of powers and therefore can easily heal yourself". Guru Ji replied that it is in the Hukam of Parmatma that whoever obtains a human body, will have to face the happiness and sufferings that come along with the body, and we must obey this Hukam. When plead by their worried mother, Mata Krishan Kaur Ji, Guru Ji replied the same that we need to accept Hukam and this world is temporary, therefore an intelligent person will not have attachment to it.
At this point of time, Aurangzeb still wanted to do Darshan of Guru Ji which Guru Ji refused again and said that the emperor already have a Shabad from them which he should read and implement in his life. Aurangzeb was still eager to do Darshan and told Raja Jai Singh to inform him as soon as Guru Ji leaves their physical body so that he can come over. Ater informing the Sanggat on the whereabouts of the next Guru to be in Baba Bakala, Guru Har Krishan Ji left their physical body peacefully.
AURANGZEB'S LAST ATTEMPT
Aurangzeb wanting to get a glimpse of Guru Ji went towards the room where Guru Ji’s holy body was laid. He thought to himself, “He was so adamant about not meeting me claiming to be an obedient son of His father, now His persistence will end as I will finally get to see Him.”. The Emperor asked one of Guru Ji's Sikh to lift the cloth covering Guru Ji's holy body. As the Sikh was about to move the cloth, Aurangzeb suddenly looked down and saw a huge crack in the ground and he could not see Guru Ji at all. Instead he saw scary scenes through the crack into the depths of the earth and started shivering uncontrollably. He lost his senses and could neither move nor utter a single word. Terrified and not able to stand upright, he placed his hand on the Sikh's shoulder. This sudden move in turn caused the cloth to fall from the Sikh’s hands covering Guru Ji's holy face and body again. Aurangzeb having tears in his eyes could not explain what just happened and was so embarrassed he could not say anything. Aurangzeb in fear left the place immediately and all the Sanggat proceeded to respectfully cremate Guru Mahraj.
LESSON
Being an obedient son, Sri Guru Harkrishan Ji obeyed the instruction of their breath until his last breath and even beyond. Guru Mahraj's obedience exemplifies on how one is to be a Guru's sewak/Sikh. Dhan Dhan Bala Pritam Sri Guru Har Krishan Ji Mahraj truly taught us by being the perfect example on how to be an obedient child of the Guru by accepting Hukam. We are blessed to have such great Guru who teaches us by practicing the teaching themself. May Guru Mahraj bless us the ability to accept Hukam of our Guru too.
Reference:
Adhyai 32 to 54, Raas 10, Sri Gur Partap Suraj Granth - Churamani Kavi Santokh Singh Ji: