In Safar-e-patshahi Patshahi IX Series No. 19, we heard about the passing away of Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji and his words to the Guruship.
In this series we will learn about the history of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji getting the Guruship.
Guru Har Krishan ji arrived in Delhi at the invitation of Raja Jai Singh. Here Guru Sahib treated people with his own hands during smallpox. Relieved the suffering of the people. At this time Aurangzeb also wanted to meet Guru Sahib but Guru Ji flatly refused that-
“Neh Malesh Ko Darsan Dehain,
Neh Malesh ki Darshan Lehain”
Aurangzeb stood at the door for half an hour to meet Guru Sahib but Guru Sahib did not look at Aurangzeb. Another great thing is that Guru Harkrishan sahib Ji and Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji also met each other at Delhi. Historians have dated this match to Raja Jai Singh’s bungalow but most have dated it to 9 days before Guru Sahib’s death. Guru Har Krishan sahib Ji and Guru Tegh Bahadur sahib Ji met at Bhai Kaliana’s house. History is still silent about what happened to them. The meeting of Guru Harkrishan sahib Ji and Guru Tegh Bahadur sahib Ji in Delhi was a great thing. Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji was on a missionary tour at that time. Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji had not yet become Guru. He goes to Bakala. Later on March 30, 1664, Guru Harkrishan Ji passed away. As soon as passed he away, Guru Sahib, while lying down, summoned all the material of Gureyai and circumambulated it three times with his own hand and uttered the words – ‘Baba Bakale’. After that Guru Ji slept happily in his mother’s lap forever. Guru Sahib passed away.
“Jyoti Jyoti Rali, Sampuran Thiya Ram”
After concluding here, all the contents of the Guruship were in the possession of Dargah Mall Ji, son of Dwarka Das, and Bhai Kaliana Ji (who was the current munshi of the Guru’s house). They were also doing a great service together.
Due to some reasons, the delivery of Gureyai material was delayed, but the news had reached all the far-flung sangats through Masands that Guru Harkrishan ji had passed away and his last words. – “Baba Bakale”. Like Dhir Mall who had been waiting for a long time. He was still pretending to be a Guru. Dhir Mall got a chance and sat down on his bed at Bakala saying that I am the Guru. He left his masand in place. From here Ramrai was also asserting his right to the Guruship. The sangat was being misled by the masands. It was not known who the real Guru was and who the current Guru was because sitting on the bed of hypocrites at Baba Bakale and misleading the people was a big trick. Dhir Mall was asserting the highest right because Dhir Mall was the eldest son of Baba Gurditta ji ,son of Guru Hargobind ji. He was the brother of Guru Har Rai ji and the Bir which Guru Arjan Dev ji had installed at Darbar Sahib in 1604 AD was with him and was present at Kartarpur Sahib. Here Mata Nanaki Ji knew everything. He was confident that the words of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji that the throne of Guru Nanak Sahib would come to your house. A message had reached Mata Nanaki ji from Delhi that we are bringing the material of Gureyai, you need not to worry. August 11, 1664, was designated the day. Mata Nanaki Ji asked the chief Sikhs to gather. The descendants of Baba Buddha Ji were called. Bhai Gurditta Ji was called because the service of performing the rites was the responsibility of Bhai Gurditta Ji. So, Bhai Gurditta Ji was called from Ramdas. Baba Suraj Mall Ji’s sons Deep Chand Ji and Nand Chand Ji were also invited from Kiratpur Sahib.Diwali was approaching as there were two big fairs for the gathering of sangats at the Guru’s house. One was for Baisakhi and the other for Diwali. Sangats were expected to arrive on the day of Diwali and Dhirmal in Bakale was waiting for this. Inside, they were plotting to assassinate Guru Tegh Bahadur ji. Here comes a big turning point. On October 8, two months after the Gurtagaddi, Makhan Shah Lubana, the greatest merchant of the time, with 500 soldiers in a large army, reached Bakale and encamped. Who was this Makhan Shah Lubana? What was the background and who shot Guru Tegh Bahadur? This we will hear in Series 21.