Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Guru Har Rai
Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Quick Facts
Born:
1630, Punjab, India
Died:
1661, Punjab (aged 31)
See all related content
Britannica AI Icon
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites

Guru Har Rai

Sikh Guru
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
History

Guru Har Rai (born 1630, Punjab, India—died 1661, Punjab) was the seventh Sikh Guru (1644–61).

Guru Har Rai’s grandfather was Hargobind, the sixth Guru and a great military leader. Guru Har Rai traveled in the Malwa area, where he converted the local Brar tribes to Sikhism. He maintained the sizable order of standing troops that his grandfather had amassed but consistently sought peaceful relations with the reigning Muslim Mughal dynasty. Peace was threatened when the Mughal prince Dārā Shikƍh, who was favourably disposed toward non-Muslims and had apparently once been assisted in some capacity (possibly cured from poisoning) by Guru Har Rai, lost the struggle for the throne to his brother, Aurangzeb.

Summoned by the new emperor to explain his relationship with Dārā Shikƍh, Guru Har Rai sent his son Ram Rai to represent him. After Aurangzeb questioned him about a line of text in the Adi Granth (the Sikh scripture) that he had found disparaging to Muslims, Ram Rai attempted to appease the emperor by suggesting that the line had been improperly transcribed. Guru Har Rai excommunicated Ram Rai for this action. Shortly before his death, the Guru named his five-year-old son, Hari Krishen, as his successor instead of Ram Rai.

The Golden Temple in Amritsar, India, features gold-covered domes and ornate architecture, surrounded by a large reflective pool with visitors gathered at the entrance.
More From Britannica
Sikhism: Guru Har Rai
The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Discover the fascinating events that shaped the world, straight from our editors.
By clicking “Sign Up”, you consent to the Britannica Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.