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Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji: the softener of hearts

Once some prominent Sikhs asked Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji Maharaj, as to who was greater of the two brothers (Baba Har Krishan Sahib Ji and Baba Ram Rai Sahib Ji) in spiritual achievements and virtues of saintliness. Satguru Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji asked Baba Har Krishan Sahib Ji to deliver a sermon based on the interpretation of a Hymn in the Granth Sahib.

So stirring and illuminating was the sermon delivered by Baba Har Krishan, that the Chroniclers says, "all listeners were deeply moved by the ennobling and light-shedding interpreta¬tion of the Hymn. While Baba Har Krishan Sahib Ji was delivering his sermon, Satguru Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji, Maharaj asked one of his attendants to take a needle and drive it into the wooden leg of the altar on which the Granth Sahib Ji was placed.

The attendant was amazed to note, that the wooden leg had become so soft that the needle passed into it as if it was wax. This was symbolic of the fact that Baba Har Krishan Sahib Ji's sermons not only influenced and softened human hearts and made them deeply perceptive, but they softened even the wood of the altar. The needle remained fixed in the wood.

Satguru Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji Maharaj then asked Baba Ram Rai to interpret the same Hymn from the Granth Sahib. When Baba Ram Rai was delivering the sermon, Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji asked an attendant to take the needle out of the wooden leg of the altar. However hard he tried, he was unable to take it out. Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji again asked Baba Har Krishan Sahib Ji to interpret another Hymn from the Granth Sahib.

When he was explaining this Hymn in a melodious voice, Guru Hari Rai Sahib Ji asked the attendant to take the needle out. The wood once more became soft and the needle was easily taken out. "Listen" said Satguru Ji, to all the assembled Sikhs: "The Hymns and the divine Word of the Granth Sahib were the same, but when uttered by Har Krishan, they not only deeply touched the hearts of the listeners but also put life into the dry wood of the altar. Two persons may have the same bow and arrow in their hands but one who is adept in archery will succeed in aiming at the target with perfect marksmanship."

How amazing is our beloved guru sahib, Satguru Sri Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji, the king of kings, the saint of saints, and the saviour of the world 

Translated from Sikhan Di Bhagatmal

WAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA WAHEGURU JI KI FATEH