Guru Har Rai encouraged Herbal remedies and encouraged healing and caring for animals text from DEEP

Guru Har Rai: Herbal Gardens at Kiratpur

Guru Har Rai played a major role in the development ofKiratpur in Panjab and turned it into another major centre for the Sikhs.Located on the banks of the Sutlej River, Kiratpur was developed by Guru jiinto a town of parks and gardens. He arranged for the planting of flowers andfruit trees all over the area. This created a wholesome environment, attractingbirds to the town and turning it into an idyllic place to live in.

Guru ji established a large clinic and a pioneeringdispensary called Chikitsalya. It was here that treatment was given to sick,infirm and old people. It also included an herbal medical research centre withherbal gardens at Kiratpur. Several rare herbs and medicines could be found inGuru ji’s clinic. According to Prof Manjit Singh, ex-Jathedar of Takht KesgarhSahib, these herbal gardens in Kiratpur Sahib are now being retrieved withfresh plantings with the help of the forest authorities of Punjab state.

The Sikh traditions also speak of Dara Shukoh’s protractedsickness. His father, the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan then requisitioned someAyurvedic herbs as recommended by the royal physician from Guru Har Rai. Theseherbs were available at Kiratpur and were said to be harrad (Chebulic myrobalan- Terminalia chebula) and laung (cloves - Syzygium aromaticum).

Guru Har Rai: A Unique Hunter

Guru Har Rai used go for hunting most afternoons inKiratpur. Although he was found of hunting, it was said that he never killed orhurt any animal or bird. In fact, Guru ji had issued special instructions tohis men not to kill any animal. They used to catch the old, week and sickanimals and bring them back to Kiratpur. There, Guru ji kept the wild animalsin his animal sanctuary. These animals were given medical treatment and caredfor at the animal clinic. When the animals had recovered, they were once againset free in the forest.

Whenever Guru Har Rai had to kill some animal, it was forrelieving that animal from extreme pain or for spiritual freedom of thatanimal. Once Guru ji saw a snake that was in extreme pain and in old age. Hewas being attacked by ants and was shaking his head and tail with pain as if hewas requesting Guru ji for help. Guru ji killed this snake with an arrow andrelieved it from pain as well as from the cycle of birth and death.

Guru Har Rai: Care for plants

Bhai Har Rai as a child always wore a heavy gown. One daywhile passing through his grandfather Guru Har Gobind's garden, the folds ofhis flowing gown struck a flower. This fell down, torn from its branch. Guru jisaw this and said to Har Rai, “My son! Always go about with due care, lest youdisturb the slumber of union of some blessed ones, and tear them away from Godas thou hast torn this flower from its branch." This thought affected histender heart and brought tears in his eyes. From then on, Bhai Har Rai alwaysgathered the folds of his gown in his hand wherever he went. After that he alsoalways resolved never to harm anything in the world.

On one of the Guru Har Rai's tours, he stayed at Mukandpurin the present district of Jalandhar. There he drove a bamboo shoot (bans) intothe ground in memory of his visit. It still survives today as a stately tree.

Ghakka village is situated in Tehsil Shakkargarh, DistrictNarowal in Punjab Province. Guru Har Rai sat beside a Tahli tree (Shisham -Dalbergia sissoo) and under the shade of a Ber tree (Jujube - Zizyphusjujuba) in this village. Guru Ji stayed for a few days here. The holy shrine isnow called Gurdwara Tahli Sahib. However, the Tahli tree has withered awayand only the Ber tree is still there.