The annual gathering of Baisakhi, held in March, 1658 was one of the most impressive for a number of reasons. It was the fourteenth year of Sri Guru Hari Rai Sahib Ji's ministry. Nearly all the masands (official missionaries) had come from distant cities like Kabul and Patna. The descendants of Guru Amar Das Ji and Guru Angad Dev Ji had come from Govindwal and Khadur.
From Kartarpur came Mata Raj Kaur Ji, the mother of Sri Guru Hari Rai Sahib Ji, who had preferred stay with her elder son Dhir Mal. The Sikhs of Doaba region came in large numbers with a pressing invitation to Mahraaj to visit their villages. Guru Ji's mother took a promise from him that he would visit Kartarpur and stay with her for some weeks. Guru Sahib was asked to with come with his wife, Mata Sulakhani Ji and his two lovely sons, Baba Ram Rai Ji and Baba HarKrishan Sahib Ji.
Early in April 1658, Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji Mahraaj, left Kartarpur for this misionary tour. Mahraaj Ji had decided that his holy darbar would move through three districts. On this tour Guru Sahib took with him his beloved two thousand and two hundred horsemen.
Guru Mahraaj passed through Rupar, Dosanjh and Phagwara. He finally reached Kartarpur by the first week of May 1656. Mata Raj Kaur Ji was delighted to see her beloved son, and her beloved grandchildren, Baba Ram Rai and Baba HarKrishan Sahib Ji, whose noble manners and charming habits attracted everyone's attention.
From Kartarpur, Guru Sahib went for short visits to Haryianvellan, Bhungani, and Chautar in the present district of Hoshiarpur. Dhirmal, Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji's older brother had reconciled himself to accepting Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji as the real successor of their grandfather, Sri Guru HarGobind Sahib Ji. He now gave a royal reception to Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji Mahraaj, hoping that after Guru Ji left his physical body, the pontific succession may by some chance opportunity come to his family.
From Bakala, Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji Mahraaj and his family went, to Govindwal were he stayed for a month or two. Guru Sahib was received by Dwarka Das the direct descendant of Sri Guru Amar Das Ji Mahraaj. The people of Lahore and neighbouring regions came in groups of hundreds, to seek the blessings of the king of kings and the saint of saints.
Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji visited the Chaubam (upper story room) of Sri Guru Amar Das Ji, in which the Guru Sahib had spent about fifteen years. In utter humility, Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji bowed reverently before the cot of Guru Amar Das Ji. On the cot were kept the Bani Pothis from which the Granth Sahib Ji was prepared by Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji Mahraaj. Towards the end of the last century the Pothis and the cot were still there.
Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji then visited Khadur where he was respectfully received by the descendants of Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji Mahraaj. From Khadar Maharaj went to Taran Taran and Amritsar to pay his formal homage to these great places of pilgrimage of the Sikhs. Guru Sahib came back the same day. During that time, the Harmandir Sahib was under the control of Harji Mina, a descendant of Prithimal, the elder brother of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji Mahraaj.
From Govindwal, Guru Sahib went for a hurried visit to Pasrur, 18 miles south of Sialkot to bring his beloved daughter, Bibi Sarup Kaur. He had decided that Bibi Sarup Kaur and her husband should settle in Kiratpur.
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