The Guru Who Healed Thousands: Remembering the Sacrifice of Guru Harkrishan Ji

The one who made selfless service his religion, became a true Guru. This timeless wisdom finds its most profound expression in the life of Guru Harkrishan Ji, the eighth Sikh Guru, whose story remains a powerful lesson in compassion even centuries later.

In 1664, when Delhi was struck by a deadly outbreak of cholera and smallpox, the then 8-year-old Guru Harkrishan Ji fearlessly stepped forward. He began serving the sick and suffering of the city, regardless of their caste, creed, or religion.

It is said that those who drank the water blessed by the young Guru from a small well were healed of their afflictions. He took the pain of others upon himself, eventually contracting the illness and sacrificing his own life to save thousands.

"True devotion lies where service is selfless."

Today, that very site in Delhi is home to the magnificent Gurdwara Bangla Sahib. Its sacred Sarovar, built around the original well, is still considered holy—an eternal symbol of the compassion, sacrifice, and healing that Guru Harkrishan Ji embodied.