How Guru Har Rai Ji took the ‘Prick the Needle’ test to bestow the Guruship among his two sons

One day when Baba Ram Rai and (Guru) Harkrishan Ji were sitting in a trance, a Sikh came and praising them said, “How the princes are engrossed in deep meditation! They have forgotten all worldly attachments and now have dyed themselves in the Name of God”. The Guru called for the Sikh and said. “If you want the real situation of the princes then I give you this needle. Prick with this needle the hand of each prince and you will find who has been engrossed in deep meditation and who has been sitting just closing his eyes.”

That Sikh took the needle and he pricked the hand of Baba Ram Rai. Even on just touching the needle, Baba Ji became alert and he glared towards the Sikh angrily. Then he pricked the hand of (Guru) Harkrishan Ji, yet he did not move. He again pricked, but (Guru) Harkrishan again remained motionless. The Sikh was astonished to see a small boy in such a state of trance. Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji was watching the entire show. From this he received the notion that Baba Ram Rai was just closing his eyes and was aware of everything happening outside but Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji had gone in trance and was completely un-aware of the surroundings.

From this Guru Ji concluded that Baba Ram Rai was not serious towards the recitation of Bani, thus having two appearances. In his heart there was no love for God, but outwardly he was showing others that he was very much devoted to God. On another appraisal, Baba Ram Rai failed to impress the Guru. One day a Sikh came and asked the Guru that among his sons which was more dear to him. Guru Ji replied, “Parents love their children equally, for me even my Sikhs are my children and they are more dear to me, but as far my sons are concerned if you want to assess that who is more lovable then I tell you one method of estimation. I hand over you this needle. both of my sons are reciting the holy hymns sitting in their cradles. First you should listen to to the devotional songs recited by the princes. After this you shall pierce this needle into the pier of the cradle. In whose cradle’s pier this needle pierces easily consider that my loving son.”

Obeying the orders of the guru the Sikh rached near the cradle of Baba Ram Rai. He stayed there and heard the recitation of the holy hymns. Baba Ram Rai was reciting Gurbani by placing his gutka (breviary) on the cradle. After hearing the devitonal songs for some time the Sikh tried to pierce the needle into the pier of the cradle, but the wood was so hard that the needle failed to prick it. He tried very hard but all in vain. Then he went near the cradle of (Guru) Harkrishan Ji. He was reciting hymns in a very sweet voice. The Sikh was mesmerized to hear the sweet voice of (Guru) Harkrishan Ji and he stayed there for a long time to enjoy the celestial bliss. He even forgot the whole purpose to which he had gone there. When Guru Har Rai Ji called for him he remembered his task.

Then he tried to pierce the needle in the pier of the cradle. He was astonished to see that the needle pierced into the wooden pier as if it was made of wax. When he touched the pier the pier with his hand he found that the wood had turned green as if it was a branch of a new grown tree. Then he met Guru Ji and told him the whole story. He said. “My Lord ! I have not seen such a miracle in my life. The hard wood has turned into wax. The cradle seems to be made of a herbaceous plant. Dry wood has been converted into candle of wax. How did this all come about?”
The Guru was very pleased to hear his words. He said, “It has happened due to the recitation of the holy hymns. When a person recites the ‘Gurbani’ from the core of his heart, then the dry plants turn into green plants. The child Harkrishan has been reciting the hymns sitting in the lap of God. He has been so engrossed in the name of God that he has forgotten about his surroundings.

Now he and God have become one, which is why the dry wood has changed to a large green plant. Prince Ram Rai on the other hand has been reciting the hymns in order to perform a routine discipline. He has not been concentrating on the Name of God. He is merely obliging a decorum, therefore his recitation has no effect on the wood. Now I hope that you may have got the answer to your question.”
Keeping in view of these two appraisals Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji made up his mind to ordain Sri (Guru) Harkrishan Sahib Ji as the succeeding Guru. It was at the time when changed the hymns of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji to appease the emperor Aurangzeb that Guru Ji had at once sent messages to his Sikhs to reach Kiratpur.

A large congregation gathered there. Guru Ji announced that he was going to leave this mortal world soon, so he had decided to offer the Guruship to Sri (Guru) Harkrishan Sahib Ji. When the congregation heard this news they felt very grieved. They were worried about the early departure of the Guru. He was at the time not more than thirty one years old. He was very young and Sri (Guru) Harkrishan Sahib Ji was mere five years old.

He addressed the congregation and said, In this world who ever comes, will have to leave it. Now Sir (Guru) Harkrishan Sahib Ji will be your Divine master. Though he is still a child, yet he is competent to lead Sikhs. Now you shall consider him as my form.” Then he got up from the throne and Sri (Guru) Harkrishan Sahib Ji was seated there. Then he asked the grandson of Baba budha Ji, Bhai Gurditta JI to complete the tradition of transformation of Guruship. Bhai Gurditta Ji placed five coins and a coconut before the Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji and completed the ceremony of applying the coloured mark on the forehead. Then he bowed before the new Guru. After this the entire congregation bowed before hum turn by turn and Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji was installed as the eighth Guru.

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