Guru Hari Ray was born in Kiratpur. He was the grandson of Guru Har Gobind. Mata Nihal Kaur was his mother.

Though Dhirmal was his elder brother, but he was of very evil nature. Their mother, mata Nihal Kaur had already predicted that he would be the second Prithiya (Prithvi Chand). That Prediction proved cent percent correct in future.

MARRIAGE

Guru Hari Ray was married to Krishna Kaur, the daughter of Shri Daya Ram who was a resident of Anup Shahar, in Buland Shahar district of Uttar Pradesh. They begot two sons - Rama Ray the elder, and Hari Krishna the younger.

RECEIVING GURU GADDI

At the demise of Guru Har Gobind, Hari Ray inherited the Guru Gaddi. At that time he was only about fourteen years old. When Guru Hari Ray took charge of the Guru Gaddi, Punjab was reeling under a severe famine. For three years continuously there was nothing but starvation all around. People were pining even to see a loaf of bread. That time again the system of Das Bandh (donation of tenth part of earning) that had supported the victims earlier during the tenures of Guru Arjan Dev, and Guru Har Gobind, came handy to support the victims of famine in Punjab. Strength of the Sikhs too had increased proportionately. And the Sikhs who were better off in other parts of country donated liberally for the help of the victims.

ORDER OF SHAH JAHAN

Once the Moghul emperor Shahjahan had issued an order to demolish all the newly constructed temples and prohibited repairing of old ones. This order horrified the Hindus. This ordinance was not applied to the place of worship of the Sikhs for they were not the worshipper of the idols. But Guru Hari Ray had a firm belief in the principle of Sikhism that don't fear anyone and don't frighten anyone. So in order to support the firghtened Hindus, he advertised extensively in areas surrounding Kiratpur. Then Guruji reached Kartarpur. Thence, travelling via Noor Mahal, Daroli, Bhai Rupa etc. he reached Marajh.

In Marajh, lived a Chaudhary (a person of down-trodden class) named Bhai Kale. He had once served Guruji with dedication. Learning about Guruji's arrival in Marajh, Chaudhary Kale visited to see him accompanied by two of his nephews-Phool and Sundar. They were orphans, hence Chaudhary Kale was raising them. The boys greeted Guruji and began to stroke their belies. Guruji asked Kale about the reason of there doing so. Kale replied that they were hungry and hence begging for the food. Guruji said that one day their offsprings would rule over the region between Satluj and Yamuna.

Next day, Chaudhary brought his own sons. They too began to stroke their bellies. Their mother had taught them to do so. But Kale revealed the secret to Guruji. Guruji, however, blessed them also that their offspring's would never see scarcity. Due to these blessings, principalities of Patiala, Nabha, Jind etc. came into existence. These principalities are also known as Phoolakia principalities.

DISPENSARY

On one hand Guruji open-heartedly helped the poors and on the other he had opened a huge dispensary to treat the needy patients. In the dispensary he had arranged for costly and rare medicines. Every patient was treated freely and given free meal in the dispensary.
Once, Dara Shikoh, the elder son of Shahjahan, fell seriously ill. Hakims (practitioner of Unani Medicinal system) prescribed rare kind of medicines for him. Those medicines were not available anywhere else but in the dispensary of Guruji. From the dispensary, the medicines were gladly provided to treat Dara Shikoh who, as a result recovered speedily. When he was completely healthy, Dara Shikoh himself visited Kiratpur and expressed his gratitude for Guruji.

HELP OF DARA SHIKOH

By the order of Guru Har Gobibd, Guru Hari Ray had maintained two thousand and two hundred strong cavalry force to be used in times of emergency. When a battle broke out among the sons of Shahjahan for the throne of Delhi, Guruji had to bring his force once again in the battlefield. Defeated by Shahjahan's youngest son Aurangzeb, Dara Shikoh had fled to Lahore. Aurangzab sent a huge army after him. Dara Shikoh met Guru Hari Ray in Govindval and requested him for help. As it was a tradition of Guru Nanak's clan to help those who took their shelter, so accompanied by two thousand two hundred strong cavalry force, Guru Hari Ray came to the bank of Beas and captured the boats of Aurangzeb's army. Thus, Guruji's force managed to stymie Aurangzeb's army for one day, during which time Dara Shikoh reached to safety.

When Aurangzeb came to know about the incidence, and as soon as he occupied the throne, he at once issued a summon for Guru Hari Ray. But Guruji did not appear himself in Aurangzeb's court, he sent Rama Ray instead.

DESERTATION OF RAMA RAY

When Guru Hari Ray had sent Rama Ray to Aurangzeb's court, he had issued him stern instructions to keep Guru before him in everything he did there, and believe that Guruji was always with him. Baba Rama Ray was very proficient and witty. Aurangzeb was very much impressed by his learnings. Aurangzeb asked him why had his father Guru Hari Ray helped Dara Shikoh. Rama Ray replied that it was a tradition of Guru Ghar to help the poors and needy ones. And Dara Shikoh had himself asked for the help. And those who are in crises ought to be helped in any case. Then Aurangzeb put a lot of questions regarding Sikhism. Rama Ray answered them as per the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev. Thus, Rama Ray proved successful in every test. Aurangzeb wanted to coax Rama Ray with love or greed so that he could accept Islam. So at the instinct of the Kajis, Aurangzeb asked Rama Ray. "What is written in your scripture?"

MITTI MUSAL MAN KI PEDE PAI KUMIAR |
GHAD BHANDE ITAN KIAN JALDI KARE PUKAR ||

What doe it all mean? Isn't it a dishonour for Islam?" At that moment, Rama Ray forgot al the instructions and fell from the mark. He began to say, "No, it is not written in Granth. In its stead is written Mitti Beiman Ki (the soil is of a dishonest person)". Pleased by these words, Aurangzeb presented a lot of property to Rama Ray.

When Guru Hari Ray learned about the event, he got very sorry. He issued an order that Rama Ray should never show his face again. Thus for the crime of reversing Guru Vani, Guru Hari Ray expelled his son for Guru Ghar.

GURU HARI RAY AND SPREAD OF SIKHISM

For the propagation and preaching of Sikhism, Guru Hari Ray had established three centres : 1) Suthere Shah, 2) Bhagat Bhagwan and 3) Bhai Pheru. Each of these centres was under the supervision of an Udasi Sikh. His father, Guru Ditta had already established four Dhues or Dhuniyas (centres for religious assembling) for the preaching of Sikhism.

DEMISE OF HARI RAY

Guru Hari Ray had already expelled his son Rama Ray from Guru Ghar. So, at the time of his demise, he tranferred the Guru Gaddi to his younger son Hari Kishan. Thus, Guru Hari Kishan became the eight Guru of of the Sikhs.