History of Guru Teg Bahadur Jee - Part 9: Guru Har Krishan Jee announces the next Guru

On 30th March 1664, at the age of 8, the child-Guru, Guru Har Krishan jee left his earthly body in Delhi. According to historical manuscript of ‘Suraj Prakash’, when the Sikhs and congregation surrounding the Guru asked him who will be next the Guru, the Guru lifted his right hand and said ‘Baba Bakala’ whilst opening his palm and moving his hand 3 times (as if he was giving a blessing or passing on the Light of the Guru to the next Guru-body). ‘Baba’ means ‘grandfather’. At that time, there was no relative of Guru Har Krishan Sahib jee living in the town of Bakala, other than Guru Teg Bahadur jee. Therefore, ‘Baba Bakala’ meant that the next Guru is Guru Har Krishan jee’s grandfather who lives in the town of Bakala (i.e. Guru Teg Bahadur jee). 

ਬਾਬਾ ਬਸਹਿ ਗ੍ਰਾਮ ਬਕਾਲੇ ।
ਬਨਿ ਗੁਰ, ਸੰਗਤਿ ਸਕਲ ਸਮਾਲੇ  ।

According to the historical manuscript of ‘Mehma Prakaash’, the congregation (Sangat) asked Guru Har Krishan Sahib jee,

ਹਮ ਕਿਤ ਬਿਧ ਨਿਤ ਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਕਰੇ ਕਿਮ ਕਰ ਚਰਨ ਗੁਰ ਸੇਵਾ ।
ਅਬ ਕਹਾ ਜੋਤ ਪ੍ਰਗਟ ਧਰੈ ਦੀਜੈ ਦਾਸਨ ਭੇਵ ।
“How will we able to have your Darshan (holy-sight, i.e. see you) daily so that we can do selfless service of the Guru? Within whom will your Light now be revealed in?”

Listening the congregation, Guru Har Krishan Sahib jee replied,

ਅਬ ਜਾਇ ਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਤੁਮ ਕਰ ਬਕਾਲ,
ਤਹਾਂ ਰਹੇਂ ਬਾਬਾ ਜੀ ਦੀਨ ਦਿਆਲ ।
“Go now to (the town of) Bakala to have Darshan (holy-sight of the Guru). There lives Baba jee, the Merciful Lord.” 

Saying this, Guru Har Krishan Sahib jee went into trance whilst lying down on his bed and left his earthly body.  At that point, grandmother Mata Basee jee instructed the son of Bhai Behlo jee, Bhai Gurdaas jee, to begin the reading of Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee.
 

Historian Bhai Kesar Singh writes in his historical manuscript 'Bansawali-Nama':

ਵਕਤ ਚਲਾਣੇ ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਕੀਤੀ ਅਰਦਾਸ ।
ਗਰੀਬ ਨਿਵਾਜ ਸੰਗਤ ਛੱਡੀ ਕਿਸ ਪਾਸ ।
ਉਸ ਵਕਤ ਬਚਨ ਕੀਤਾ 'ਬਾਬਾ ਬਕਾਲੇ' ।
ਆਪ ਗਏ ਸੁਰਪੁਰ,
ਦਹਿ ਜਲਾਈ ਧੰਨ ਚੰਦਨ ਨਾਲੇ ।

It was then decided that Divaan Dargaah Mal jee along with the congregation (Sangat) will travel to the town of Bakala in Punjab and conduct the ceremony of passing over guruship for (Guru) Teg Bahadur jee. However, in Punjab when news of Guru Har Krishan Sahib jee and that the Ninth Guru has been announced to be living in the town of Bakala spread, many fraudsters who sought to claim themselves at the Ninth Guru of Sikhs for the sake of making money and becoming popular, flocked to the town of Bakala.  



Source: Principal Satbir Singh's book, 'Et Jin Karee: Jeevani Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Jee' (pages 40-43)