The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c19.79

v4.c19.79

His son Har Govind (1606–45) “constantly trained himself in martial exercises and systematically turned his attention to the chase”. He increased his bodyguard to a small army. He next provoked war with Shāh Jahān by encroaching on that emperor's game preserve and attacking the servants of the imperial hunt. The first few forces that were sent against him were defeated by his followers, and his fame spread far and wide, inducing many men to enlist under his banners, as they said that no one else had power to contend with the emperor. But finally his house and property at Amritsar were seized and he was forced to seek refuge at Kīratpur, in the Kashmīr hills, where he died in 1645. Then followed the peaceful pontificate of Har Rāi (1645–61), a disputed succession between his sons, and the early death of his chosen heir Har Kishan (1661–64). A wild scene of rapacity and disorder broke out among the Sikhs; “twenty-two men of Batālā claimed the right to succeed him; these self-made Gurūs forcibly took the offerings of the Sikhs”. But after a time Tegh Bahādur, the youngest son of Har Govind, succeeded in being recognised as Gurū by most of the Sikhs. After fighting under Rām Singh (of Amber) in the Assam war he came back to the Punjab and took up his residence at Ānandpur.