Ans. Guru Hari Rae made the daily routine of his life such that by following it (like a beacon) a Sikh could make his life’s journey easy and comfortable.
He would get up by the end of the third quarter of night.Then he would take a bath with generous supply of water (one hundred buckets, according to Mehma Prakash, story 2).
By nature he was always alert. After putting on his clothes he would sit for meditation on “Shabad”. This would continue until dawn when he would put on new attire and come to the congregation. He would always wear light (comfortable) clothes. Reaching the congregation, first he would read from Guru Granth Sahib and recite it to the congregation. After this the bards were asked to sing “Aasa di Vaar”.
At the conclusion the congregation was urged to form two groups and sing the hymns in turns. Then the hymn of Guru Nanak, “Gagan meh thaal Ravi Chand Deepak banay” was sung. The services were concluded by saying a supplication (Ardaas), in which he himself would lead. He started the tradition of supplication while standing.
He would then proceed to “Langar” (the community kitchen) along with the congregation. With great humility and respect he would first serve the food to the congregation (he said they were the holy people) and then eat himself. Serving of meat was stopped during his time. He would then retire to his living quarters to take rest for a while. Then he would go for a ride and hunt.
However, his hunting did not involve killing but only to capture. Many wounded and sick animals were thus captured and after proper treatment, were kept in the sanctuary where they moved freely.
In the evening he would lead discourses on history and Gurbani. Many highly learned people would come to listen to him and raise their souls to higher spiritual levels through his elixir words of divine knowledge. Then he would go to the garden for a walk while Kirtan by renowned hymn-singers continued in the congregational hall. On returning from walk he would go to the hospital and dispensary, then for horse riding and some time watch wrestling and riding.
He would gather young children and teach them Gurbani as well as martial arts like archery in which he himself would participate. He was a superb archer who could pierce a hard plate made of an alloy of eight metals. Thereafter he would go to the sanctuary to nurse the sick and wounded animals and birds. In the evening, at the time of the prayer of “sodar” he would go again to the congregation hall.
The evening prayer session continued towards the end of first quarter of night. After this he would go to the “langar” for dinner. Following the dinner the recitation of “sohila” took place and then he would go to bed.Such was the daily routine of the seventh Master whenever he was at Kiratpur.