ANAND KAARAJ
(A Sikh Wedding)
by Rajinder Singh ‘Arshi’
This article is intended as a brief introduction for our non-Sikhs friends attending a Sikh Wedding, but it will also serve as a useful guide for Sikhs, in particular young Sikhs, who may not be very familiar with Sikh customs, traditions and beliefs.
Literally translated, ‘Anand Kaaraj’ means the ‘Ceremony of Bliss’. During the course of this ceremony you would witness the Sangat (congregation) rising and praying to the Satguru (Eternal Truth, Universal Consciousness) at the beginning and the conclusion of the ceremony, This we know as ‘Ardaas’. Whenever a devout Sikh starts any task or project which has an important bearing on his (her) (1) life he (she) does so by invoking the Guru’s – Guru Granth Sahib (2) – blessings through Ardaas. He beseeches the Guru and the One Universal Lord to give him courage, wisdom, strength and inspiration to achieve his objectives. He seeks the Guru’s personal guidance from evil influences at all times. The Ardaas is concluded by asking Satguru for world peace and for His blessing on all mankind (sarbat da bhalaa).
THE FOUR LAAVS (nuptial rounds)
The core part of the ceremony, which binds the couple in Holy Matrimony, takes about 20 minutes to conclude. This consists of the recital of the four laavs (3). These are the four hymns composed by Guru Ram Das (the Fourth Nanak).
The nuptial rounds represent the four stages for the soul bride (human being) to merge with its Root, the Universal Consciousness (God).
The four laavs define the four phases of righteous living through which a person (the soul bride) progresses towards his ultimate goal, to be one with the Universal Truth or, in other words, for his/her consciousness (soul) to merge with the parmatma (Universal consciousness). The four phases, briefly, are:
- To fulfil the duties of wedded life (life of the householder); to perform good deeds and follow the path of righteousness,
- To understand one’s inner self and to search the true path towards the Realm of Truth (Sach Khand).
- To experience the ecstasy of mind and divine love.
- Unification with Waheguru (Nirankar, Param Atma). Attainment of the True Lord with the grace of the guru. Mind, body and soul are fixed on Waheguru and only His Name rings in the heart.
Note: The bride and the groom undertake to build their relationship on the recommendations outlined for their consciousness to merge with its Root – the Source or the Universal Consciousness. This is the secret to a blissful relationship on earth whilst also working towards a spiritually supreme status.
The four laavs are conducted as follows:
- The Giani (Sikh priest) recites the laav from the Holy Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh Guru and Guide as it holds all a Sikh needs to know to guide him through the four phases of life towards the Realm of Truth (Sach Khand).
- On conclusion of the first laav, the couple must bow their heads touching the lotus feet of Guru Granth Sahib, which signifies their appreciation and acceptance of the Guru’s message.
- The couple would then rise, just as the kirtani jatha (the bards or hymn singers) begin the singing of the first laav set to music and metre. The couple must circum-ambulate (clockwise) the Guru Granth Sahib, which signifies the taking of sacred vows, to be true to the Guru and to be true and faithful to each other.
- As the Kirtani Jatha conclude their musical rendering of the first laav, the couple complete their nuptial circling (parkamia) returning to their original places. They then bow and sit down.
- The remaining three laavs are conducted similarly and the couple are bound to each other in Holy Matrimony for life.
It is a firm Sikh belief that spiritually a couple are not truly wedded until they think and act as one soul, one spirit. In Vaar Suhi (Guru Granth Sahib – 788) Guru Amar Das, the Third Nanak, states:
ਧਨ ਪਿਰੁ ਏਹਿ ਨ ਆਖੀਅਨਿ ਬਹਨਿ ਇਕਠੇ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਏਕ ਜੋਤਿ ਦੁਇ ਮੂਰਤੀ ਧਨ ਪਿਰੁ ਕਹੀਐ ਸੋਇ ॥੩॥
dhan pir eih na aankhyan behen ekatthe hoye; eik jyot doye moorti, dhan pir kahiaye soye.
They are not truly husband and wife, who simply spend their lives together. The couple are truly wedded only when their two bodies possess one soul – the fusion of two spirits.
Author’s notes:
- For simplicity, throughout this article, I have referred to the masculine gender but, wherever appropriate, this should be read as including the female gender.
- Finally, a thanksgiving prayer (ardaas) is offered at the lotus feet of Guru Granth Sahib for the joyous and successful conclusion of the sacred union. The snagt (congregation) prays for the Guru’s Grace to bless the newly wedded couple.
- laav: nuptial circling or round. The bride and the bridegroom circum-ambulate the Guru Granth Sahib as each Laav is sung by the bards.
- Any errors in interpretation of Gurbani are deeply regretted.