Anand Karaj
The families and friends of both the bride and groom gather in the Gurdwara, or a wedding hall, for the 'Anand Karaj' a Sikh marriage ceremony. Wedding parties and guests assemble together in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib. Hymns are sung as men and boys sit on one side of a central isle, and the woman and girls on the other. Every one sits on the floor reverently with legs crossed and folded.
The bride and groom bow before the Guru Granth Sahib, and then sit side by side at the front of the hall. The couple and their parents stand up to signify that they have given their consent for the wedding to take place. Every one else remains seated while a Sikh offers Ardas, a prayer for the success of the marriage.
The musicians, who are called ragis, sit on a lower stage and sing the hymn, "Keeta Loree-ai Kaam", to seek God's blessing and to convey a message that a successful marital union is achieved through grace.
Union of Two Souls
The husband is to love and respect his wife, encourage her with kind consideration, recognize her individuality, regard her as his equal, offering guidance and support.
The wife is to show her love and respect with loyalty, support her husband's objectives willingly, harmonize with him, and share in happiness and sorrow, prosperity or adversity.
The couple are to ally themselves with each other in an endeavor to achieve a harmonious union, intellectually, emotionally, physically, materially and spiritually.
The Bride and groom, affirm the acceptance of their marital obligations, and bow together before the Guru Granth. The bride sits to the left of the groom directly in front of the Guru Granth.
The bride's father (or one acting in his stead) takes the left end of the palla and arranges it over the bride's shoulder and gives her the left end to hold.
Four Laavan
The word by word hymns in Gurmukhi, Hindi, Roman and their meaning in English are given below for easy understanding of the Anand Karaj:
ਸੂਹੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੪ ॥सूही महला ४ ॥Sūhī mėhlā 4.Soohee, Fourth Mehl:
First Lavan
ਹਰਿ ਪਹਿਲੜੀ ਲਾਵ ਪਰਵਿਰਤੀ ਕਰਮ ਦ੍ਰਿੜਾਇਆ ਬਲਿ ਰਾਮ ਜੀਉ ॥हरि पहिलड़ी लाव परविरती करम द्रिड़ाइआ बलि राम जीउ ॥Har pahilaṛī lāv parvirṯī karam driṛ▫ā▫i▫ā bal rām jī▫o.In the first round of the marriage ceremony, the Lord sets out His Instructions for performing the daily duties of married life.
ਬਾਣੀ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਵੇਦੁ ਧਰਮੁ ਦ੍ਰਿੜਹੁ ਪਾਪ ਤਜਾਇਆ ਬਲਿ ਰਾਮ ਜੀਉ ॥बाणी ब्रहमा वेदु धरमु द्रिड़हु पाप तजाइआ बलि राम जीउ ॥Baṇī barahmā veḏ ḏẖaram ḏariṛĥu pāp ṯajā▫i▫ā bal rām jī▫o.Instead of the hymns of the Vedas to Brahma, embrace the righteous conduct of Dharma, and renounce sinful actions.
ਧਰਮੁ ਦ੍ਰਿੜਹੁ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਵਹੁ ਸਿਮ੍ਰਿਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਦ੍ਰਿੜਾਇਆ ॥धरमु द्रिड़हु हरि नामु धिआवहु सिम्रिति नामु द्रिड़ाइआ ॥Ḏẖaram ḏariṛĥu har nām ḏẖi▫āvahu simriṯ nām driṛ▫ā▫i▫ā.Meditate on the Lord's Name; embrace and enshrine the contemplative remembrance of the Naam.
ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਗੁਰੁ ਪੂਰਾ ਆਰਾਧਹੁ ਸਭਿ ਕਿਲਵਿਖ ਪਾਪ ਗਵਾਇਆ ॥सतिगुरु गुरु पूरा आराधहु सभि किलविख पाप गवाइआ ॥Saṯgur gur pūrā ārāḏẖahu sabẖ kilvikẖ pāp gavā▫i▫ā.Worship and adore the Guru, the Perfect True Guru, and all your sins shall be dispelled.
ਸਹਜ ਅਨੰਦੁ ਹੋਆ ਵਡਭਾਗੀ ਮਨਿ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਮੀਠਾ ਲਾਇਆ ॥सहज अनंदु होआ वडभागी मनि हरि हरि मीठा लाइआ ॥Sahj anand ho▫ā vadbẖāgī man har har mīṯẖā lā▫i▫ā.By great good fortune, celestial bliss is attained, and the Lord, Har, Har, seems sweet to the mind.
ਜਨੁ ਕਹੈ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਲਾਵ ਪਹਿਲੀ ਆਰੰਭੁ ਕਾਜੁ ਰਚਾਇਆ ॥੧॥जनु कहै नानकु लाव पहिली आर्मभु काजु रचाइआ ॥१॥Jan kahai Nānak lāv pahilī ārambẖ kāj racẖā▫i▫ā. ||1||Servant Nanak proclaims that, in this, the first round of the marriage ceremony, the marriage ceremony has begun. ||1||
Second Laavan
ਹਰਿ ਦੂਜੜੀ ਲਾਵ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਮਿਲਾਇਆ ਬਲਿ ਰਾਮ ਜੀਉ ॥हरि दूजड़ी लाव सतिगुरु पुरखु मिलाइआ बलि राम जीउ ॥Har ḏūjṛī lāv saṯgur purakẖ milā▫i▫ā bal rām jī▫o.In the second round of the marriage ceremony, the Lord leads you to meet the True Guru, the Primal Being.
ਨਿਰਭਉ ਭੈ ਮਨੁ ਹੋਇ ਹਉਮੈ ਮੈਲੁ ਗਵਾਇਆ ਬਲਿ ਰਾਮ ਜੀਉ ॥निरभउ भै मनु होइ हउमै मैलु गवाइआ बलि राम जीउ ॥Nirbẖa▫o bẖai man ho▫e ha▫umai mail gavā▫i▫ā bal rām jī▫o.With the Fear of God, the Fearless Lord in the mind, the filth of egotism is eradicated.
ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਭਉ ਪਾਇਆ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਇਆ ਹਰਿ ਵੇਖੈ ਰਾਮੁ ਹਦੂਰੇ ॥निरमलु भउ पाइआ हरि गुण गाइआ हरि वेखै रामु हदूरे ॥Nirmal bẖa▫o pā▫i▫ā har guṇ gā▫i▫ā har vekẖai rām haḏūre.In the Fear of God, the Immaculate Lord, sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord, and behold the Lord's Presence before you.
ਹਰਿ ਆਤਮ ਰਾਮੁ ਪਸਾਰਿਆ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਸਰਬ ਰਹਿਆ ਭਰਪੂਰੇ ॥हरि आतम रामु पसारिआ सुआमी सरब रहिआ भरपूरे ॥Har āṯam rām pasāri▫ā su▫āmī sarab rahi▫ā bẖarpūre.The Lord, the Supreme Soul, is the Lord and Master of the Universe; He is pervading and permeating everywhere, fully filling all spaces.
ਅੰਤਰਿ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਏਕੋ ਮਿਲਿ ਹਰਿ ਜਨ ਮੰਗਲ ਗਾਏ ॥अंतरि बाहरि हरि प्रभु एको मिलि हरि जन मंगल गाए ॥Anṯar bāhar har parabẖ eko mil har jan mangal gā▫e.Deep within, and outside as well, there is only the One Lord God. Meeting together, the humble servants of the Lord sing the songs of joy.
ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੂਜੀ ਲਾਵ ਚਲਾਈ ਅਨਹਦ ਸਬਦ ਵਜਾਏ ॥੨॥जन नानक दूजी लाव चलाई अनहद सबद वजाए ॥२॥Jan Nānak ḏūjī lāv cẖalā▫ī anhaḏ sabaḏ vajā▫e. ||2||Servant Nanak proclaims that, in this, the second round of the marriage ceremony, the unstruck sound current of the Shabad resounds. ||2||
I
Third Laavan
ਹਰਿ ਤੀਜੜੀ ਲਾਵ ਮਨਿ ਚਾਉ ਭਇਆ ਬੈਰਾਗੀਆ ਬਲਿ ਰਾਮ ਜੀਉ ॥हरि तीजड़ी लाव मनि चाउ भइआ बैरागीआ बलि राम जीउ ॥Har ṯījṛī lāv man cẖā▫o bẖa▫i▫ā bairāgī▫ā bal rām jī▫o.In the third round of the marriage ceremony, the mind is filled with Divine Love.
ਸੰਤ ਜਨਾ ਹਰਿ ਮੇਲੁ ਹਰਿ ਪਾਇਆ ਵਡਭਾਗੀਆ ਬਲਿ ਰਾਮ ਜੀਉ ॥संत जना हरि मेलु हरि पाइआ वडभागीआ बलि राम जीउ ॥Sanṯ janā har mel har pā▫i▫ā vadbẖāgī▫ā bal rām jī▫o.Meeting with the humble Saints of the Lord, I have found the Lord, by great good fortune.
ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਹਰਿ ਪਾਇਆ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਇਆ ਮੁਖਿ ਬੋਲੀ ਹਰਿ ਬਾਣੀ ॥निरमलु हरि पाइआ हरि गुण गाइआ मुखि बोली हरि बाणी ॥Nirmal har pā▫i▫ā har guṇ gā▫i▫ā mukẖ bolī har baṇī.I have found the Immaculate Lord, and I sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord. I speak the Word of the Lord's Bani.
ਸੰਤ ਜਨਾ ਵਡਭਾਗੀ ਪਾਇਆ ਹਰਿ ਕਥੀਐ ਅਕਥ ਕਹਾਣੀ ॥संत जना वडभागी पाइआ हरि कथीऐ अकथ कहाणी ॥Sanṯ janā vadbẖāgī pā▫i▫ā har kathī▫ai akath kahāṇī.By great good fortune, I have found the humble Saints, and I speak the Unspoken Speech of the Lord.
ਹਿਰਦੈ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਧੁਨਿ ਉਪਜੀ ਹਰਿ ਜਪੀਐ ਮਸਤਕਿ ਭਾਗੁ ਜੀਉ ॥हिरदै हरि हरि हरि धुनि उपजी हरि जपीऐ मसतकि भागु जीउ ॥Hirḏai har har har ḏẖun upjī har japī▫ai masṯak bẖāg jī▫o.The Name of the Lord, Har, Har, Har, vibrates and resounds within my heart; meditating on the Lord, I have realized the destiny inscribed upon my forehead.
ਜਨੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਬੋਲੇ ਤੀਜੀ ਲਾਵੈ ਹਰਿ ਉਪਜੈ ਮਨਿ ਬੈਰਾਗੁ ਜੀਉ ॥੩॥जनु नानकु बोले तीजी लावै हरि उपजै मनि बैरागु जीउ ॥३॥Jan Nānak bole ṯījī lāvai har upjai man bairāg jī▫o. ||3||Servant Nanak proclaims that, in this, the third round of the marriage ceremony, the mind is filled with Divine Love for the Lord. ||3||
Fourth Laavan
ਹਰਿ ਚਉਥੜੀ ਲਾਵ ਮਨਿ ਸਹਜੁ ਭਇਆ ਹਰਿ ਪਾਇਆ ਬਲਿ ਰਾਮ ਜੀਉ ॥हरि चउथड़ी लाव मनि सहजु भइआ हरि पाइआ बलि राम जीउ ॥Har cẖa▫uthaṛī lāv man sahj bẖa▫i▫ā har pā▫i▫ā bal rām jī▫o.In the fourth round of the marriage ceremony, my mind has become peaceful; I have found the Lord.
ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਸੁਭਾਇ ਹਰਿ ਮਨਿ ਤਨਿ ਮੀਠਾ ਲਾਇਆ ਬਲਿ ਰਾਮ ਜੀਉ ॥गुरमुखि मिलिआ सुभाइ हरि मनि तनि मीठा लाइआ बलि राम जीउ ॥Gurmukẖ mili▫ā subẖā▫e har man ṯan mīṯẖā lā▫i▫ā bal rām jī▫o.As Gurmukh, I have met Him, with intuitive ease; the Lord seems so sweet to my mind and body.
ਹਰਿ ਮੀਠਾ ਲਾਇਆ ਮੇਰੇ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਭਾਇਆ ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਈ ॥हरि मीठा लाइआ मेरे प्रभ भाइआ अनदिनु हरि लिव लाई ॥Har mīṯẖā lā▫i▫ā mere parabẖ bẖā▫i▫ā an▫ḏin har liv lā▫ī.The Lord seems so sweet; I am pleasing to my God. Night and day, I lovingly focus my consciousness on the Lord.
ਮਨ ਚਿੰਦਿਆ ਫਲੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮਿ ਵਜੀ ਵਾਧਾਈ ॥मन चिंदिआ फलु पाइआ सुआमी हरि नामि वजी वाधाई ॥Man cẖinḏi▫ā fal pā▫i▫ā su▫āmī har nām vajī vāḏẖā▫ī.I have obtained my Lord and Master, the fruit of my mind's desires. The Lord's Name resounds and resonates.
ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਭਿ ਠਾਕੁਰਿ ਕਾਜੁ ਰਚਾਇਆ ਧਨ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਨਾਮਿ ਵਿਗਾਸੀ ॥हरि प्रभि ठाकुरि काजु रचाइआ धन हिरदै नामि विगासी ॥Har parabẖ ṯẖākur kāj racẖā▫i▫ā ḏẖan hirḏai nām vigāsī.The Lord God, my Lord and Master, blends with His bride, and her heart blossoms forth in the Naam.
ਜਨੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਬੋਲੇ ਚਉਥੀ ਲਾਵੈ ਹਰਿ ਪਾਇਆ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਅਵਿਨਾਸੀ ॥੪॥੨॥जनु नानकु बोले चउथी लावै हरि पाइआ प्रभु अविनासी ॥४॥२॥Jan Nānak bole cẖa▫uthī lāvai har pā▫i▫ā parabẖ avināsī. ||4||2||Servant Nanak proclaims that, in this, the fourth round of the marriage ceremony, we have found the Eternal Lord God. ||4||2||
The entire congregation sings "Anand Sahib", the "Song of Bliss". The hymn emphasizes the fusing of two souls into one as they merge with the divine.
Conclusion
The ragis sing two hymns to complete the ceremony:
"Veeahu Hoa Mere Babula" - celebrates the marriage of the couple and their union with God.
"Pooree Asa Jee Mansaa Mere Raam" - describes the happiness at having found the perfect partner.
Every one stands for the final prayer. After it has been said, everyone bows, and resumes sitting.
A Sikh reads a random verse called a hukam which concludes the ceremony. Lastly, a ragi serves everyone a handful of prashad, a sacred sweet blessed during the prayer.
The married couple and their families, express thanks to all present for taking part in the celebration. The wedding party guests congratulate the married couple. Everyone gathers in the langar hall to eat. Parents distribute boxed confections such as ladoo to guests.
In India, the Anand Marriage Act was promulgated during British times in 1909 by great efforts of Maharaja Ripudaman Singh of Nabha State who got it drafted by Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha, but was not adopted at the time of framing of the Constitution of Independent India. Now Anand Marriage Amendment Act 2012 has been adopted by the Government of India and Sikhs can now register their marriages.
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