NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Anand Karaj

Anand Karaj (Punjabi: ਅਨੰਦ ਕਾਰਜ, anand kāraj) is the name of the Sikh Marriage ceremony, meaning "Blissful Union" or "Joyful Union," which was introduced by Guru Amar Das. The four Lavan (marriage hymns which take place during the marriage ceremony) were composed by his successor, Guru Ram Das. It was originally legalised in India through the passage of the Anand Marriage Act 1909 but is now governed by the Sikh Reht Maryada (Sikh code of conduct and conventions) which was issued by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC). It dictates that only those who follow the Sikh religion may marry under the ceremony, therefore, Sikhs cannot marry persons professing to other religions under it. It also states that child marriage is invalid and that no account should be taken of the prospective spouse's caste. However, in practice, many Sikhs take preference in people from their caste. Image File history File linksMetadata Sikh_Bride_1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Sikh_Bride_1. ... Punjabi (also Panjabi; in GurmukhÄ«, PanjÄbÄ« in ShÄhmukhÄ«) is the language of the Punjabi people and the Punjab regions of India and Pakistan. ... Sri Guru Amar Das Ji (Punjabi: ) (5 April 1479 â€“ 1 September 1574) was the third of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism and became Guru on 26 March 1552 following in the footsteps of Guru Angad Dev, who died 29 March 1552. ... Sri Guru Ram Das Ji (Punjabi: à¨¸à©à¨°à©€ à¨—à©à¨°à©‚ à¨°à¨¾à¨® à¨¦à¨¾à¨¸ à¨œà©€) (24 September 1534 â€“ 1 September 1581) was the fourth of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism and became Guru on 30 August 1574 following in the footsteps of Guru Amar Das. ... The Rehat Maryada is the Sikh Code of Conduct as released by the SGPC. In 1915 and later in 1931, attempts were made to create a modern standard Rehat (Rahit or code). ... The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (Punjabi: , ) is a Sikh religious organisation responsible for the upkeep of gurdwaras. ... The Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee is a sikh religious organization responsible for the upkeep of Gurudwaras. ...

The Anand Karaj usually takes place at a Gurdwara, although not necessarily so; the marriage may also be conducted at the bride's residence or any other place where the Guru Granth Sahib has been installed. If the marriage takes place somewhere other than a Gurdwara, the place must be suitable and the Guru Granth Sahib must be installed following the proper procedure. Any Amritdhari (man or woman who is a strict adherent of Sikhism) may perform the marriage ceremony.

Preparations prior to marriage

Due to the social importance accorded to parents in the Punjab, Sikh marriages will usually, although not necessarily, be arranged by the parents of the couple. In some cases, marriages are arranged without the couple actually meeting; the arrangement takes place on the faith of the parents' choices. However, this practice is largely exclusive to the villages of the Punjab and it is now customary that the individuals actually meet and give their consent to the marriage. The marriage may also be arranged by intermediaries such as relatives or friends. It is sometimes considered acceptable, especially in the West, for the couple to choose their own partners, however, the consent of the parents is still deemed to be necessary.

The Wedding

The prior engagement

Formal engagements are not deemed necessary, however, if the parties so wish, the engagement will take place at the groom's residence. The relations of the bride will go to the groom's residence, taking with them a Kirpan (Sikh sword which is part of the five Ks) and some currency, both of which will be handed to the groom in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh holy book). The parents of the groom will present the bride with a dress and a gold ornament. In the West, it is now customary to present the bride with a wedding ring. It is argued by some that it is more in step with Sikhism if the ceremony takes place at a Gurdwara (Sikh temple). Either way, the effect will a binding engagement of the couple. The Kirpan is the ceremonial dagger carried by Sikhs, as a reminder to fight for justice and against oppression. ... The Five Ks, or kakaars, are five items that baptised Orthodox Sikhs wear at all times either out of respect for the tenth teacher, Guru Gobind Singh, or out of a sense of religious devotion. ... Illuminated Guru Granth folio with nisan (Mool Mantar) of Guru Gobind Singh. ... Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Southall, UK. A Gurdwara (Punjabi: , or , ), meaning the doorway to God, is the Sikh place of worship and may be referred to as a Sikh temple. ...

The Wedding day

The wedding usually begins in the morning with the two sides meeting in a ceremony called "Milni". The word "Milni" literally means meeting, and typically involves exchange of gifts (usually blankets) by the the father and maternal uncle of the bride and the groom. During the Milni, the family and friends of the bride and groom will assemble in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib. An "Ardas" (prayer) called Asa di Var is read. When the Milni is complete, the parties retire for tea and other refreshments.

The marriage ceremony will then begin with the congregation gathering in front of the Guru Granth Sahib. The male takes his seat in front of the Holy Book and shortly afterwards, the bride will take her place on his left. The person presiding over the proceedings will first ascertain that both parties are Sikhs and that they both unequivocally agree to the marriage. S/he will then ask the bride, groom and their parents/ guardians to stand whilst the rest of the congregation remain seated and will then initiate an Ardas seeking the blessings of Waheguru (the great giver of knowledge) and begging Waheguru's grace on the couple. It entails the following passages: Waheguru (Punjabi: , or , ) means The Wonderful Lord in the Punjabi language. ...

This prayer publicly indicates the consent of the couple and their parents to the marriage. When this prayer has been said, the parties return to their seats as another short hymn is read. The officiant will then give a speech mainly directed at the couple explaining how the Sikh Gurus held marriage in high regard and how they taught that marriage is the highest and most ideal purpose to fuse two souls into a single spiritually inseparable one. High importance is also placed to the equality of the couple as this allows them to achieve the basic aims of life together and atain a deeper spiritual bond.

During the Anand Karaj, the four lavan (hymns composed by Guru Ram Das (the fourth Guru) in the Suhi Raag section of the Guru Granth Sahib) are sung. They condition the love between husband and wife as the love between the human soul and the Almighty. Under these, the bridegroom and the bride vow to be faithful to each other in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib and the congregation. They accept the obligations of marriage by bowing before the Guru Granth Sahib. Sri Guru Ram Das Ji (Punjabi: à¨¸à©à¨°à©€ à¨—à©à¨°à©‚ à¨°à¨¾à¨® à¨¦à¨¾à¨¸ à¨œà©€) (24 September 1534 â€“ 1 September 1581) was the fourth of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism and became Guru on 30 August 1574 following in the footsteps of Guru Amar Das. ... Illuminated Guru Granth folio with nisan (Mool Mantar) of Guru Gobind Singh. ... Illuminated Guru Granth folio with nisan (Mool Mantar) of Guru Gobind Singh. ...

During the main ceremony, the end of the cloth which is worn by the bridegroom is placed into the hands of the bride by her father/ guardian. The four lavan are read by the person who is performing the marriage ceremony. After the first lavan has been read, the bridegroom will lead the bride round the Guru Granth Sahib whilst ragis (religious musicians) sing the same hymns. They will both sit down after having taken one trip around the Guru Granth Sahib. This step will be repeated until all four lavans have been read. Illuminated Guru Granth folio with nisan (Mool Mantar) of Guru Gobind Singh. ... Illuminated Guru Granth folio with nisan (Mool Mantar) of Guru Gobind Singh. ...

When the four lavans are complete, the hymn of Anand Sahib is read by the ragis. There is also an ardas, which marks the completion of the ceremony. A Holy "Vaak," which is a random reading of the of a hymn in the Guru Granth Sahib is read out whilst Krah Parsad (Holy food) is distributed to the whole congregation. Anand Sahib: This Bani is part of the Nitnem or prayer which are read by Amritdhari Sikhs in the morning. ... Illuminated Guru Granth folio with nisan (Mool Mantar) of Guru Gobind Singh. ...

Married life

Sikhs practice monogamy in marriage. Both the husband and wife are seen as being equal. Any Sikh widow or widower is allowed to marry another person. In monogamy (Greek: monos = single/only and gamos = marriage) a person has only one spouse or romantic partner at a time (as opposed to polygamy). ...

Attending a Sikh Wedding

If you are invited to a Sikh wedding, don't panic, below is a brief guide to what to expect and what to wear:

1. Departure of Barat: Barat is the term used to describe the party from the Grooms side. The Barat will leave from the Groom's house to the Gurdwara, usually near the Bride's house, where the wedding will take place. The arrangements for the rest of the day are normally made entirely by the Bride's family. However, some of this is now changing. Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Southall, UK. A Gurdwara (Punjabi: , or , ), meaning the doorway to God, is the Sikh place of worship and may be referred to as a Sikh temple. ...

2. Reception of Barat: The Groom's party is "received" by the Bride's party at the Gurdwara.

3. Milnea: (means "Introductions") The Ardas will be performed by the priest (Giani) followed by the formal introductions of the main male players in the families. Arda (Bulgarian: ÐÑ€Ð´Ð°, Greek: Î‘ÏÎ´Î±Ï‚ Ardas) is a river whose source lies in the Bulgarian Rhodope Mountains near the town of Smolyan, flowing 290 kilometres eastward past Kardzhali and Ivaylovgrad and through Greece in the northern portion of the Evros prefecture including Kastanies. ...

4. Tea: Tea with savouries and sweets will be served and are normally taken standing at tables. Chairs are seldom provided.

5. Main Wedding Ceremony (Anand Karaj) This is the formal part of the ceremony and always takes place in a Gurdwara Please observe the rules applicable which are described at Visiting a Gurdwara. Also described here is the clothing to be worn. Please note that as you will be required to sit on the carpeted floor, suitable clothing should be worn. Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Southall, UK. A Gurdwara (Punjabi: , or , ), meaning the doorway to God, is the Sikh place of worship and may be referred to as a Sikh temple. ... Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Southall, UK. A Gurdwara (Punjabi: , or , ), meaning the doorway to God, is the Sikh place of worship and may be referred to as a Sikh temple. ...

a. Kirtan - The singing of the Holy Hymns - Gurbani. Kirtan originated in the Hindu tradition as loving songs sung to God. ...

b. Ardas - Key People (Bride, groom, both parents of bride and groom) will stand straight with folded hands and join in this prayer. Arda (Bulgarian: ÐÑ€Ð´Ð°, Greek: Î‘ÏÎ´Î±Ï‚ Ardas) is a river whose source lies in the Bulgarian Rhodope Mountains near the town of Smolyan, flowing 290 kilometres eastward past Kardzhali and Ivaylovgrad and through Greece in the northern portion of the Evros prefecture including Kastanies. ...

c. Laava - The Bride and Groom will walk in tow around the SGGS four times at the set intervals. This article is in need of attention. ... Guru Granth Sahib (Granth is Punjabi for book, Sahib is Hindi meaning master, from Arabic, meaning companion, friend, owner, or master) or Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji or SGGS for short, is more than a holy book of the Sikhs. ...

d. Ardas - All the congregation will stand and join in the ardas followed by Hukamnama Arda (Bulgarian: ÐÑ€Ð´Ð°, Greek: Î‘ÏÎ´Î±Ï‚ Ardas) is a river whose source lies in the Bulgarian Rhodope Mountains near the town of Smolyan, flowing 290 kilometres eastward past Kardzhali and Ivaylovgrad and through Greece in the northern portion of the Evros prefecture including Kastanies. ... A Hukamnama refers to a hymn from the Guru Granth Sahib which is given as an order to Sikhs. ...

e. Sagaan - The parents of Bride and Groom followed by key people and the congregation will bless the newly wedded and give gifts or money and have photos taken.

f. Kara Parshad - "Blessed "Sweet pudding" is served. Kara Parshad is a sweet flour based oily vegetarian food which is offered to all visitors to the Darbar Sahib in a Gurdwara. ...

6. Lunch: Previously this used to be Langar at the Gurdwara but now it is lunch at a commercial venue. When held in a commercial venue, it is like a normal "dinner & dance" type of event. Loud "Bhangra" music is played and alcohol and meat may be served! Langar service at the Gurdwara at Forum 2004 in Spain Langar (Punjabi: ) is the term used in the Sikh religion for the service of Free Kitchen in a Gurdwara and eaten by everyone sitting as equals. ... Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Southall, UK. A Gurdwara (Punjabi: , or , ), meaning the doorway to God, is the Sikh place of worship and may be referred to as a Sikh temple. ... Bhangra (Punjabi: , Ø¨Ú¾Ù†Ú¯Ú‘Ø§, ) is both a lively dance which is from the region of Punjab, now divided between North India and Pakistan, and the musical accompaniment to the dance. ...

7. Departure of Doli: The bride departs from her parent's house (a very sad and touching occasion). In some cases, she changes into new clothes that are presented to her by the groom's family before departing.

8. Reception: (Optional) This may be held on the same day or another day and is an evening "dinner and dance" type occasion, sometimes not too formal (please check with the party) where only invited guests from both familes can attend.

See also

Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Southall, UK. A Gurdwara (Punjabi: , or , ), meaning the doorway to God, is the Sikh place of worship and may be referred to as a Sikh temple. ... This article is in need of attention. ...

Links

References

Categories: Glossary of Sikh Terms | Prayer | Sikhism Image File history File links Sikh emblem. ... This list is of topics related to Sikhs and Sikhism. ... The Harimandir Sahib, known popularly as the Golden Temple, is a sacred shrine for Sikhs. ... Image File history File links Sikh emblem. ... Sikhism was established by ten Gurus, teachers or masters, over the period 1469 to 1708. ... Guru Nanak Dev Guru Nanak Dev (Punjabi: ) (15 April 1469 â€“ 22 September 1539), was the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Gurus of the Sikhs. ... Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji (Punjabi: à¨¸à©à¨°à©€ à¨—à©à¨°à©‚ à¨…à©°à¨—à¨¦ à¨¦à©‡à¨µ à¨œà©€) (31 March 1504 â€“ 29 March 1552) was the second of The Ten Gurus of Sikhism. ... Sri Guru Amar Das Ji (Punjabi: ) (5 April 1479 â€“ 1 September 1574) was the third of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism and became Guru on 26 March 1552 following in the footsteps of Guru Angad Dev, who died 29 March 1552. ... Sri Guru Ram Das Ji (Punjabi: à¨¸à©à¨°à©€ à¨—à©à¨°à©‚ à¨°à¨¾à¨® à¨¦à¨¾à¨¸ à¨œà©€) (24 September 1534 â€“ 1 September 1581) was the fourth of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism and became Guru on 30 August 1574 following in the footsteps of Guru Amar Das. ... Guru Arjan Dev Ji (15 April 1563 - 30 May 1606) was the fifth of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism and became Guru on 1 September 1581 following in the footsteps of Guru Ram Das ji. ... Mid-nineteenth century miniature of Guru Hargobind. ... Guru Har Rai ji. ... Sri Guru Har Krishan Ji (Punjabi: ) (7 July 1656 - 30 March 1664) was the eighth of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism and became Guru on 7 October 1661 following in the footsteps of his father, Guru Har Rai. ... Guru Teg Bahadur (Punjabi: ) (April 1, 1621 - November 11, 1675) was the ninth of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism, and he became Guru on March 20, 1665 following in the footsteps of his grand-nephew, Guru Har Krishan . ... An artists impression of Guru Gobind Singh Guru Gobind Singh (Punjabi: )(Born in Patna, Bihar, India, on December 22, 1666 as Gobind Rai â€“ October 7, 1708, Nanded, Maharashtra, India) was the tenth and last of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism and became Guru on November 11, 1675 following in... Illuminated Guru Granth folio with nisan (Mool Mantar) of Guru Gobind Singh. ... Sikh Bhagats refers to the Saints and holy men of various faiths whose teachings are included in the Sikh holy book the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. ... The Sikh religious philosophy is covered in great detail in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy text. ... // Ek Onkar There is only one God who has infinite qualities and names. ... The Sikhs must believe in the following values: Equality: All humans are equal before God â€“ No discrimination is allowed on the basis of caste, race, sex, creed, origin, color, education, status, wealth, etc. ... Eating Meat at Langar: Serving meat at langar is strictly prohibited. ... Naam: Or Naam Japo. ... The Golden Temple is the most important sacred shrine for Sikhs Sikhism comes from the word Sikh, which means a strong and able disciple. ... The ArdÄs (Punjabi: ) are the Sikh daily prayers. ... The Amrit Sanskar Ceremony Amrit Sanskar or Amrit Sanchar or the Amrit ceremony is the Sikh ceremony of initiation or baptism. ... Chardi Kala is an important expression used in Sikhism for a mind frame that a Sikh has to accept and practise. ... Dasvand means to donate 10% percent of ones harvest to the Gurdwara. ... The Five Ks, or kakaars, are five items that baptised Orthodox Sikhs wear at all times either out of respect for the tenth teacher, Guru Gobind Singh, or out of a sense of religious devotion. ... Kirat KarÅ is one of three primary pillars of Sikhism. ... A bhajan or kirtan is a Hindu or Sikh devotional song, often of ancient origin. ... Langar service at the Gurdwara at Forum 2004 in Spain Langar (Punjabi: ) is the term used in the Sikh religion for the service of Free Kitchen in a Gurdwara and eaten by everyone sitting as equals. ... NÄm JapÅ (Punjabi: ), refers to the meditation, vocal singing of Hymns from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib or of the various Names of God, specially the chanting of the word Waheguru, which means Wonderful Lord. ... The term Simran refers to the vocal repetition or recital of the God Names - Naam or of the Holy Text from the Two Granths of the Sikhs - the Sri Guru Granth Sahib and the Dasam Granth. ... The Three Pillars of Sikhism Guru Nanak formalised the three important pillars of Sikhism: 1. ... In Sikhism Vaá¹‡á¸ ChakkÅ (Punjabi: ) is a technique and method which means share it as you consume it. ... Illuminated Guru Granth folio with nisan (Mool Mantar) of Guru Gobind Singh. ... Guru Granth Sahib (Granth is Punjabi for book, Sahib is Hindi meaning master, from Arabic, meaning companion, friend, owner, or master) or Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji or SGGS for short, is more than a holy book of the Sikhs. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Sarbloh Granth (Punjabi: ) is a poem that recites the story of gods and demons, and is thought to be the work of Guru Gobind Singh. ... Bani is the term used by Sikhs to refer to various sections of the Holy Text that appears in their several Holy Books. ... Chaupai is the short name for the Sikh prayer or Gurbani whose full name is Kabiobach Bainti Chaupai. ... Jaap Sahib is the morning prayer of the Sikhs. ... Japji Sahib consists of the Mool Mantra, a set of 38 hymns and a final Salok which appear at the very beginning of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Holy Book of the Sikhs. ... Illuminated Adi Granth folio with nisan (Mool Mantar) of Guru Gobind Singh. ... Evening prayer of the Sikhs. ... Sukhmani Sahib is the name given to the set of hymns divided into 24 sections which appear in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh Holy Scriptures on page 262. ... This is a short hymn of 10 stanzas. ... The Khanda, one of the most important symbols of Sikhism. ... Stylised Ek Onkar Simple Ek Onkar Ek Onkar (also , , Ik ÅŒaá¹…kÄr, Ek Omkar, Ik Omkar and other variants) means one God and is a central tenet of Sikh religious philosophy. ... Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Southall, UK. A Gurdwara (Punjabi: , or , ), meaning the doorway to God, is the Sikh place of worship and may be referred to as a Sikh temple. ... Harmandir Sahib or Darbar Sahib(also Hari Mandir, Harimandar and other variants; Punjabi: à¨¹à¨°à¨¿à¨®à©°à¨¦à¨° à¨¸à¨¾à¨¹à¨¿à¨¬) is the most sacred shrine in Sikhism, located in Amritsar, Punjab, India. ... Khalsa which means Pure is the name given by Guru Gobind Singh to all Sikhs who have been baptised or initiated by taking Amrit in ceremony called Amrit Sanchar. ... The Khanda The Khanda is one of the most important symbols of Sikhism. ... A Sikh man almost always bears the surname of Singh, which means lion, and a Sikh woman can be identified with a second name of Kaur, which means princess (Kaur being an exclusively Sikh name). ... Satguru or Sadguru means true guru (Sanskrit à¤¸à¤¦à¤—à¥à¤°à¥‚ sat=true), literally: true teacher. ... Waheguru (Punjabi: , or , ) means The Wonderful Lord in the Punjabi language. ... Sheikh Farid (Farid-ul-Din Masaud Shakar Ganj) c. ... Kabir (कबीर) (1440 - Indian Mystic who preached an ideal of seeing all of humanity as one. ... The first known use of the word Punjab is in the book Tarikh-e-Sher Shah (1580), which mentions the construction of a fort by Sher Khan of Punjab. The name is mentioned again in Ain-e-Akbari (part 1), written by Abul Fazal, who also mentions that the territory... Sardar, in some senses also Sirdar (Persian: Ø³Ø±Ø¯Ø§Ø± ) (, IPA ) is a Persian word meaning commander. ... The word Takhat literally means seat of power or throne of authority and refers to one of the five bodies of authority for the Sikhs. ...

Contents

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