Ardas
Introduction to Sikh Ardas
Ardas is a Sikh prayer before God. The word Ardas is derived from the Persian word ‘Arazdashat’, meaning a request, a supplication, a prayer, a petition or an address to a superior authority. A person who performs an Ardas is called the Ardasia.How to Select the Correct Sikh ArdasA short Ardas can be done when opening the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Guru Granth Sahib), The Sikh Holy Scripture, or a Kirtan program. A long Ardas is done at the end of a Kirtan program and the Guru Granth Sahib is closed with a short Ardas. So a typical Sikh program will have the following sequence of Ardas:
- Short Ardas to open programme and Guru Granth Sahib (Prakaash)
- Long Ardas to close programme
- Short Ardas to close Guru Granth Sahib (Sukhaasan)
Precursor to a Short or Long Ardas—Psalm 4 of Sukhmani Sahib
too thaakur tum peh ardas
You are our Lord and Master; to You, I offer this prayer.
jee-o pind sabh tayree raas.
This body and soul are all Your property.
tum maat pitaa ham baarik tayray.
You are our mother and father; we are Your children.
tumree kirpaa meh sookh ghanayray.
In Your Grace, there are so many joys!
ko-ay na jaanai tumraa ant.
No one knows Your limits.
oochay tay oochaa bhagvant.
O Highest of the High, Most Generous God,
sagal samagree tumrai sutir dhaaree.
the whole creation is strung on Your thread.
tum tay ho-ay so aagi-aakaaree.
That which has come from You is under Your Command.
tumree gat mit tum hee jaanee.
You alone know Your state and extent.
naanak daas sadaa kurbaanee. ||8||4||
Nanak, Your slave, is forever a sacrifice. ||8||4||
Sukhmani Sahib
Sukhmani Sahib is usually translated to mean Prayer of Peace and joy of mind[1] is a set of 192 padas (stanzas of 10 hymns) present in the holy Guru Granth Sahib, the main scripture and living Guru of Sikhism from Ang 262 to Ang 296 (about 35 count). This Gurbani text (writing of the Gurus) was written by the 5th Guru, Guru Arjan (1563–1606) at Amritsar in around 1602.
The composition deals with such topics such as Simran (general meditation that leads to merging with God) and Nam Japna (meditation of Naam), the greatness of Saints and Sadh Sangat (holy congregation), true devotion, doing good deeds, the nature of the mind, the badness of slandering, concepts relating to Bhramvidya, Adviata, Sargun and Nirgun, materialism and death, Hukam, and other similar topics. Below are a few translated lines from the first ashtpadi of the Sukhmani Sahib:
Salok:
I bow to the Primal Guru.
I bow to the Guru of the ages.
I bow to the True Guru.
I bow to the Great, Divine Guru. ||1||
Ashtapadee:
Meditate, meditate, meditate in remembrance of Him, and find peace.
Worry and anguish shall be dispelled from your body.
Remember in praise the One who pervades the whole Universe.
His Name is chanted by countless people, in so many ways.
The Vedas, the Puraanas and the Simritees, the purest of
utterances,
were created from the One Word of the Name of the Lord.
That one, in whose soul the One Lord dwells
– the praises of his glory cannot be recounted.
Those who yearn only for the blessing of Your Darshan
– Nanak: save me along with them!
style=”display:none;”>
