INSIDE THE GURU'S GATE - Anpere

(Akhand path), which is to be performed within the structure of most life-cycle ceremonies.
Female interlocutors explained that 51 recitations of Sukhmani Sahib will
produce the same effect and results as one unbroken reading of the Sikh scripture.
Consequently, if a poor family cannot afford the forty-eight-hours long reading the
women get together and perform Sukhmani Sahib for at least fifty-one times.
METHODS OF PERFORMING
In Varanasi I mainly observed three methods by which female groups recite Sukhmani
Sahib. The first style bears strong resemblance to an ordinary narration, according to
which one or two women simply read the full text without any break to a listening
audience. The second and more popular method is employed when a large number of
recitations are required, such as 51, 101 or more, for a specific cause. The women
calculate how many times they have to perform the compositions and then put a
corresponding number of almonds into a bowl in order to keep count of the completed
readings. Seated on the floor in rows with small gutkas, all participants recite
Sukhmani Sahib separately for as many times as possible within a set time limit and
according to individual pace. For each concluded reading the women take out one
almond from the bowl and again start to recite the text from the beginning. While
some women choose to perform this recitation more silently, others will pronounce
the words in a loud-voiced manner. Quite often these gatherings create a polyphonic
buzz of female voices.
A third method of reading Sukhmani Sahib is more univocal and melodious in
character. Forming a circle on the floor, the women take turns at leading the others
throughout the twenty-four ashtapadis. Using a melody based on three descending
notes the leader chants the first line of each couplet, after which the other women
respond by vocalizing the second line in unison. When the recitation reaches the last
couplet of an asthapadi they will sing the
STRUCTURE OF
SUKHMANI SAHIB PERFROMANCES
1. Reading of Sukhmani Sahib
2. Shabad kirtan
3. Singing of Anand Sahib
4. Reading of Ardas
5. Distribution of prashad
6. Distribution of langar
Figure 15.
two ending lines in chorus and the following
shalok, which preludes the subsequent
ashtapadi. The heading of “asthapadi” is
enounced in unison before the woman
next in turn immediately carries on leading
the others through the following forty
couplets. The ending couplet of Ashtapadi
24: 6 and the whole content of Asthapadi
24: 7 ‒ 8 are usually sung and accompanied
with musical instruments. The very
last couplet of Sukhmani Sahib may be repeated up to two or three times. 460 When the
last word of the poem is uttered, all the women take their gutkas to the foreheads in a
mark of respect.
460
Another and more arduous style of reciting Sukhmani Sahib is to interpolate the last couplet
twenty-four times after each ashtapadi.
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Published on www.anpere.net in May 2008