INSIDE THE GURU'S GATE - Anpere

easons and motives. In the textual opening they will impart private requests and set
up “contracts” with god, that is, they promise to go on pilgrimages, donate money,
recite hymns, or do some other reciprocal act, if God will assist them. In these instances
the textual opening of Ardas provides an opportunity to present human needs
in a particular life situation and formulate requests for divine support. When the
granthi carries out the supplication on behalf of an individual, a family, or the congregation,
he may convey personal data of the clients and express their feelings. The
technique of inserting personal information was exemplified by a performance which
a local granthi did for me when I was leaving Varanasi in 1999. Initially he presented
my first name and native country and explained that I had been staying with the Sikh
community for my studies. He continued to state the situational reason for presenting
the Ardas – I was returning home – and then pleaded for protection of me and my
family, success in my work, and finally requested that I would get an opportunity to
return to India in the nearest future. In a similar fashion, the officiator may identify
the requesting client and pronounce requests or feelings in highly personal terms.
When the appended recitations and speeches are completed, the officiator immediately
goes back to read the last lines of the prefixed Ardas text, in which he firstly
asks forgiveness for all errors and shortcomings while reciting gurbani and finally
utters the very last and popular line wishing humanity well: Nanak Nam chardi kala
tere bhane sarbat ka bhalla ‒ “May Your Name be exalted, and may all prosper according
to Your will”. At this juncture all participants will go down on their knees for
matha tekna or touch the ground with their hands in acts of reverence.
The conclusion of Ardas performance in the gurdwara is marked by the singing
of an anthem glorifying Khalsa. This postlude is either called Dohra after its metrical
form of rhyming couplets, or is simply recognized by the famous line Raj karega
Khalsa – “The Khalsa shall rule”. Considering that this text encapsulates ideas about
Khalsa sovereignty and acknowledges Guru Granth Sahib as the Guru, the anthem is
believed to be authentic gurbani ascribed to Guru Gobind Singh. In total the sacred
song comprises four different couplets, of which the first three find references in
historical Sikh sources:
Verily by the order of God the immortal was the panth promulgated. It
is incumbent upon all the Sikhs to regard the Granth as their Guru.
Regard the Granth as the Guru, the manifest body of the Gurus. Those
who desire to be united with God may find Him in the Sabda, the holy
word.
333
Published on www.anpere.net in May 2008