INSIDE THE GURU'S GATE - Anpere

The dead body is brought into the courtyard of the gurdwara but should under
no circumstances enter the inner sanctum where Guru Granth Sahib is installed as the
body carries pollution. The chief mourners place it on the outside, with the head of
the dead aligned toward the place of the scripture, and gather in a semicircle. The
granthi performs three subsequent acts for the dead: firstly he brings filtered Ganga
amrit from the well inside the gurdwara, opens the shroud and pours the water into
the mouth of the dead. Next he takes out a two-meters-long yellow or saffron colored
robe of honor (siropa) in cotton and covers the complete body with the cloth. On top
of the robe he may place garlands of marigold in circles. As the third and final moment
the granthi performs an Ardas at the feet of the corpse.
There are many explanations of the ritual acts in this brief ceremony in the
gurdwara. Since the ensuing cremation ceremony at Manikarnika Ghat is carried out
within the ritual domain of Hindu funeral priests, even if the Sikh granthi is present
and plays a significant role, the visit at the gurdwara is the Sikh way of preparing the
deceased soul for the last fire sacrifice. Some think the halt offers the soul, which is
still present after death, a chance to pay a final visit at the Guru’s house to take darshan
and make the last act of contrition. A Sikh woman explained, “The body is
placed in the hall outside the gurdwara to let it [the soul] say it is sorry for its sins.”
Giving a robe of honor is an illustrative example of how Sikhs often translate themes
from Guru Granth into actual practice. In one hymn Nanak tells how the Sikhs are
embellished with robes of honor in the divine court. 623 Metaphors in the sacred text
are virtually materialized and become action in the ritual performance. For those that
do not continue to the cremation ground the stop at the gurdwara has become the last
opportunity to pay reverence to the departed before cremation. Relatives and friends
will touch the feet of the corpse, bow at the bier, and enter the gurdwara to offer
monetary gifts in the name of the deceased.
From the gurdwara the mourning procession will continue directly to Manikarnika
Ghat for cremation. Incense is usually lit and placed at the feet of the bier,
while the participants cry out “Satnam Vahiguru” all the way through the narrow
lanes leading down to river Ganga. Unless the women follow the procession all the
way to the cremation ground, they may gather in the gurdwara to perform recitations
of JapJi Sahib, and later return home to clean the house.
THE FIRE SACRIFICE
The two gurdwaras offer the service to book and make the arrangements of funeral
pyres for Punjabi and Sindhi families at Manikarnika Ghat. The gurdwara manager
will send a sevadar to open up the Khatri Chabutra, the platform for cremations of
Sikhs, Sindhis and Hindus of the Khatri caste, and arrange the wood. The Sikh gurdwara
committee has established agreement with the sellers of wood and resin 624 at the
ghat to spare families the usual bargaining and acquire fair settlements, even when
623
GGS: 62.
624
The resin is of the sal tree (Shorea robusta).
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Published on www.anpere.net in May 2008