If the deceased person is elderly, food from Guru’s kitchen, Langar, is served. After the final prayer, a random reading or Hukam is taken, and Karah Parshad is distributed to the congregation. Musicians sing appropriate hymns, Salokas of the ninth Guru Tegh Bahadur are read, and Ramkali Saad, the Call of God, is recited. Generally, all the relatives and friends of the family gather together for the Bhog ceremony on the completion of the reading of Guru Granth Sahib. Sikhs are always exhorted to submit to and have complete faith in the will of God, called Bhana Mun-na. The Gurus emphasized the remembrance of God’s Name as the best means of consolation for the bereaved family. During Ardas, the blessing of God for the departed soul is sought. The reading is meant to provide spiritual support and consolation to the bereaved family and friends. If the family can read, they must take part in the reading if they cannot, they must sit and listen to it. This is called a Sahaj Path, and is usually completed within ten days. The second part is called Antim Ardas, the final prayer during the Bhog ceremony, which includes a complete reading of Guru Granth Sahib either at home or in a Gurdwara. Sikhs do not erect monuments over the remains of the dead. Some families, living outside India, prefer to take the ashes to Punjab. The ashes are collected after the cremation and later disposed of by immersion in the nearest river or sea. At the end of the cremation the member of the funeral party return to their homes. Where cremation is not possible, disposal of the dead body by placing it in the sea or river is permitted. The eldest son or a close relative generally does the cremation. On arrival at the crematorium, a brief speech about the deceased is generally given the Sohila, bedtime prayer is recited and the Ardas, formal prayer is offered. A prayer is said before the start of the funeral to seek salvation for the departed soul. In Punjab, body will be burnt on the funeral pyre, but in Western countries crematorium is used. If the death occurs in a hospital, the body is taken home for viewing before the funeral. For cremation, the body is first washed and dressed with clean clothes complete with the Five K’s (in case of baptized Sikhs). When a death occurs, they exclaim ‘Waheguru’, the Wonderful Lord. The death ceremony may be split into two parts Saskar, the cremation and the Antim Ardas, the final prayer at the end of the Bhog ceremony.Īt a Sikh’s death-bed, relatives and friends read Sukhmani Sahib, the Psalm of Peace, composed by the fifth Guru Arjan Dev Ji, to console themselves and the dying person.
SUKHMANI SAHIB PATH INVITATION TEMPLATES FULL
Mourning is therefore discouraged, especially in the case of those who have lived a long and full life. To a Sikh, birth and death are closely associated, because they are both part of the cycle of human life, Ava Guvan, which is seen as transient stage towards Nirvana, complete unity with God.