Sukhmani Sahib (), known under the title of Gauri Sukhmani in the scripture (named after the Gauri raga musical measure it belongs to), is usually translated to mean ''Prayer of Peace'' is a set of 192 '' padas'' (stanzas of 10 hymns) present in the holy ''

Guru Granth Sahib The Guru Granth Sahib (, ) is the central holy religious scripture of Sikhism, regarded by Sikhs as the final, sovereign and eternal Guru following the lineage of the ten human gurus of the religion. The Adi Granth (), its first rendition, w ...

'', the main scripture and living Guru of

Sikhism Sikhism is an Indian religion and Indian philosophy, philosophy that originated in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent around the end of the 15th century CE. It is one of the most recently founded major religious groups, major religio ...

from ''Ang'' 262 to ''Ang'' 296 (about 35 count). This Gurbani text (writing of the

Gurus Guru ( ; IAST: ''guru'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan- Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: traditionally, the guru is a reverential figure to the disciple (or '' ...

) was written by the 5th Guru,

Guru Arjan Guru Arjan (Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰੂ ਅਰਜਨ, pronunciation: ; 15 April 1563 – 30 May 1606) was the fifth of the ten total Sikh Gurus. He compiled the first official edition of the Sikh scripture called the Adi Granth, which later expande ...

(1563–1606) at

Amritsar Amritsar, also known as Ambarsar, is the second-List of cities in Punjab, India by population, largest city in the India, Indian state of Punjab, India, Punjab, after Ludhiana. Located in the Majha region, it is a major cultural, transportatio ...

in around 1602. Guru Arjan first recited the bani at Gurdwara Barth Sahib in the Gurdaspur district of

Punjab, India Punjab () is a States and union territories of India, state in northwestern India. Forming part of the larger Punjab, Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, the state is bordered by the States and union territories of India, Indian states ...

Content

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 In Christian belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness, likeness, or closeness to God. However, the use of the term ''saint'' depends on the context and denomination. In Anglican, Oriental Orth ...

and '' Sadh Sangat'' (holy congregation), true devotion, doing good deeds, the nature of the mind, the badness of slandering, concepts relating to '' Brahmvidya'', '' Advaita'', '' Sargun and Nirgun'', materialism and death, ''

Hukam Hukam () is a Punjabi word derived from the Arabic ''ḥukm'', meaning 'command' or 'divine order'. In Sikhism, Hukam represents the goal of becoming in harmony with the will of God and thus attaining inner peace. It also designates the practic ...

'', and other similar topics.

Recitation

Sukhmani Sahib is frequently recited by Sikhs is one of the popular '' Banis'' (compositions of the Guru). It can be done individually or as a group usually in either a place of worship (''

Gurdwara A gurdwara or gurudwara () is a place of assembly and place of worship, worship in Sikhism, but its normal meaning is "place of guru" or "home of guru". Sikhism, Sikhs also refer to gurdwaras as ''Gurdwara Sahib''. People from all faiths and rel ...

'') or at home. Reciting the entire Sukhmani Sahib takes about 60 to 90 minutes, and is sometimes undertaken by everyone in a smaller congregation with turn by turn reading. Reciting the ''Gurbani'' of Sukhmani Sahib is believed to bring peace to one's mind and aid help remembering God constantly.

Form

Sukhmani Sahib belongs to the '' Raag Gauri'' with ''Gauri'' meaning pure. The term ''Sukhmani'' comprises two words: ''Sukh'' (peace) and ''Mani'' (the treasure or jewel of the mind). It typically is found in ''Gutka'' form (small prayer book).

Structure

Sukhmani Sahib is divided into 24 ''Ashtpadi'' (Section). The ''Ashtpada'' is the

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...

word for a verse that has eight (''Asht'') metrical feet ('' pādi''). Before the Ashtpadi begins there is a Salok of two lines and then each ''Ashtpadi'' contains eight ''padas'' of 10 hymns per ''pada''.

History

Sukhmani Sahib was composed by

around 1602 before he compiled the Adi Granth. The Guru compiled it at Ramsar ''Sarovar'' (Sacred pool), Amritsar which at the time was in thick woods. It is believed Sri Chand came to

to meet Guru Arjan and he engaged in the creation of Sukhmani. The Guru had written 16 canto and requested Sri Chand to finish the composition. Sri Chand out of humility only recited the Salok from the

Mul Mantar The Mūl Mantar (, ) is the opening verse of the Sikh scripture, the ''Guru Granth Sahib''. It consists of twelve words in the Punjabi language, written in Gurmukhi script, and are the most widely known among the Sikhs. They summarize the essen ...

Guru Nanak Gurū Nānak (15 April 1469 – 22 September 1539; Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ; pronunciation: , ), also known as ('Father Nanak'), was an Indian spiritual teacher, mystic and poet, who is regarded as the founder of Sikhism and is t ...

, his father. Therefore this Salok was put by the Guru in the start of the 17 canto. Prominent Sikh saint Baba Nand Singh would tell Sikhs to recite Sukhmani Sahib twice daily.

References

External links

Sukhmani Sahib
{{Sikhism Sikh scripture Hymns