Sikh Funeral poems, prayers, hymns & quotes
Upon confirmation of death, Sikhs will recite prayers; Japji Sahib, the first verse of the holy book, Sukhmani Sahib, the psalm of peace, written by the 5th Guru, Guru Arjan Dev Ji and an Ardas, a community prayer read at the beginning of ceremonies.
Within the first 3 days of death, Sikhs will begin the Sehaj Path; a slow reading of the Guru Granth Sahib which takes upto 10 days to complete. The readings begin with 57 saloks, a final verse or a verse found at the beginning of the scriptures, written by the 10th Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur. If there are means to, then daily elaborations on Sehaskriti Salok, saloks written in Sanskrit by the 1st and 5th Gurus, and Jaitsri Ki Vaar, ballads by the 5th Guru, are completed by a scholar in the morning and evening for 10 days.
As the body is being washed, a Granthi will recite Chaupai Sahib, a prayer offering security and protection, or will repeatedly recite “Waheguru”, the name given to God translating as a spiritual teacher.
On the morning of the Sikh funeral at the Gurdwara or the home, loved ones may circulate around the body once for a final viewing where the Granthi will recite an Ardas. The coffin is then taken to the crematorium hall where the Granthi will sing a Kirtan Sohaila; a song of praise or time for sleep, and perform an Ardas; permitting the cremation.
Following cremation, attendees will return to the Gurdwara or the home of the family where the final readings of Guru Granth Sahib are carried out after the Granthi reads Alahniya, a prayer of departure, emphasising remembrance of the creator. This is followed by another Ardas and the singing of hymns.
Sikhs will continue to carry out the Sehaj Path until the Bhog, final day of readings. This is where hynms are sung and the Granthi will recite the Antim Ardas, the final rite of passage. The family may choose to do an Akhand Path, a 72 hour non-stop reading of the Guru Granth Sahib, instead of the Sehaj Path.
Gurbani Death Quotes
The below quotes might help to show a message of death condolence
jo AwieAw so clsI sBu koeI AweI vwrIAY ] (SGGS:474)
‘Whosoever has come shall depart; all shall have their turn.’
mrxu ilKwie mMfl mih Awey ]ikau rhIAY clxw prQwey ] (SGGS1022)
‘With their death already preordained, mortals come into this world.
How can they remain here? They have to go to the world beyond.’
ijqu idhwVY Dn vrI swhy ley ilKwie ] ( Sheikh Farid..SGGS;1377)
The day of the bride’s ( mortal’s) wedding (death) is pre-ordained.
Sikh funeral hymns
Traditional Sikh hymns are called Shabad. Below are a few examples to help you understand a bit more.
jl kI BIiq pvn kw QMBw rkq buMd kw gwrw ]
jal kee bheet pavan kaa tha(n)bhaa rakat bu(n)dh kaa gaaraa ||
The body is a wall of water, supported by the pillars of air; the egg and sperm are the mortar.
hwf mws nwVˆØI ko ipMjru pMKI bsY ibcwrw ]1]
haadd maas naaRa(n)ee ko pi(n)jar pa(n)khee basai bichaaraa ||1||
The framework is made up of bones, flesh and veins; the poor soul-bird dwells within it. ||1||
pRwnI ikAw myrw ikAw qyrw ]
praanee kiaa meraa kiaa teraa ||
O mortal, what is mine, and what is yours?
jYsy qrvr pMiK bsyrw ]1] rhwau ]
jaise taravar pa(n)kh baseraa ||1|| rahaau ||
The soul is like a bird perched upon a tree. ||1|
rwKhu kMD auswrhu nIvW ]
raakhahu ka(n)dh usaarahu neevaa(n) ||
You lay the foundation and build the walls.
swFy qIin hwQ qyrI sIvW ]2]
saadde teen haath teree seevaa(n) ||2||
But in the end, three and a half cubits will be your measured space. ||2||
bMky bwl pwg isir fyrI ]
ba(n)ke baal paag sir dderee ||
You make your hair beautiful, and wear a stylish turban on your head.
iehu qnu hoiego Bsm kI FyrI ]3]
eih tan hoigo bhasam kee dderee ||3||
But in the end, this body shall be reduced to a pile of ashes. ||3||
aUcy mMdr suMdr nwrI ]
uooche ma(n)dhar su(n)dhar naaree ||
Your palaces are lofty, and your brides are beautiful.
rwm nwm ibnu bwjI hwrI ]4]
raam naam bin baajee haaree ||4||
But without the Lord’s Name, you shall lose the game entirely. ||4||
myrI jwiq kmInI pWiq kmInI ECw jnmu hmwrw ]
meree jaat kameenee paa(n)t kameenee ochhaa janam hamaaraa ||
My social status is low, my ancestry is low, and my life is wretched.
qum srnwgiq rwjw rwm cMd kih rivdws cmwrw ]5]6]
tum saranaagat raajaa raam cha(n)dh keh ravidhaas chamaaraa ||5||6||
I have come to Your Sanctuary, O Luminous Lord, my King; so says Ravi Daas, the shoemaker. ||5||6||
nrU mrY nru kwim n AwvY ]
naroo marai nar kaam na aavai ||
When a man dies, he is of no use to anyone.
psU mrY ds kwj svwrY ]1]
pasoo marai dhas kaaj savaarai ||1||
But when an animal dies, it is used in ten ways. ||1||
Apny krm kI giq mY ikAw jwnau ]
apane karam kee gat mai kiaa jaanau ||
What do I know, about the state of my karma?
mY ikAw jwnau bwbw ry ]1] rhwau ]
mai kiaa jaanau baabaa re ||1|| rahaau ||
What do I know, O Baba? ||1||Pause||
hwf jly jYsy lkrI kw qUlw ]
haadd jale jaise lakaree kaa toolaa ||
His bones burn, like a bundle of logs;
kys jly jYsy Gws kw pUlw ]2]
kes jale jaise ghaas kaa poolaa ||2||
his hair burns like a bale of hay. ||2||
khu kbIr qb hI nru jwgY ]
kahu kabeer tab hee nar jaagai ||
Says Kabeer, the man wakes up,
jm kw fMfu mUMf mih lwgY ]3]2]
jam kaa dda(n)dd moo(n)dd meh laagai ||3||2||
only when the Messenger of Death hits him over the head with his club. ||3||2||
kbIr hwf jry ijau lwkrI kys jry ijau Gwsu ]
kabeer haadd jare jiau laakaree kes jare jiau ghaas ||
Kabeer, the bones burn like wood, and the hair burns like straw.
iehu jgu jrqw dyiK kY BieE kbIru audwsu ]36]
eih jag jarataa dhekh kai bhio kabeer udhaas ||36||
Seeing the world burning like this, Kabeer has become sad. ||36||
Sikh Prayers
Both Sehaskriti Salok and Jaitsri Ki Vaar are read during the Sehaj Path, the ten days of reading where the meanings are discussed by the Granthi, if possible. If neither is possible, they are both read on the day of the Bhog.
Japji Sahib
http://www.sikhs.nl/downloads/Nederlands/Jappu%20Ji%20Sahib_complete.pdf
Sukhmani Sahib
https://www.sikhreligion.net/banis/Sukhmani_Sahib_Hindi.pdf
Ardas
There is one God. All Victory belongs to God. May the dynamic power of God help us.
The poetic verse of Sri Bhagauti, composed by the Tenth King.
Having first involved the dynamic power of God, call on Guru Nanak.
Then on Angad Guru, Amar Das and Ram Das, may they ever protect us.
Then call on Arjan, and Hargobind, holy Har Rai.
Remember Holy Har Krishan, whose sight dispels all sorrows.
Then remember Teg Bahadur by whose remembrance the nine treasures come hurrying to ones home.
Be ever with us O Masters.
May the tenth king, Guru Gobind Singh be ever on our side.
Let us now turn our thoughts to the teachings of Guru Granth Sahib,
the visible embodiment of the ten Gurus and utter, O Khalsa Ji, Waheguru! (glory be to God).
The five Beloved Ones, the four Sahibzaade (sons of the tenth Master), the forty emancipated ones,
the martyrs, the true disciples, the contemplators of God,
and those who remained steadfast on the path of Dharma,
remember their glorious deeds and utter O Khalsa Ji, Waheguru!
Those who dwelled on God’s Name, shared their honest earnings with others,
wielded sword in battlefield, distributed food in companionship,
offered their heads at the altar of Dharma, were cut up limb by limb, skinned alive, boiled or sawn alive,
but did not utter a sigh nor faltered in their faith, kept the sanctity of their hair until their last breath,
sacrificed their lives for the sanctity of Gurdwaras; remember their glorious deeds and utter O Khalsa Ji, Waheguru!.
Turn your thoughts to the five seats of Sikh authorities
and all the Gurdwaras and utter O Khalsa, Waheguru!
Chaupai Sahib
God is One, All victory is the victory of God. A hymn by the tenth Guru. To be read like a poem.
Please guard us with Your Hands. All my heart’s desires are fulfilled. My mind is focused on Your Feet. Sustain us as Your Own. (1)
Destroy all my enemies1. With Your Hands protect me. In Bliss remains my household2, servants, sikh, O Creator! (2)
Give me your personal protection. Restrain all my adversaries, Today. You’ve Fulfilled my Wishes. My Thirst for Your Worship grows. (3)
Leaving You, may I never worship another. All my needs, I get from You. You save my Sikhs & Devotees. One-by-One you demolish my foes. (4)
With your Hand guard me. destroy my fear of death. Always side with me. With your Sword protect me. (5)
Save me, Dear Saviour. Beloved, Helper of Saints.O Merciful, Destroyer of tyrants. You are Lord of fourteen worlds. (6)
Time came, Brahma was born, then Shiva was incarnated and then Visnu, Arose. It’s all Tricks of the Temporal Lord. (7)
Temporal Lord created Yogi Shiva; Brahma, the Utterer of Vedas. Temporal Lord, fashioned the entire Universe. I salute Him alone. (8)
Creator of Time made the Universe; the angels, demons and yakshas. Start & End only with Him. He alone is My Guru. (9)
I bow only to Him. Creator of all entities & subjects. Gives all merits & tranquillity to His devotees. Destroys enemies at once. (10)
Intimate Knower of all our feelings. Recognises the anguish of all creatures, good or bad. From ant to elephant, He protects and cares for all.(11)
When His saints suffer, He is pained, and feels happiness when they are happy. Each one’s pain he recognises. Everyone’s, every feeling He Knows. (12)
When the Creator, projected Himself, His creations appeared in physical forms. Whenever, Creation is dissolved, all physical forms merge back into Him. (13)
created numerous forms and bodies. They utter Him as they can think, what He is. You remain detached from them all. This distinction the wise ones and the religious books know. (14)
Formless, Stainless and Self-reliant. Primal, Blemish-less, Endless and birth-less. Only a Fool can discuss your bound. Your Limits even the Vedas do not know. (15)
The fools consider Him a stone, for He does not know the Profound Mystery that is God. He calls Shiva, The Eternal Lord, and does not know the secret of the Formless Lord. (16)
Every one according to his understanding, describes You differently. The limits of Your creation cannot be known, nor how in the beginning You created the Universes. (17)
You are One, manifest in varied forms, as a poor man, rich manor, a king. You create beings that are egg born, the sweat born, earth born and the foetus born. (18)
https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Chaupai_sahib:_Translation_and_Transliteration
Alahniya
Also spelled as Alahunian) is a composition of poetic Shabads, written by Guru Nanak Dev Ji, found in Gurbani, the Sikh scriptures, specifically sung for the purpose of a funeral in Gurbani. Instead of crying and wailing at the death of a loved one, Sikhs should sit together and sing the praise of God.
Kirtan Sohaila – The Bani
A prayer that is recited before sleep and also following a death, Bani is a religious scripture and can be found in full by following the link.