MARRIAGE

Lavan

LAVAN, composed by Guru Ram Das, is the hymn in four stanzas which is recited and sung to solemnize nuptials in Sikhism. The Sikh marriage ceremony is known as Anand Karaj, ‘Blissful Occasion’; it can take place anywhere, home or gurudwara, so long as the Guru Granth is present. This is the religious as well as the legal part of the marriage, and was officially recognized as such in India by the Sikh Marriage Act of 1909. The ceremony is now universally observed by the Sikhs.

The marriage ceremony commences with the opening of the Guru Granth and with the reading of Lavan. Lavan, literally ‘circling’, describes marriage as a rite of passage into higher and higher circles of existence. In Sikhism marriage is both literal and metaphorical. On the literal level it is a union of two people; on the metaphorical level it is a union of the microcosmic self with the Macrocosmic Reality. After husband and wife become one, they begin their passage together to a union with the Ultimate.

The journey begins with active work in the world and adoration of the Name. The second verse describes a higher state wherein the Ultimate Reality is recognized within all that is seen and heard. The Divine is encountered everywhere and the mystical melody is heard within the depths of the self. In the third circle, that feeling surges higher and the self becomes fully absorbed in the divine love. As the fourth round commences, the divine sweetness begins to pervade the entire self and unites the individual with the Infinite Self.

As each verse is recited and sung, the couple reverently circumambulate the Guru Granth clockwise. The relatives accompany them to show their support. During the fourth round, the bride and groom are showered with petals by the entire congregation as a sign of rejoicing. The ceremony concludes with the customary singing of passages from Anand (see pp. 133–5) and the recitation of Ardas (see pp. 137–41), with the entire congregation standing up this time. Finally hukam, the divine command, is received from the Guru Granth by opening it at random, and karahprashad, the sweet sacrament, is served to the entire congregation. (Guru Granth, pp. 773–4.)

1 Creator, as we revolve in the first divine circle,
we resolve to return to the world of action.

As we resolve to act rightfully, and make Your Word
our god and scripture, our misdeeds are dispelled.

Scriptures steadfastly urge us to act righteously
and contemplate Your Name.

By remembering the True Guru,
all our misdeeds and offences are dispelled.

Bliss is ours at once, we are blessed with great fortune,
and the Divine tastes so very sweet.

Nanak the slave says, in the first circle
the wedding ceremony is begun.

2 In the second circle,
we meet the True Guru, the Primal Being.

By the fear of the Fearless One,
our self gets rid of the filthy ego.

In pure awe of the Divine, we sing praise day and night,
and we see the Divine present everywhere.

Infinite in all directions,
intimate in everyone,

Within and without, there is only the One.

Joining the faithful, we sing songs of joy.

Nanak the slave says, in the second circle
the soundless Word begins to play.

3 In the third circle,
the bliss of detachment fills the mind.

By joining the faithful, we join the Transcendent One.
We are blessed.

We attain the Immaculate One, we worship the One
with praise, and we recite the Word.

By joining the faithful, we join the Blessed One.
We tell the untellable story.

Our heart begins to beat with the divine melody.
We recite the Name with fortune glowing bright on our foreheads.

Nanak the slave says, in the third circle
the Divine One rises in our detached mind.

4 In the fourth circle,
we find equanimity, we unite with the Divine One.

Through the Guru, we naturally become one with the One, body and mind exult in delicious joy.

But we taste the sweetness only if we please That One,
by meditating day and night.

My Guide, all my desires are fulfilled;
through the divine Name, felicitations ring.

The Sovereign’s blessing completes the wedding rite;
and the bride is in bliss with the Name in her heart.

Nanak the slave says, in the fourth circle
the imperishable Groom is wed.