Anand Sahib is the final bani that Sikhs typically recite in the morning, during the hours of Amrit Vela (4 a.m. – 7 a.m.)
Anand Sahib, or “Song of Bliss,” was written by Guru Amar Das, the third Sikh Guru. Recitation of this bani can bring blessings of bliss, happiness, prosperity and good fortune, because the Guru is limitless.
This bani corresponds to the fire element or tattva. The 40 Paurees (verses) of Anand Sahib guide the development of the mind and the soul for life. In this bani, mind and body are explained in relation to cosmic Divinity.
Guru Amar Das gave Sikhs this Song of Bliss to qualify the mind and understand depth.
The creation of Anand Sahib has a special story:
One day an aged yogi appeared in the court of Guru Amar Das. With great reverence, the yogi stated that he had found no lasting happiness on his path, and requested as a special boon that he might be born into the Guru’s family, where he hoped to find happiness at last. The Guru gracefully acquiesced to this request. The yogi then departed to meditate by a river and passed away soon after. Less than a year later, the wife of the second son of Guru Amar Das gave birth to a son. Upon hearing the news, Guru Amar Das sent for the infant, who was the reincarnated yogi. Guru Amar Das took the infant on his lap, named him “Anand” (Bliss), and sang to him Anand Sahib, which Guru Amar Das composed on the spot.
Sikhs have been singing Anand Sahib ever since. The first five paurees (verses) of Anand Sahib are sung near the end of each Sikh Gurdwara service.
A beautiful suggested practice for couples is to recite Anand Sahib aloud together, alternating the lines (sutras).
Access Anand Sahib in Gurmukhi and Transliteration and English from SikhNet
Listen to Anand Sahib on YouTube
~Resources: Sikh Spiritual Practice: The Sound Way to God (2010) by Siri Kirpal Kaur, Victory & Virtue: Ceremonies & Code of Conduct of Sikh Dharma (2001) by the Office of the Bhai Sahiba of Sikh Dharma of the Western Hemisphere, Living Reality (1994) by Bibiji Inderjit Kaur Khalsa, “Tools to Elevate our Consciousness” (Sikh Dharma International) and “Daily Banis Given by Guru Gobind Singh” (Sikh Dharma International).
Note: For those who would like to begin a personal practice of Sikh banis and prayers, our marketplace has a Gurmukhi-Roman Nitnem available that contains Anand Sahib and other Sikh banis for daily recitation, as well as the Peace Lagoon with English translation of Sikh prayers and banis.
