Gems of Gurbani

Guru Granth Sahib

Rehras Sahib  1

Rehras Sahib is a daily evening prayer which is collection of hymns of Guru Nanak, Guru Amardas ji, Guru Ramdas ji, Guru Arjun Devji from Granth Sahib. Benti Chaupai attributed to Guru Gobind Singh ji is added to this evening prayer in late 19^th century. This prayer is recited in homes in the evening hours together by family and even in Gurudwaras all over the world. The daily prayers or nitnem banis are usually enshrined in small booklets known as Gutka that people can carry with them even while travelling so that there is no break in the daily routine of Nitnem. Gutka means a small bag that contains jewels or gems. This is a very appropriate name for these collections of hymns for daily prayer because the Word enshrined therein is nothing less than gems that guide person to have a right path to become enlightened.       

Before we contemplate on Rehras Sahib that starts with Sodar Rag  Asa of Guru Nanak Devji let us find out about Sodar. What is Sodar? Sodar pauri or hymn written by Guru Nanak Devji recorded at three different places in Guru Granth Sahib. It is read both in the morning and evening prayers. Sodar is gate to the house of Lord. Guru Nanak ji believed that after creating the Universe or His Creation Lord came to reside amongst us. Before creating the world His beautiful Creation the Lord was Nirgun that means without any attributes and then He expressed Himself and became Sargun with attributes. These attributes are expressed in His creation. Sodar is a gate to that House of Lord and what happens in that house is expressed in the beginning verse of Rehras Sahib. Whenever I visit Darbar Sahib in Amritsar particularly in the evening hours when Rehras is being recited the atmosphere of Sodar seems being created. Your body, mind and soul becomes absorbed with that feeling that you have come to that divine house and standing at its door enthralled with celestial music and your ears shut to the outside world.  Guru Nanak’s belief that Lord has made His abode in us and his Creation must have inspired Guru Ramdasji to create a place to symbolize that house of Lord where praises of Lord are sung in sehaj Kirtan all the time. The place from where Guru Ramdas ji supervised the creation of Water pool or sarover is now known as ath-sath thada that performs the duty of visiting 68 pilgrimages. Singing the praises of Lord and visit to 68 pilgrimages is obtained by contemplating on the word or shabad of Guru that says God is only One for all humanity.