ARDAS

A part of the prayer called 'Ardas' was given to the Sikhs by Guru Gobind Singh. The first part invokes God and the blessings of first nine Gurus. The second part recounts the events in the life of the Tenth Guru, the subsequent Sikh history, the struggles faced and the sacrifices made, for the reform of temples and the maintenance of Sikh tradition. The third part pertains to the individual's own thoughts and any special purpose or the occasion for it. In the end, the Sikh prays for humble mind and sound intellect, the victory of the Khalsa Panth, "the Word" and betterment of the humanity. A Sikh believes in a personal God to whom he must go every now and then because he regards Him as friend and benefactor. He recites a prayer before he starts any work or business. Even if he has no time for a full Ardas, he shall make a short prayer.

Any man or woman can lead Sikh prayer; it is congregational in the nature of its contents. It recounts the sacrifices of Sikhs but makes no mention of the enemies of the Sikhs. The basic idea is to inspire the Sikhs to similar heroic deed in any future times of need. Prayer is a means of ridding the mind of its ills and desires and filling it with pure thoughts and noble aspirations. True prayer requires an effort of heart-searching, an effort to become more pure and noble. The mind must be emptied of all worldly thoughts so that peace may enter it.

The Sikh Ardas demands a complete surrender to Divine Will. Resignation to the Will of God will ultimately benefit the individual. Only then can God take up his problems and sort them out. The Lord will never fail him who throws himself on His Mercy. Moreover, this submission eliminates the ego, the wall that stands between man and his Creator. The reading of the Guru Granth Sahib is itself a kind of prayer. We seek the Guru's command. He gives us wise counsel, but it is for us to obey. Merely worshiping the scripture without carrying its teaching into daily life is the very negation of prayer. True prayer is the practical living up to of the word of the Guru and a continuing effort, for spiritual development.

ARDAS
Transliteration; Translation

Ek-Oankar. Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh
God is One. All victory is of the Wondrous Guru (God).

Sri Pagothi ji Sahai
May the respected sword (God in the form of the Destroyer of evil doers) help us!

Var Sri Pagothi Ji Ki Patshai Dasvi
Ode of the respected sword recited by the Tenth Guru.

Pritham Pagothi Simar Kai, Guru Nanak Layee Thiyaee
First remember the sword (God in the form of Destroyer of evil doers); then remember and meditate upon Guru Nanak.

Fir Angad Gur Te Amar Das, Ram Dasai Hoye Sahai
Then remember and meditate upon Guru Angad, Guru Amar Das and Guru Ram Das: May they help us!

Arjan Hargobind Nu Simro Sri Har Rai
Remember and meditate upon Guru Arjan, Guru Hargobind and Respected Guru Har Rai.

Sri HarKrishan Thiyaeea Jis Dithi Subh Dukh Jaye
Remember and meditate upon respected Guru Har Krishan, by having the sight of whom, all pains vanish.

Tegh Bahadur Simrareeai Kar No Nidh Avai Thai
Remember and meditate upon Guru Tegh Bahadur; and then nine sources of wealth will come hastening to your home.

Sabh Thai Hoyee Sahai
Oh Respected Gurus! kindly help us everywhere.

Dasmi Patshah Guru Gobind Singh Ji Sabh Thai Hoyee Sahai
May the kind, the respected Tenth Guru Gobind Singh assist us everywhere.

Dasa Patshaeea Di Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji De Paat Didar Da Thiyan Karki Bolo Ji Waheguru
Think and meditate upon the divine light of the Ten Kings contained in the respected Guru Granth Sahib and turn your thoughts to the divine teachings of and get pleasure by the sight of Guru Granth Sahib; Utter Wahe Guru (Wondrous God)!

Panja Piyarea Char Sahibzada Chali Mukhtee Huthia Jupia Tupiya Jina Ne Nam Jupiya Vand Ki Shakiya Degh ChalaHee Tegh Vahee Dekh Ki Andith Keeta Da Thiyan Tur Ki Bolo Ji Waheguru
Think of the deeds of the Five Beloved Ones, of the four sons (of Guru Gobind Singh); of the Forty Martyrs; of the brave Sikhs of indomitable determination; of the devotees steeped in the colour of the Name; of those who were absorbed in the Name; of those who remembered the Name and shared their food in companionship; of those who started free kitchens; of those who wielded their swords (for preserving truth); of those who overlooked others shortcomings; All the aforesaid were pure and truly devoted ones; Utter Wahe Guru (Wondrous God)!

Jina Singha Singhniya Ne Thurum Heth Sees Dithe Buynd Bund Kutai Khopriya Luhayiya Chrukriya Te Churiye Aria Naal Churie Ge, Gurdwaraiya Di Secva Layee Kurbaniya Keethiya Turum Nehi Hariye Sikhi Kesaa Swasaa Naal Nibahi Thina Di Kumai Da Thiyan Tur Ke Bolo Ji Waheguru
Think of and remember the unique service rendered by those brave Sikh men as well as women, who sacrificed their heads but did not surrender their Sikh Religion; Who got themselves cut to pieces from each of the joints of the body; Who got their scalps removed; Who were tied and rotated on the wheels and broken into pieces; Who were cut by saws; Who were flayed alive; Who sacrificed themselves to upkeep the dignity of the Gurdwaras; Who did not abandon their Sikh faith; Who kept their Sikh Religion and saved their long hair till their last breath; Utter Wahe Guru (Wondrous God)!

Punja Takhta Surbat Gurdwariya Da Thiyan Tur Ke Bolo Ji Waheguru
Turn your thoughts to the five seats of Sikh Religion and all the Gurdwaras; utter Wahe Guru (Wondrous God)!

Prithmi Surbat Khalsa Ji Ko Surbut Khalsa Ji Ko Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Chit Aavai Chit Avan Ka Sadka Surab Sukh Hovai
First the entire respected Khalsa make this supplication that may they meditate on Your Name; and may all pleasures and comforts come through such meditation.

Jahai Jahai Khalsa Ji Sahib Thuha Thuha Rushciya Riyat Degh Tegh Fateh Birud Ki Paij Panth Ki Jeet Sri Sahib Ji Sahai, Bolo Ji Waheguru
Wherever respected Khalsa is present, give Your protection and grace; May the free kitchen and sword never fail; Maintain the honour of your devotees; Confer victory upon the Sikh people; May the respected sword always come to our assistance; May the Khalsa always get honours; Utter Wahe Guru (Wondrous God)!

Sikha Nu Sikhi Daan Kesh Daan Rehit Daan Bibek Daan Purosa Daan Naam Daan Sri Amritsar Sahib De Ishanan
Kindly confer upon the Sikhs the gift of Sikhism, the gift of long hair, the gift of observing Sikh laws, the gift of divine knowledge, the gift of firm faith, the gift of belief and the biggest gift of Name and of having bath in the respected Tank of Nectar.

Chokiyan Chunde Bunge Jugo Jug Utul Turum Ka Jai Kar Bolo Ji Waheguru
O God! May the choirs, the mansion and the banners exist forever; may the truth ever triumph; utter Wahe Guru (Wondrous God)!

Sikha Da Mun Neeva Mun Uchee Muth Puth Da Rakha Akal Purukh Waheguru
May the minds of all the Sikhs remain humble and their wisdom exalted; O God! Your are the protector of wisdom.

Hei Alak Purukh Apne Panth Di Sada Sahia Datar Jio Sri Nanakana Sahib te Hor Gurdwariya Jina Panth Tor Vichoriya Giya Hai Khule Darshan Didar Te Seva Sanbal Da Dan Khalsa Ji Nu Baksho
O Immortal God, the constant Helper of His Sikhs, kindly confer the gift of visiting, maintaining, controlling and worshipping, without any restrictions, the Gurdwara of Nanakana Sahib Ji, othe Gurdwaras, and Gurus Mansions of which the Khalsa has been deprived.

Hei Nimani De Maan Niotia Di Ot Niasriya Da Asra Suchi Pita Waheguu Aap Di Hazoor……………
O True Father, Wahe Guru! you are the honour of the meek, the Power of the helpless ones, the shelter of the shelterless, we humbly make prayer in your presence…..( substitute the occasion or prayer made here).

Akhur Vadha Kata Pul Chuk Maaf Karni
Kindly pardon our errors and shortcomings in reciting the above Gurbani.

Surbut Di Karaj Raas Karni Say Piyare Mel Jina Miliya Tera Naam Chit Avai Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Pani Surbut Da Pula
Kindly fulfill the objects of all. Kindly cause us to meet those true devotees by meeting whom, we may remember and meditate upon Your Name. O God! through the True Guru Nanak, may Your Name be exalted, and may all prosper according to Your will.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh
The Khalsa belongs to God; all victory is the victory of God.