Ans. Just before dawn the following prayers are to be recited:
Japu Ji,
Jaap Sahib,
Sawaiyye (beginning with ‘Saravag -and ending with Sri Bhagwan ko bhed na sudh samooh sidhan payo”).
Chaupai Sahib
Anand Sahib
- In the evening Rehraas Sahib should be recited and
- At night, before going to bed, Kirtan Sohila, which consists of five hymns, is to be recited.
The significance of these prayers is given below:
Japu Ji: This prayer is the premier segment of our scripture. Consider it the central theme of Guru Granth Sahib. “Japu” is essential to forsake ones ego. Kavi Santokh Singh, in his “Garab Ganjan Teeka” has emphasized the significance of Japu Ji by saying that its basic message is the oneness of human beings and the Supreme Being.A person who calls himself/herself a Sikh of the Guru but has not memorized Japu Ji is useless like chaff that is without grain in it and has wasted his/her gift of life.
Jaap Sahib: This prayer is necessary for developing the concentration of mind and to perceive the majestic vision of Almighty. With concentration on the rhythm of its stanzas (chhants) one can subside the conflicts of the straying mind.
Sudha Sawaiyye: By showing the transitory nature of the world this prayer prepares one to forsake the illusion of worldly power.
Rahraas Sahib (Sodar): This prayer instigates us to refrain from accumulation of worldly riches only. It tells us that we should also accumulate spiritual (divine) wealth. After spending all day in egoistical pursuits, it is necessary to focus in the evening on God’s portal and sing “You are”, “You are” O God for a short time. In just one single hymn, ‘Sodar’ of this prayer God has been addressed as ‘You’ or ‘Yours’ about thirty seven times. Reaching ‘sodar’ or that portal, enjoy the vision of “So Purakh” (God) and request Him to keep helping you in every facet of life. Divine bliss could be attained by abandoning all other doors and holding tightly to only one (His) door or “sodar”. The prescription for everlasting peace and happiness (Mundhavani) is to have in the platter of ones mind truth, contentment and contemplation, and through these three let the God’s elixir Name be generated. Never forsake humility, always keep saying, “I am full of vices and without any virtue”. The word “Rahraas” is also said to be a Punjabi version of the Persian word “Raahe raast” which means the path of truth. Thus we may always walk on the correct and true path.
Sohila: This prayer has been bestowed upon us so that we may overcome the fear of death, become broad-minded and perceive His greatness, see His light in every being. This will help us find our place in this vast and limitless universe and thus remove the thorn of egoism and achieve our seat in God’s abode.
Sohila is supposed to be recited at bedtime at night and also at the time of death when the funeral pyre is lit. Death is a long sleep and nightly sleep is a short death. For a good sleep it is necessary that one is not very tired. Also one is neither very sad nor very happy and one does not have any worry regarding excessive lending or borrowing. Those who live a day of normal peace and contentment, sleep well. Similarly, those who have lived a life of peace and contentment, go happily in the lap of death.