Kirtans & Banis
The recited and sung compositions of Sikh practice — the daily Nitnem, the great hymns of the Guru Granth Sahib, the compositions of the Dasam Granth, and the ceremonial prayers. Each is mapped to its exact lines, with a plain summary, a deeper meaning, and a story to unlock it.
Nitnem — the daily prayers
Japji Sahib
ਜਪੁ ਜੀ ਸਾਹਿਬGuru Nanak Dev Ji
The opening composition of the Guru Granth Sahib and the cornerstone of Sikh thought — recited every morning.
Guru Granth Sahib · Ang 1–8 · 385 lines
Jaap Sahib
ਜਾਪੁ ਸਾਹਿਬGuru Gobind Singh Ji
Guru Gobind Singh's hymn of the Names of the Divine — a drumbeat of praise recited each morning after Japji.
Dasam Granth · Panna 1–10 · 801 lines
Tav Prasad Savaiye (Sravag Sudh)
ਤ੍ਵ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ਸਵਯੇ (ਸ੍ਰਾਵਗ ਸੁਧ)Guru Gobind Singh Ji
Ten quatrains that sweep aside empty ritual and declare: without love of the One, nothing avails.
Dasam Granth · Panna 11–13 · 43 lines
Benti Chaupai Sahib
ਬੇਨਤੀ ਚੌਪਈ ਸਾਹਿਬGuru Gobind Singh Ji
A supplication in four-line verses for protection and right action — recited morning and evening.
Dasam Granth · Panna 809–1388 · 103 lines
Anand Sahib
ਅਨੰਦੁ ਸਾਹਿਬGuru Amar Das Ji
The “Song of Bliss” — forty stanzas on the joy of meeting the Guru, sung at every Sikh celebration.
Guru Granth Sahib · Ang 917–922 · 210 lines
Rehras Sahib
ਰਹਰਾਸਿ ਸਾਹਿਬ (ਸ:)Guru Nanak, Guru Ram Das, Guru Arjan & Guru Gobind Singh
The evening prayer — hymns of gratitude and protection gathered from the Gurus, recited at sunset.
Multiple sources · Ang 8–1429 · Dasam Granth · Panna 290–1388 · 339 lines
Kirtan Sohila
ਸੋਹਿਲਾ ਸਾਹਿਬGuru Nanak, Guru Ram Das & Guru Arjan
The bedtime prayer, also sung at cremation — five shabads turning the heart to the One Light before rest.
Guru Granth Sahib · Ang 12–13 · 54 lines
Great compositions of the Guru Granth Sahib
Sukhmani Sahib
ਸੁਖਮਨੀ ਸਾਹਿਬGuru Arjan Dev Ji
The “Jewel of Peace” — twenty-four cantos on the calm that flows from remembering the Name.
Guru Granth Sahib · Ang 262–296 · 2027 lines
Asa Ki Var
ਆਸਾ ਕੀ ਵਾਰGuru Nanak Dev Ji (with saloks of Guru Angad Dev Ji)
The morning “Ballad in Raag Asa” — sung as kirtan at dawn in gurdwaras worldwide.
Guru Granth Sahib · Ang 448–475 · 734 lines
Bavan Akhri
ਬਾਵਨ ਅਖਰੀGuru Arjan Dev Ji
The “fifty-two letters” — an acrostic of wisdom, each stanza opening with a successive letter.
Guru Granth Sahib · Ang 250–262 · 689 lines
Sidh Gosht
ਸਿਧ ਗੋਸਟਿGuru Nanak Dev Ji
“Discourse with the Siddhas” — Guru Nanak's recorded debate with the mountain yogis on the true path.
Guru Granth Sahib · Ang 938–946 · 406 lines
Dakhani Oankaar
ਓਅੰਕਾਰੁGuru Nanak Dev Ji
A meditation opening with “Oankaar” — from the One sound, all creation came forth.
Guru Granth Sahib · Ang 929–938 · 399 lines
Barah Maha (Majh)
ਬਾਰਹ ਮਾਹਾGuru Arjan Dev Ji
The “Song of Twelve Months” — the soul-bride's year-long longing for union with the Beloved.
Guru Granth Sahib · Ang 133–136 · 129 lines
Shabad Hazare
ਸ਼ਬਦ ਹਜ਼ਾਰੇGuru Arjan Dev Ji (with Guru Nanak Dev Ji)
“A thousand hymns in one” — shabads of aching longing for the sight of the Guru.
Guru Granth Sahib · Ang 96–795 · 103 lines
Saloks of Guru Tegh Bahadur
ਸਲੋਕ ਮਹਲਾ ੯Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji
Fifty-seven couplets of the ninth Guru near the close of the Granth — on detachment and even-mindedness.
Guru Granth Sahib · Ang 1426–1429 · 117 lines
Ramkali Sad
ਰਾਮਕਲੀ ਸਦੁBaba Sundar Ji
“The Call” — a serene account of Guru Amar Das's passing and his last teaching on death.
Guru Granth Sahib · Ang 923–924 · 38 lines
Alahniyan
ਅਲਾਹਣੀਆ (ਸੋਗ ਦਾ ਗੀਤ)Guru Nanak Dev Ji
“Songs of mourning” — funeral dirges remade into hymns of acceptance and hope.
Guru Granth Sahib · Ang 578–582 · 135 lines
Compositions of the Dasam Granth
Akal Ustat
ਅਕਾਲ ਉਸਤਤGuru Gobind Singh Ji
“Praise of the Timeless One” — a sweeping hymn to the deathless Divine beyond all division.
Dasam Granth · Panna 11–38 · 1101 lines
Tav Prasad Savaiye (Deenan Ki)
ਤ੍ਵ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ਸ੍ਵਯੇ (ਦੀਨਨ ਕੀ)Guru Gobind Singh Ji
Savaiyye on the shelter of the humble — the Divine as protector of the lowly and meek.
Dasam Granth · Panna 11–37 · 43 lines
Chandi Di Var
ਚੰਡੀ ਦੀ ਵਾਰGuru Gobind Singh Ji
“The Ballad of Chandi” — a stirring war-ballad whose opening line begins the Sikh Ardaas.
Dasam Granth · Panna 119–127 · 389 lines
Shabad Hazare Patshahi 10
ਸ਼ਬਦ ਹਜ਼ਾਰੇ ਪਾਤਿਸ਼ਾਹੀ ੧੦Guru Gobind Singh Ji
Ten shabads of the tenth Guru — including “Mitra pyare nu,” the cry of love sung in separation.
Dasam Granth · Panna 709–712 · 87 lines
Ceremonial & devotional banis
Lavan — The Wedding Hymns
ਲਾਵਾਂ (ਅਨੰਦ ਕਾਰਜ)Guru Ram Das Ji
The four hymns of Anand Karaj — and the soul's four rounds toward union with the Divine.
Guru Granth Sahib · Ang 773–774 · 25 lines
Mundavani
ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦੇ ਪਾਠ ਦਾ ਭੋਗ (ਮੁੰਦਾਵਣੀ)Guru Arjan Dev Ji
“The Seal” — Guru Arjan's closing of the Granth: a platter set with truth, contentment and contemplation.
Guru Granth Sahib · Ang 8–1429 · 169 lines
Ragmala
ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦੇ ਪਾਠ ਦਾ ਭੋਗ (ਰਾਗਮਾਲਾ)Traditional (authorship discussed by scholars)
“The garland of ragas” — the final page, naming the family of musical modes of the Granth.
Guru Granth Sahib · Ang 8–1430 · 231 lines
Aarti
ਆਰਤੀGuru Nanak Dev Ji, the Bhagats & Guru Gobind Singh Ji
The Sikh aarti — not lamps and incense, but the whole cosmos worshipping the One.
Multiple sources · Ang 663–1350 · Dasam Granth · Panna 290 · 63 lines
Ardaas
ਅਰਦਾਸGuru Gobind Singh Ji & the Sikh community
The standing supplication of the Sikhs — remembering the Gurus and martyrs, and asking grace for all.
Multiple sources · Dasam Granth · Panna 119 · Ardaas · 27 lines
Saloks of Sheikh Farid
ਸਲੋਕੁ ਸੇਖ ਫਰੀਦ ਕੇBaba Sheikh Farid (with responses of the Gurus)
The couplets of the Sufi saint Baba Farid, lovingly preserved within the Guru Granth Sahib.
Guru Granth Sahib · Ang 1377–1384 · 297 lines
Maryada variants — alternate recited forms
Anand Sahib (Six Pauris)
ਅਨੰਦੁ ਸਾਹਿਬ (੬ ਪਉੜੀਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਸਲੋਕੁ)Guru Amar Das Ji
The short Anand Sahib — the first five stanzas and the closing fortieth — sung to conclude most Sikh ceremonies.
Guru Granth Sahib · Ang 8–922 · 41 lines
Rehras Sahib (Taksali / extended)
ਰਹਰਾਸਿ ਸਾਹਿਬ (ਟ:)The Gurus (Taksali tradition)
The longer evening Rehras kept in the Taksali and many Nihang traditions — with additional shabads and Dasam Granth verses.
Multiple sources · Ang 8–1429 · Dasam Granth · Panna 57–1388 · 420 lines
Aarti (Longer)
ਵੱਡੀ ਆਰਤੀGuru Nanak Dev Ji, the Bhagats & Guru Gobind Singh Ji
The extended Aarti–Aarta — a fuller arrangement of the worship hymns sung in many gurdwaras.
Multiple sources · Ang 43–1362 · Dasam Granth · Panna 54–487 · 116 lines