Anand Karaj : From Guru's Darbar To Supreme Court

The term Anand Karaj, meaning “act towards happiness” or “blissful ceremony,” finds its roots in the Sikh Gurus’ emphasis on marriage as a sacred union of two souls on the path of God.

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The Gurus highlighted the importance of grihasth jiwan (householder’s life) as the ideal way of living. Shri Guru Amar Das Ji, the fourth Sikh Guru, composed the Lavan—hymns enshrined in the Guru Granth Sahib (Ang 773). These hymns became the spiritual foundation of Anand Karaj, the ceremony in which the bride and groom circumambulate the Guru Granth Sahib, thereby placing their marriage within the context of unity with God.Early references to Anand marriages can be found in Sikh texts such as the Rahitnama of Bhai Daya Singh and Giani Gian Singh’s Panth Prakash. The Khalsa Akhbar of November 6, 1886 reported an Anand marriage held for Bhai Dileep Singh in the princely state of Patiala, and many other such marriages were recorded up until 1903. In 1908, the Chief Khalsa Diwan drafted the Anand Marriage Bill, which was introduced in the Imperial Legislative Council by Tikka Ripudaman Singh of the princely state of Nabha. The Bill was referred to a select committee. In 1909, Sundar Singh Majithia replaced Tikka Ripudaman Singh as a member of the Council. He commended Ripudaman Singh’s efforts, elaborated on the spiritual roots of the Anand marriage, and presented the committee’s report. The Bil