Page 25 - Gurmat Book 7

Chapter 9: Rehras Sahib (rihrws swihb)

Rehras Sahib is the evening prayer for the Sikhs. Original Rehras Bani consists

of nine Shabads written in Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) immediately following
JapuJi Sahib on pages 8-12. Eight of the Shabads in this Bani are Shabads of

praise, but the last one asks for mercy and protection.

We hear the word Shabad very often in context of Gurbani. Literally translated
the word ‘Shabad’ or ‘Sabad’ means a word. But for Sikhs the word “Shabad” is

considered the divine words uttered by the Sikh Gurus and the Hindu and Muslim
Saints, whose writings are included in Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Shabad also refers

to the hymns in Sri Guru Granth Sahib. In Janam Sakhis, it says that whenever

Guru Nanak Sahib had that inspiration to sing Bani, he told his companion Bhai
Mardana Ji, ‘Mardanay, play rabab, Bani is coming’. ‘Bani’ is short for Gurbani or

the sacred Shabads.

For Sikhs Shabad can be interpreted as “Hukam” from Waheguru as revealed to
our Gurus. At the time of compilation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the letter ਸ਼ was

not part of Gurmukhi script. It was added later by Guru Gobind Singh Ji. In
Gurbani the word used is ਸਬਦ or its variations like ਸਬਦ, ਸਬਹਦ, ਸਬਦੁ, ਸਬਦੀਂ, ਸਬਦੀ,
ੰ
ਸਬਦੇ, ਸਬਦੈ, ਸਬਦੋ or ਸਬਦੌ. They all have slightly different meanings, but are

associated with ‘Shabad.’

Now let’s talk about Rehras. At the time of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, only the first
Shabad used to be sung in the evening as part of the daily practice. This Shabad

is titled Sodar (ਸੋਦਰੁ) meaning That Door, and is set in Raag Asa. The words and

th
theme is almost same as the 27 Paudi of JapuJi Sahib, which is not set in any
raag. The slight variation in the words is probably to make it consistent with Raag
Asa. In addition to Sodar, there are 3 more Shabads by Guru Nanak Dev Ji, 3

Shabads by Guru Ramdas Ji and 2 Shabads by Guru Arjan Dev Ji. So there are 9
Shabads in Sodar Bani.

This Bani was previously called Sodar Rehras. Overtime, several more Shabads

added to it. Right after the ninth Shabad BeI prwpiq mwnuK dyhurIAw, 25 Saloks of

Stepping Stones PSL Gurmat Sikhia Book 7G 2023 Edition Page 23