When is the best time and day to chant Kirtan Sohila: The Evening Prayer of the Sikhs?

It is traditionally most auspicious to recite during Brahma Muhurta (4:00 AM – 6:00 AM) or Evening Dusk (Sandhya), especially on Daily or auspicious lunar days (Ekadashi, Purnima, Pradosham). Traditional offerings include Ghee lamp (Deepa), Incense (Dhoopa), Fresh flowers & Water offering.

What are the benefits of regularly chanting Kirtan Sohila: The Evening Prayer of the Sikhs?

According to sacred tradition, regular recitation brings: Peace of mind, spiritual upliftment, and harmonious energy in the home.

Banis Guru Nanak Dev Ji Guru Ram Das Ji Guru Arjan Dev Ji

Kirtan Sohila

The Evening Prayer of the Sikhs

Kirtan Sohila is the five-shabad night prayer of the Sikhs from the Guru Granth Sahib (Ang 12–13), sung at bedtime and at funerals.

Verses

Ik Onkar Satgur Parsad ||

There is One Universal Creator God. By the Grace of the True Guru.

Verse 1

Sohila Raag Gauri Deepaki Mehla 1

The Song of Praise, in Raag Gauree Deepakee, by the First Guru.

Verse 2

Ik Onkar Satgur Parsad ||

There is One Universal Creator God. By the Grace of the True Guru.

Verse 3

Jai Ghar Keerat Aakhiye Karte Ka Hoye Beecharo || Tit Ghar Gavahu Sohila Sivrihu Sirjanharo ||1||

In that home where the Creator’s praise is sung and His contemplation takes place, sing the Sohila and remember the Creator, the Architect of the universe.

Verse 4

Tum Gavahu Mere Nirbhau Ka Sohila || Hau Vaari Jit Sohilai Sada Sukh Hoye ||1|| Rahao ||

Sing the Sohila of my Fearless Lord. I am a sacrifice to that Sohila which brings everlasting peace.

Verse 5

Nit Nit Jeeyare Samaliyan Dekhaiga Devanhar || Tere Daanai Keemat Na Pavai Tis Daate Kavan Sumar ||2||

Day by day, He takes care of the living beings; the Great Giver watches over them. Your gifts cannot be appraised; who can estimate the value of the Giver?

Verse 6

Sambat Saha Likhiya Mil Kar Paavahu Tel || Dehu Sajan Aseesariyan Jiu Hovai Sahib Siu Mel ||3||

The year and the auspicious moment have been written; gather together and pour the oil. Give your blessings, O friends, that I may be united with my Lord and Master.

Verse 7

Ghar Ghar Eho Paahucha Sadre Nit Pavann || Sadanhara Simriye Nanak Se Dih Aavann ||4||1||

In each and every home, this is the invitation; the call is constantly coming. Remember the One who calls you, O Nanak; those days are coming.

Verse 8

Raag Aasa Mehla 1 ||

Raag Aasaa, First Mehl.

Verse 9

Chhia Ghar Chhia Gur Chhia Updesh || Gur Gur Eko Ves Anek ||1||

There are six schools, six teachers, and six teachings. But the Guru, the Guru, is one, though He wears many forms.

Verse 10

Baba Jai Ghar Karte Keerat Hoye || So Ghar Rakh Vadaai Toye ||1|| Rahao ||

O Baba, in that home where the Creator’s praise is sung, preserve that home, for it is a place of greatness.

Verse 11

Visue Chasiya Ghariyan Pehra Thiti Vaari Maahu Hoa || Suraj Eko Rut Anek || Nanak Karte Ke Kete Ves ||2||2||

Moments, minutes, hours, watches, days, weeks, and months have been created. The sun is one, but the seasons are many. O Nanak, the Creator has so many forms!

Verse 12

Raag Dhanasari Mehla 1 ||

Raag Dhanaasree, First Mehl.

Verse 13

Gagan Mai Thaal Rav Chand Deepak Bane Taarika Mandal Janak Moti || Dhoop Malaanalo Pavan Chavro Kare Sagal Banrai Phoolant Joti ||1||

The sky is the platter, the sun and moon are the lamps, and the stars in the constellations are the pearls. The fragrance of sandalwood is the incense, the wind is the fan, and all the flowering plants are the offerings.

Verse 14

Kaisi Aarti Hoye || Bhav Khandana Teri Aarti || Anhata Shabad Vajant Bheri ||1|| Rahao ||

What a beautiful worship ceremony this is! O Destroyer of fear, this is Your worship ceremony. The unstruck sound of the Word resounds like the beating of drums.

Verse 15

Sahas Tav Nain Nan Nain Hahi Tohi Kau Sahas Moorat Nana Ek Tohi || Sahas Pad Bimal Nan Ek Pad Gandh Binu Sahas Tav Gandh Iv Chalat Mohi ||2||

You have thousands of eyes, yet You have no eyes; You have thousands of forms, yet You have no form. You have thousands of pure feet, yet You have no feet; You have no sense of smell, yet You have thousands of noses. I am fascinated by Your wondrous play.

Verse 16

Sabh Mahi Jot Jot Hai Soye || Tis Dai Chanan Sabh Mahi Chanan Hoye || Gur Saakhi Jot Pargat Hoye || Jo Tis Bhavai Su Aarti Hoye ||3||

The Light of the One is in all; by that Light, all are illumined. Through the Guru’s teachings, that Light is revealed. Whatever pleases Him is the true worship ceremony.

Verse 17

Har Charan Kawal Makrand Lobhit Mano Andino Mohi Aahi Pyasa || Kripa Jal Deh Nanak Saaring Kau Hoye Ja Te Terai Naai Vaasa ||4||3||

My mind is enticed by the honey of the Lord’s lotus feet; day and night, I am thirsting for it. Please grant the water of Your mercy to Nanak, the thirsty bird, so that he may dwell in Your Name.

Verse 18

Raag Gauri Poorbi Mehla 4 ||

Raag Gauree Poorbee, Fourth Mehl.

Verse 19

Kaam Krodh Nagar Bahu Bhariya Mil Saadhoo Khandal Khanda Hey || Poorab Likhat Likhe Gur Paaya Man Har Liv Mandal Manda Hey ||1||

The city is filled with lust and anger; meeting the Holy Saint, it is broken into pieces. By pre-ordained destiny, I have found the Guru; my mind is now lovingly attuned to the Lord.

Verse 20

Kar Saadhoo Anjuli Pun Vada Hey || Kar Dandaut Pun Vada Hey ||1|| Rahao ||

Bow in reverence to the Holy Saint; it is a great virtue. Prostrate yourself before him; it is a great virtue.

Verse 21

Saakat Har Ras Saad Na Jaaniya Tin Antar Haumai Kanda Hey || Jiu Jiu Chalahi Chubhai Dukh Paavahi Jamkaal Sahahi Sir Danda Hey ||2||

The faithless cynics do not know the taste of the Lord’s sublime essence; within them is the thorn of egotism. The more they walk, the more they are pierced, and they suffer pain; they endure the punishment of the Messenger of Death on their heads.

Verse 22

Har Jan Har Har Naam Samane Dukh Janam Maran Bhav Khanda Hey || Abinasi Purakh Paaya Parmesar Bahu Sobh Khand Brahmanda Hey ||3||

The humble servants of the Lord are absorbed in the Lord’s Name; they are rid of the pain of birth and death and the cycle of reincarnation. They have obtained the Imperishable Primal Being, the Transcendent Lord, and they are glorified throughout the realms and universes.

Verse 23

Ham Gareeb Maskeen Prabh Tere Har Raakh Raakh Vad Vada Hey || Jan Nanak Naam Adhaar Tek Hai Har Naame Hi Sukh Manda Hey ||4||4||

We are poor and meek, O God, we are Yours; please save us, save us, O Great Lord. Servant Nanak’s support and anchor is the Naam; in the Lord’s Name alone is peace and happiness.

Verse 24

Raag Gauri Poorbi Mehla 5 ||

Raag Gauree Poorbee, Fifth Mehl.

Verse 25

Karau benanti sunahu mere meeta sant tahal ki bela Eeha khaat chalahu har laaha aagai basan suhela

I make this prayer: listen, O my friends, it is the time to serve the Saints. Here, earn the profit of the Lord’s Name, and hereafter, you shall dwell in comfort.

Verse 26

Audh ghatai dinas rainaare Man gur mil kaaj savaare || Rahao ||

The life-span is decreasing, day and night. O mind, meet the Guru and get your affairs resolved.

Verse 27

Ihu sansaar bikaar sanse mahi tario brahm gyaani Jisahi jagaae peeaavai ihu ras akath katha tin jaani

This world is entangled in corruption and doubt; the spiritual knower of God has swum across. One whom the Lord awakens and causes to drink this sublime essence understands the Unutterable Story.

Verse 28

Ja kau aaye soee bihaajhahu har gur te manahi basera Nij ghar mahal paavahu sukh sahje bahur na hoigo phera

Purchase that for which you have come; let the Lord dwell in your mind through the Guru. You shall obtain the mansion of your own home with peace and poise, and you shall not have to come again into the cycle of reincarnation.

Verse 29

Antarjaami purakh bidhaate sardha man ki poore Naanak daas ihai sukh maagai mo kau kar santan ki dhoore

O Inner-knower, O Primal Being, O Architect of Destiny, fulfill the desires of my mind. Nanak, Your slave, begs for this blessing: make me the dust of the Saints’ feet.

Verse 30

Worship Guidelines & Chanting Benefits (Phalashruti)

Auspicious Day

Daily or auspicious lunar days (Ekadashi, Purnima, Pradosham)

Best Time (Muhurta)

Brahma Muhurta (4:00 AM – 6:00 AM) or Evening Dusk (Sandhya)

Sacred Offerings

Ghee lamp (Deepa), Incense (Dhoopa), Fresh flowers & Water offering

Spiritual Benefits (Phalashruti)

Peace of mind, spiritual upliftment, and harmonious energy in the home

Background

Kirtan Sohila is a set of five shabads in the Guru Granth Sahib, on Ang 12 and 13. Three are by Guru Nanak, one by Guru Ram Das and one by Guru Arjan. Sikhs recite it at night before sleeping, and it is also read at the end of the evening service in the gurdwara and at a funeral. The shabads are set in the ragas Gauri Deepaki, Asa, Dhanasari and Gauri Poorbi. Together they call the devotee to remember the Creator, to value the Guru's guidance and to hope for union with the Divine.

About this Text

Composed by: Guru Nanak Dev Ji · Sikh Guru (First of the Ten) · 1469–1539 CE, Punjab

The founder of Sikhism and the first of the Ten Sikh Gurus, born in Talwandi (present-day Nankana Sahib, Pakistan). He undertook long journeys (Udasis) across South Asia and beyond to share his teachings on the oneness of God and the equality of all people, and composed hymns later included in the Guru Granth Sahib.

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Did You Know?

Five shabads

The hymn opens with the invocation “Ik Onkar Satgur Prasad” and the heading “Sohila Raag Gauri Deepaki Mahala 1”. Its five shabads are by Guru Nanak (Gauri Deepaki, Asa and Dhanasari), Guru Ram Das (Gauri Poorbi) and Guru Arjan (Gauri Poorbi). The Guru Granth Sahib places them on Ang 12 and 13.

Meaning of Sohila

“Sohila” means a song of praise or joy, the kind sung in a home at a time of celebration. In the first shabad the refrain asks the listener to sing the Sohila of the Fearless Lord and says, “I am a sacrifice to that Sohila through which lasting peace comes.” The song of joy is turned toward the Creator.

The cosmic aarti

The third shabad, in Raag Dhanasari, is the famous aarti “Gagan mai thaal”. The sky is the platter, the sun and moon are the lamps, the stars are the pearls, the fragrance of sandalwood is the incense and the wind is the fan. All of creation is shown worshipping the Lord, in place of a ritual lamp-waving.

A wedding image

The first shabad speaks of the day for the wedding being written down and friends gathering to anoint the bride with oil. Guru Nanak uses this familiar home custom as a picture of the soul's meeting with the Lord, which is why the same hymn also comforts mourners at a funeral.

Six schools, one Guru

In the Asa shabad, “Chhia ghar chhia gur chhia upadesh”, the six schools, teachers and teachings are many, yet the Guru is one in many guises. It is commonly read as a reference to the six systems of Indian thought and as a call to look beyond outer differences to the one Creator.

The closing prayer

The last shabad, by Guru Arjan, says that the span of life is shrinking day and night and urges the mind to meet the Guru and set its affairs right. It ends with a prayer for the dust of the saints' feet, and so the evening prayer ends with a humble request.

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