Images below: first from bottom - detail from a painting by Sarabjit Singh. Second from below - detail from a painting by Amrit and Rabindra Kaur Singh (http://www.singhtwins.co.uk/).
Poetry
Sehra
by YOGI HARBHAJAN SINGH, Translated from Punjabi by INNI KAUR
Editor's Note
SEHRA: A headdress worn by the groom during the marriage, until the commencement of the Anand Karaj ceremony. It consists of garlands that hang over and cover the face of the groom.
SEHRA: A style of Punjabi poetry, recited after the wedding ceremony. A rich tradition practiced in Sikh and Punjabi weddings until only a few decades ago, it has, alas, all but disappeared.
Sehra
Deep within
The recesses of my heart
The Divine
Resides.
When I Accepted
The Timeless One
Then
The Throne of the Timeless One
Arose within.
Guru Ram Das
Watches
The Order of the Pure
Recite a sehra.
The Timeless One
Lit
The Flame.
- Spirit
- Breath
- Vastness
Merge.
Shushuma
The energy current
Opens,
Everything rises.
Glow
Bliss
Inside
Outside
Divinity.
Divinity absorbs.
I'm absorbed.
The seeker
Has merged
In the abode of the Divine.
Conversation about this article
1: Ek Ong Kaar Kaur Khalsa (Espanola, New Mexico, U.S.A.), October 05, 2007, 5:44 PM.
For those who might be interested, the original poem is published in a unique collection called Furmaan Khalsa. Furmaan Khalsa has over 100 poems written in Gurmukhi script by Yogi Harbhajan Singh. Yogi Bhajan once said that the essence of all he taught is contained in these poems. Thanks to sikhchic.com and Inni Kaur for sharing the existence of these poems with your readers.