ANJULIA

ANJULIA (N), by Guru Arjan, is a short composition comprising two hymns entered in the Guru Granth Sahib under Maru musical measure (GG, 1019). This word anjulia (n) is the plural form of Sanskrit anjuli which means the joining together of palms in supplication, reverence or salutation. The word anjulian in its plural sense has been used in the title perhaps because the composition comprises two hymns. It contains prayer to God seeking from Him the gift of nam, i.e meditation on His Name or constant remembrance or repetition of His Name. Everything in this world happens by His Will and those who are favoured by Him practise nam in holy company (sangat). The tragedy of man is that he seeks happiness in material life sans any spiritual reference. That is why he is ever in misery: when he has material possessions in plenty, he fears he might not lose them, and when he lacks these, he pines for them. In fact, this misery is owed neither to the excess of nor to the meagreness of material possessions, but to man`s egoistic pursuits that guide his life in the world. Human life in this phenomenal world is transitory. An/uJfis also the title of another of Guru Arjan`s hymns in measure Maru (GG, 100708).

The hymn rejects the ritual of anjuli as libation to the manes and teaches man willingly to accept God`s bhana or His Will. The word anjuli also occurs in a hymn by Guru Ram Das in measure Gauri (GG, 171) repeated in the Sohila (GG, 1213). One is adjured to offer anjuli or salutation to the Lord which counts as an act of virtue. Although the Faridkot Tika describes anjuli as a chhand or a prosodic form, it is employed in the Guru Granth Sahib generally as a synonym for salutation or supplication.

References :

1. Shabdarth Sri Guru Granth SahibJi, vol. III. Amritsar, 1964
2. Adi Sri Guru GrantA SahibJi Satik (Faridkot Vala Tika) [Reprint]. Patiala, 1970