The laava (singular laav) are the four Shabads (sacred hymns) of the Anand Karaj (Sikh wedding ceremony). They form the central part of the marriage ceremony. The "four rounds" ("char phaara") as they are sometimes called form central part of this auspicious occasion. The four Shabads are from the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy scriptures and appear on pages 773 to 774 of the total of 1430 page of the holy Granth.

Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh Guru tells us on page 788 of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib about the meaning of marriage to a Sikh couple – Effectively, the Guru defines a Sikh marriage in these 2 lines: "They are not said to be husband and wife who merely sit together. Rather they alone are called husband and wife, who have one soul in two bodies." Thus the partnership of marriage is given a special meaning - a new dimension. For a union of marriage to be successful, the two personalities have to merge into one – a spiritual bonding through understanding and love.

The Guru through the four laava give the Sikh couple further spiritual guidance for their life together. The Guru tell the Sikhs of the four golden rules of married life. These rules start very clearly to define the path to be treaded together in this sacred union. The Shabads inform us how the couple as a team have to first begin by following the path of righteousness and sinless-ness. The primary golden rule of "blissful union" is to be truthful and sinless in our conduct first to each other and then to others. The rest of the Laav then tells us how one can be truthful and keep away from falsehood. You can only tread the path of Dharm and righteousness if you remember God through His Name or Naam – Recite His name and you will keep to the straight and narrow and temptation will diminish.

In the second round, the Guru tells us to remove egotism (Humai) from within our minds. Remove the "I" from your mind and concentrate on "we" and "us". Then with fear of the Lord, remember Him and sing His praises. If you do this together, then the sound of God ("anhad shabad") will reverberate within the both of you in resonance. In the third round, the Guru tell us that your minds will be filled with divine love and in the company of the holy congregation Sangat, your destiny will be revealed before you. Finally, as Gurmukhs, the couple will find divine peace and you will have arrived to your final destination, with the Lord; He will dominate your mind and your domain; Naam with flow in your heart; you will have realised your destiny and obtain the ultimate "union of bliss" – absolute Anand; you will "have found the Eternal Lord God".

The Four Rounds

The main part of the Anand Karaj (Sikh Marriage Ceremony) is the reading and then the singing of each laav in turn. When the Laav is sung, the couple as a pair joint by a piece of cloth circle the SGGS. This has relevance to the occasion and should not be considered a ritual without meaning. When the couple circle the SGGS each time they are making a commitment to God with the Guru and the Sangat as their spiritual witness and support. And as one circles the Sri Guru Granth Sahib you are reminded that the Guru should be the center of your life, from which springs your spiritual leadership and understanding that you require for your soul's long journey across this 'world ocean'. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib is the spiritual center and the Sadh Sangat is your worldly (temporal) witness and support. The Guru is your support within and the Sangat your support outside.
THE FOUR ROUNDS
The main part of the Anand Karaj (Sikh Marriage Ceremony) is the reading and then the singing of each laav in turn. When the Laav is sung, the couple as a pair joint by a piece of cloth circle the SGGS. This has relevance to the occasion and should not be considered a ritual without meaning. When the couple circle the SGGS each time they are making a commitment to God with the Guru and the Sangat as their spiritual witness and support. And as one circles the Sri Guru Granth Sahib you are reminded that the Guru should be the center of your life, from which springs your spiritual leadership and understanding that you require for your soul's long journey across this 'world ocean'. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib is the spiritual center and the Sadh Sangat is your worldly (temporal) witness and support. The Guru is your support within and the Sangat your support outside.The four nuptial rounds were written by Guru Ram Das for his own wedding. They explain the journey of the souls toward the Almighty. In them he tells us of the duties that a person undertaking a life of marriage should perform.