meaning of husband and wife

answered 2013-09-27 13:38:18 -0500

Lo K. B.
329 ●7 ●13 ●21

updated 2013-09-27 13:39:30 -0500

Sat Nam,

ਧਨ ਪਿਰੁ ਏਹਿ ਨ ਆਖੀਅਨਿ ਬਹਨਿ ਇਕਠੇ ਹੋਇ ॥ धन पिरु एहि न आखीअनि बहनि इकठे होइ ॥ Ḏẖan pir ehi na ākẖī▫an bahan ikṯẖe ho▫e. They are not said to be husband and wife, who merely sit together. ਏਕ ਜੋਤਿ ਦੁਇ ਮੂਰਤੀ ਧਨ ਪਿਰੁ ਕਹੀਐ ਸੋਇ ॥੩॥ एक जोति दुइ मूरती धन पिरु कहीऐ सोइ ॥३॥ Ėk joṯ ḏu▫e mūrṯī ḏẖan pir kahī▫ai so▫e. ||3|| They alone are called husband and wife, who have one light in two bodies. ||3|| - Guru Amar Das, pg. 788, line 12

This is probably one of my most favorite lines from the Guru. Let us look at this practically, first, and go from there.

One soul in two bodies. One jot, one light in two bodies, inseparable. This is so beautiful. When two people marry, they agree to live their lives in accordance to their higher Truths, and to share and support each other through any circumstance. What was once two people (two souls) are now joined by the Guru into one. They are blended, like milk and water. When one is down, the other knows it. When one is joyful, the other feels it.

They are not husband and wife who merely sit together. A man is not a husband if he does not look at his wife as his mirror. A man is not a husband if he does not see God in his wife. A man is not a husband if he does not respect or love his wife as he loves himself. A man is not a husband merely by "title." Marriage is a verb, as well as a noun. A husband and wife who LIVE together, who take the time to improve themselves and each other, are husband and wife. A man can marry a million women and not be a husband. Same thing for a wife. In marriage, ideally there is equality, equal love, equal sacrifice, equal kindness and equal respect. Without this, they are merely a man and a woman sitting next to each other.

I hope this answers your question, although I think you might be wanting to know if LITERALLY, two souls become one. Maybe someone else can shed more light about this. However, I do implore you to look up this question in the Youth Forum Archives, which can be found here.

God bless you.