Anand

Anand (ਅਨੰਦ) — noun

In Gurmat, Anand means true, permanent bliss. It comes only after attaining the state of Jeevit Mukt—the death of all worldly ichhā (desires) while still alive.

Not Worldly Joy: Even if one becomes ruler of the whole world (“sagal srisht ko rājā”), stress, worry, and depression remain. Worldly ichhā and trishnā (longing for desires to be fulfilled) are sources of chintā (anxiety), not Anand. Mistaking desire-fulfillment as Anand is illusion.

Freedom from Chintā: The Gurmukh surrenders all worry to Hukam—“Nanak chintā mat karo, chintā tis hī hai”—and abides in fearlessness and trust. This surrender produces Anand.

Fruit of Jeevit Mirtak: When desires are renounced, Anand arises as a natural state. Thus Gurmat teaches: Dead first → then Anand.

Union with Divine: The true Anand is when one realizes “mohe mileo prabh apnā, sangi bhajahu Gobind”. The mind and intellect attach to Gobind, and knowledge (gyān) awakens like a storm that destroys inner ignorance as well as outer.

Thus, Anand is not desire-fulfillment, but the bliss of union with the Divine.