|
The Nitnem (Daily prayers)
The banis which must be recited everyday are:
|
The bani
|
The author
|
Where is it recorded
|
|
Japji Sahib
|
Guru Nanak Dev
|
pages 1-8 Guru Granth Sahib
|
|
Jap Sahib
|
Guru Gobind Singh
|
pages 1-10 Dasam Granth
|
|
Swayas
|
Guru Gobind Singh
|
pages 13-15 Dasam Granth
|
|
Rehras
|
Guru Nanak
|
pages 8-12 Guru Granth Sahib
|
|
|
Guru Amardas
|
|
|
|
Guru Amardas
|
|
|
|
Guru Arjan
|
|
|
Kirtan Sohila
|
Guru Nanak
|
pages 12-13 Guru Granth Sahib
|
|
|
Guru Ramdas
|
|
|
|
Guru Arjan
|
|
The Sikh prayers and their timings:
The prayers are classified as: Individual and Collective prayers. The Individual prayers are Morning prayers: Jap ji, Jap Sahib and Sudha Swayas Evening prayer: Rehras Sahib Night time prayer: Kirtan Sohila
The Congregational prayer is: Morning prayer: Asa di var(composed by Guru Nanak Dev)
In addition to the above prayers a Sikh normally reads the following: At the end of every service or prayer: Anand Sahib (composed by Guru Amardas) At any special occasion or otherwise: Sukhmani Sahib (composed by Guru Arjan) At the time of marriage: Lavan (composed by Guru Ramdas) At the time of cremation: Kirtan Sohila
Some points to remember:
- Out of the 10 Gurus, only 3 Gurus lived beyond 50 years of age.
- All Gurus were married and had children except Guru Harkrishen who died at the young age of 8.
- Guru Arjan, Guru Hargobind, Guru Harrai, Guru Harkrishen and Guru Gobind Singh became Gurus when they were either children or were in their teens. Guru Amardas became Guru when he was in his seventies.
- The period of Guruship ranges from 3 years (Guru Harkrishen) to 38 years (Guru Hargobind).
- Eight out of ten Gurus founded new towns and set up new gurdwaras and missionary centres there.
- The relationship of the Gurus was as follows:
- Guru Angad to Guru Nanak, a follower
- Amardas to Guru Angad, a follower
- Guru Ramdas to Guru Amardas, son-in-law
- Guru Arjan to Guru Ramdas, youngest son
- Guru Hargobind to Guru Arjan, only son
- Guru Harrai to Guru Hargobind, grandson
- Guru Harkrishen to Guru Harrai, younger son
- Guru Tegh Bahadur to Guru Harkrishen, grand-uncle
- Guru Gobind Singh to Guru Tegh Bahadur, only son.
The main sources of Sikh material to understand the religion in depth are:
- Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book
- Dasm Granth, the holy book of the Tenth Guru Gobind Singh
- Janam Sakhis, the life stories of the Sikh Gurus
- Hukamnama, the letter written by the Sikh Gurus
- Varan Bhai Gurdas, the hymns composed by Bhai Gurdas I & II, contemporaries of Guru Arjan and Guru Gobind Singh Ji respectively.
|
