Sikh Reht Maryada

THE CODE OF SIKH CONDUCT AND CONVENTIONS

Karhah Prashad (Sacred Pudding)

a. Only the Karhah Prashad which has been prepared or got prepared according to the prescribed method shall be acceptable in the congregation.

b. The method of preparing the Karhah Prashad is this : In a clean vessel, the three contents (wheat flour, pure sugar and clarified butter, in equal quantities) should he put and it should be made reciting the Scriptures. Then covered with a clean piece of cloth, it should be placed on a clean stool in front of the Guru Granth Sahib. Thereafter, in the holy presence of the Guru Granth Sahib , the first five and the last stanza of the Anand Sahib should be recited aloud {so that the congregation can hear} the Ardas, offered and the Karhah Prashad tucked with the sacred Kirpan for acceptance.

c. After this, before the distribution to the congregation of the Karhah Prashad, the share of the five beloved ones should be set apart and given away. Thereafter, while the general distribution, the share of the person in attendance of the Guru Granth Sahib(Giving double share to the person in attendance (constitutes improper discrimination)should be put in small bowl or vessel and handed over. The person who doles out the Karhah Prashad among the congregation should do so without any discrimination on the basis of personal regard or spite. He should dole out the Karhah Parshad equally to the Sikh, the non-Sikh or a person of high or low caste. While doling out the Karhah Prashad, no discrimination should be made on considerations of caste or ancestry or being regarded, by some, as untouchable, of persons within the congregation.

d. The offering of Karhah Prashad should be accompanied by at least two pice in cash.

Exposition of Gurbani ( Gurbani Di Katha)

a. The exposition of the Gurbani in a congregational should he carded out only by a Sikh.

b. The object of the exposition should only be promoting understanding of the Guru's tenets.

c. The exposition can only be of the ten Gurus' writings utterances,, Bhai Gurdas's writings, Bhai Nand Lal's'- writings or of any generally accepted Panthak book or books of history (which are in agreement with the -. tenets) and not of a book of any other faith. However, illustration, references to a holy person's teachings or contained in a book may be made.

Expository Discourse (Vikhian)

No discourse contrary to the Guru's tenets should be delivered inside a Gurdwara.

Gurdwara Service

In the Gurdwara the schedule of the congregational service generally is ceremonial opening of the Guru Granth Sahib, Kirtan, exposition of scriptures, expository discourses, recitation of Anand Sahib, the -Ardas the raising of Fateh slogan and then the slogan of Sat Sri Akal and taking the Hukam.