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Sikh Reht
Maryada
THE CODE
OF SIKH CONDUCT AND CONVENTIONS
Paths
Sadharan
Path (Completion of Normal Intermittent Reading of the Guru Granth
Sahib)
a. Every Sikh should, as far as possible, maintain a
separate and exclusive place for the installation of Guru Granth
Sahib, in his home.
b. Every Sikh, man, woman, boy or girl, should learn
Gurmukhi to be able to read the Guru Granth Sahib.
c. Every Sikh should take the Hukam (Command) of the
Guru Granth Sahib in the ambrosial (early)hours of the morning before
taking meal. If he/she fails to do that, he/she should read or listen
to reading from the Guru Granth Sahib some time during the day. If
he/she cannot do that either, during travel etc., or owing to any
other impediment, he/she should not give in to a feeling of guilt.
d. It is desirable that every Sikh should carry on a
continuous reading of the Guru Granth Sahib and complete a full
reading in one or two months or over a longer period.
e. While undertaking a full reading of the Guru
Granth Sahib , one should recite the Anand Sahib (the first five and
the last stanzas) and perform the Ardas. One should, thereafter, read
the Japuji.
Akhand
Path (Uninterrupted-Non-stop-Completion of the reading of the Guru
Granth Sahib)
a. The non-stop reading of the Guru Granth Sahib is
carried on at hard times or on occasions of elation or joy. It takes
approximately fortyeight hours. The non-stop reading implies
continuous, uninterrupted reading. The reading must be clear and
correct. Reading too fast, so that the person listening in to it
cannot follow the contents, amounts to irreverence to the Scriptures.
The reading should be correct and clear, due care being bestowed on
consonant and vowel even though that takes a little longer to
complete.
b. Whichever family or congregation undertakes the
reading should carry it out itself through its members, relatives,
friends, etc., all together. The number of reciters is not prescribed.
If a person, himself, cannot read, he should listen in to the reading
by some competent reader. However, it should never be allowed to
happen that the reader carries on the reading all by himself/herself
and no member of the family is listening in to the reading. The reader
should be served with food and clothing to the best of the host's
means.
c. Placing a pitcher, ceremonial
clarified-butter-fed lamp, coconut, etc. around, during the course of
the uninrerrupted or any other reading of Guru Granth Sahib, or
reading of other Scriptural texts side by side with or in the course
of such reading is contrary to the gurmat (Guru's way).
Commencing the Non-Stop Reading (Akhandpath)
While undertaking the intermittent reading of the Guru Granth Sahib,
the sacred pudding (Karhah Prashad) for offering should be brought and
after reciting the Anand (six stanzas) and offering Ardas, Hukam
should be taken.
While beginning the unbroken reading, the sacred pudding should first
be laid. Thereafter, after reciting the Anand(six stanzas), offering
the Ardas and taking the Hukam, reading should he commenced.
Concluding the Reading
a. The reading of the whole Guru Granth Sahib
(intermmitent or non-stop) may be concluded with the reading of
Mundawani or the Rag Mala according to the convention traditionally
observed at the concerned place. (Since there is a difference of
opinion within the Panth on this issue, nobody should dare to write or
print a copy of the Guru Granth Sahib excluding the Rag Mala).
Thereafter, after reciting the Anand Sahib, the Ardas of the
conclusion of the reading should be offered and the sacred pudding
(Karhah Prashad) distributed.
b. On the conclusion of the reading, offering of
draperies, fly-whisk and awning, having regard to the requirements of
the Guru Granth Sahib, and of other things, for Panthak causes, should
be made to the best of means.
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