Maryada of Various activities

Q.1     What are 5 K’s in Sikhism. ? Who ordained them to be worn by every Sikh?

Ans.        Five K’s are Kesh (Hair), Kangha (Comb), Kirpaan (Sword), Kada (Iron Bangle) and Kashehra (Underwear). They were ordained by the Tenth Master , Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

Q.2     Name the five ‘Banis’ included in the Nitnem.

Ans.        They are Jap Ji, Jaap Sahib,Shabad Hazare (both) Chandi Di ilaar, Rehras and Kirtan Sohila. While Chandi Di Vaar should be recited in the morning in such a manner that it concludes with the sunrise, Jap Ji and Jaap Sahib should be recited during the day. Rehras is to be recited in the evening and Kirtan Sohila should be recited at the fall of night.

Q.3     Regarding Naam Simran and Gurbani what is a must for a Namdhari?

Ans. One hour of Naam Simran per day per person and One Path of Adi Sri Granth Sahib or the Dasam Granth per month per family is a must for every Namdhari.

Q.4     Which ‘Banis’ are recited for making the Amrit

Ans.

  1. Japu Ji
  2. Jaap Sahib
  3. Chaupai (Punn Rachas)
  4. Anand Sahib
  5. 5. Sawaye (Srawag Sudh Samooh –) ( to be read five times)

Q.5     Which Banis are recited while performing a Havan?

Ans.   Japu Ji , Jaap Sahib, Chaupai, Chandi-di-uar, Chandi Charittar Doosra, Akal Ustat and Ugardanti.

Seven Sikhs are required who should be pure in body and mind. Sodh Maryada is necessary for every Sikh who wants to perform Havan, Varni or Akhand Paath. While five Sikhs recite Gurbani, the 6th one puts samagri in the Hawan Kund (fire pit) and the 7th one sprinkles water to arrest the flames of the fire in the Hawan Kund.

Q.6     Describe various kinds of Varni’s

Ans

  1. Bhajan Di Varni reqiures Twenty five Malas (108 x 108)to be performed.
  2. Chaupai di Varni reuires 127 paths of Chaupai to be performed.
  3. Chandi-di-Vaar Varni needs 125 paths of Chandi-di-Vaar to be performed.

Note : Only Sodhi Singhs can participate in Hawan, Akhand Path or Varni

Q.7     What is an Akhand Varni?

Ans.        The Varni which is performed twenty four hours a day and 365 days a year non-stop is called an Akhand Varni.

Q.8     During Varni, how much money is donated?

Ans.        As per one’s wishes.

Q.9     Describe the diet of a Namdhari Singh.

Ans.        Diet of a Namdhari Singh should be simple and nourishing. It must be totally vegetarian . Meat, eggs, fish, wine or alcohol and drugs in any form are strictly prohibited for a Namdhari Sikh.

Guru Ji’s words are : “Ja ki rehat na janie gur mantar nahi cheet Ta ka bhojan khai ke Bisriyo har sion preet” which means that a Sikh should eat only from that place/person/ house where the Rehat Maryada is being followed and the cook should also be a Namdhari. So it is binding for a Namdhari that he shall not eat from any market place. Pure Ghee should be used instead of Refined Oil. Food should never be eaten along with any body nor should one give his or her food (Jutha) to anyone including his or her children.

Q.10   Describe the uniform of a Namdhari Singh.

Ans         Kurta (white long shirt), ChuridaarPyjama (Fit trousers)and Dastar (white round turban) are the part of the uniform of a Namdhari Singh. For men, the Kurta (shirt) should be approx. four fingers higher than the knee-cap whereas the Kachehra (Under-Wear) should remain only two fingers higher than the knee- cap. This means that the Kachehra should be slightly visible under the Kurta. Blue or black gamlents are not permitted in any form.

Q.11     Describe the uniform of a Namdhari lady.

Ans.        Tareezan wala Kurta (White shirt), Churidar Suthan and white dupatta are the part of the uniform of a Namdhari lady. The knot of hair must be tied on the back of the neck. Make-up in any form ( such as lip-stick, eye-liners etc.) along with nose-ring, ear­rings etc. is not permitted.

Q.12     How a Sikh is baptised?

Ans.        The person who wants to get baptised must take bath from head to toe, wear clean clothes and seat himself for baptism. The men should sit in Beer Aasan whereas the ladies should sit in normal position. It is the baptiser’s responsibility to check that the comb with a tiny sword tied on it is in the hair and other Sikh symbols are also wom.

First of all, the baptiser should pour water for washing the hands and then pour Amrit in the palm five times for sipping. After this, the Amrit should be sprinkled five times in hair and lastly five times in the eyes. The baptiser should utter “Bol Waheguru ji ka Khalsa Waheguru ji ki Fateh” everytime after giving the Amrit. The baptisee, in turn, should also say “Waheguru ji ka Khalsa Waheguru ji ki Fateh” after taking the Amrit everytime.

The men taking Amrit should tie a small axe to their left side but the ladies are not required to tie the small axe and they should pronounce Sat Sri Akal instead of Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.

Q.13     On which occasions is the baptism a must for a Namdhari?

Ans.        According to the Namdhari Maryada,

  1. The new-borns must be baptised after 13 days and the mother should also be baptised.
  2. The wedding couple should be baptised just before the wedding ceremony.
  3. Before performing Uarni, Hawan or Akhand Path also, the baptism is compulsory.
  4. The dead body is to be baptised before being consigned to fire on the pyre.

Q.14     What are the rules for conducting the “Sadharan Path”?

Ans         After performing Ardaas, the ‘Pathi’ shall start reciting Gurbani and, on completion once again, the prayer (Ardaas) must be offered. After the ‘Pathi’ has gone to toilet, he or she must take bath and wear fresh clothes before starting the recitation.

Q.15     As per Namdhari tradition, on what occasions the preparation and distribution of ‘Karah Prashad’ is necesasry?

Ans

  1. While preparing ‘Amrit’
  2. On Completion of Sadharan Path.
  3. At the time of starting Akhand Path.
  4. In the middle of Akhand Path and on completion of Akhand Path.
  5. When a person passes away and is consigned to flames , Karah Prashad is to be put into the burning pyre.

Note : No Karah Prashad shall be distributed after the Kirtan of Sri Asa-di-vaar , during Dewan or Havan.

Q.16     What is the procedure for doing ‘Bhagauti di Mala’ ?

Ans.        Sri Satguru Ram Singh Ji had, through a Hukamnama (an edict) from Rangoon, directed that the ‘Bhagauti di Mala’ starts from “Sri Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh” and ends with the name of the present Guru “Hazra Hazoor Sri Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji Jinnan De Darshan kitiyan Janam-Maran Katiya Jaye”

Q.17     Write down the procedure for performing a Varni.

Ans.        There are three types of Vamis. These are Bhajan di Uami, Chaupai di Uarni and Chandi di Uaar di Varni.

  1. In Bhajan di Uarni, 25 Malas of Naam Simran are to be completed by the same number of Sodhi Sikhs (ladies or gentlemen).
  2. In Chaupai di Uarni, 127 Paths (recitations) of Chaupai are to be completed.
  3. In Chandi-di-Uaar di Uarni, 125 Paths of Chandi-di-Uaar are to be completed.

Before starting a Varni, a dry (haired) coconut wrapped in a new unused cotton cloth is kept on a Garwa which is filled with pure well-water. Along with this, some burning charcoal is also kept in a plate on which a Sikh puts ‘Samagri’ mixed with pure Ghee from time to time. A “Jyot” (lamp) should also be kept on a plate filled with wheat grain or any type of pulses. Some amount of money is also required to be kept which should not touch any other utensil (since it will then make everything impure).

After performing Ardaas, the Paaths or Naam Simran (as required) are completed, and, on completion, a Sodhi Sikh brings the Karah Parshad at the site of Uarni and then only is the final Ardaas performed. After the Ardaas, the Karah Parshad is firstly distributed to the Five Beloved Sikhs or Panj Piaras twice and then to the remaining Sikhs.

Q.18     How a Havan is performed?

Ans.        Seven Sodhi Sikhs are required for performing a Hawan. While five Sikhs read Gurbani , one Sikh puts Samagri (incense) into the Hawan-Kund from time to time and the seventh Sikh sprinkles water in such a way so as to douse the rising flames. The water should be sprinkled in right quantity because the lesser amount will further aggravate the fire whereas the larger amount of water will extinguish the fire.

First of all, the Hawan Kund should be purified by a Sodhi Sikh with “Sodh da Jai” i.e. pure water. Then the wood (of ‘Beri’ or’Palah’) should be stacked and set upon fire by using a cotton-wick laced with ghee. Match sticks are not to be used directly for starting the fire. After performing Ardaas, a dried coconut wrapped in an unused cotton cloth is to be kept in a Havan Kund.

A small amount of Karah Parshad is then thrown into a well (if available nearby) or put into the Garwa. After this, the Karah Parshad is distributed among the rest of the Sikhs. While the first Sikh should recite Jap Ji, Jaap Sahib and Chaupai, the second Sikh will recite Chandi-di-uaar and Uggar Danfi, the third Sikh should recite Chandi Charitter Doosra, the remaining two Sikhs will recite Akal Ustat. After completing the recitation of Gurbani, the final Ardaas (Prayer) is performed while sitting at the same place (around the holy fire of the auan).

Q.19     What is an Akhand Path?

Ans.        Non-stop recitation of the Adi Granth or Dasam Granth is known as an Akhand Path. It must be finished within 48 hours otherwise it is of no use.

Q.20     What rules and regulations are to be observed while performing an Akhand Path?

Ans

  1. An Akhand Path should be started as soon as the “Ardasia”(the Sikh who says the ‘Prayer’) utters that the “Akhand Path is being started”. The same procedure is to be followed for “Dhoopia” who shall start the recitation of Jap Ji or Jaap Sahib as required. Karah Parshad shall be distributed after starting the Akhand Path.
  2. The Path (recitation) should be read aloud.
  3. A watch-man should always be alert so that during the recitation, any emergency requirement is fulfilled immedi­ately. The watch-man himself should be a ‘Paathi’.
  4. Before taking over from the Paathi (who is reciting the Gurbani) the next Pathi must offer Prayer and in the same way, he must perform Ardaas when he is relieved of his duty.
  5. Pathi must be competent enough for reading or reciting the Adi-Granth and the Dasam Granth.  
  6. Soon after completing the recitation of first half of the Adi Granth Sahib, Karahprashad is to be distributed.
  7. Dhoopia (Pathi) of Jap ji is required to put samagri on to the Jyot (the wick lamp burning with pure ghee) side by side.
  8. Karah Prashad shall also be distributed at the end of the Akhand Path.
  9. Dhoopia (Pathi) on Jap Ji must be careful so that the recitation of Jap Ji simaltaneously ends along with the Akhand Path.
  10. Dhoopia should also keep a watch on the                                                                                                               Jyot’ and the Hawan’ so that both don’t get extinguished till the completion of the Akhand Path.

Q.21     In how much time , should an Akhand Paath be completed?
Ans.
According to Gur-Maryada, it must be completed within 48 hours from the time of beginning.

Q.22     How many Pathis (Sikhs) are required for performing the Akhandpath?

Ans.        Total fourteen (14) Sikhs are required out of which five are Paathis (those who recite the Gurbani), five are Dhoopias (who put Samagri on the Jyoti), two are Pehrus (watchmen) and two are Laangris (cooks).

Q.23     Which Bani is recited by the Dhupia?

Ans.        Dhupia keeps on reciting Japu ji while keeping a watch on the Jyoti also.

Q.24     What things must be taken into consideration by the persons participating in Akhand Path?

Ans

  1. All the participants should take Amrit.
  2. All the participants should consume limited food during the path (recitation of the Granth).
  3. If any participant has slept or gone to toilet, then he must take bath before taking over his duty to recite the Granth.
  4. The watchman (Pehru) is responsible for informing the next Pathi and Dhoopia at least 45 minutes before their turn of duty.
  5. During night, the Jyot made of Ghee should continue burning so that at the time of failure of electricity etc., the recitation is not interrupted.
  6. For performing an Akhand Path, 14 persons are required. While five of them shall be Pathis, five shall perform the duties of a Dhoopia, two persons shall perform the duties of the watchman and two persons shall perform the duties of the cook. Attendants shall be well conversant with the recitation of the Gurbani.
  7. Take care that no female member should participate in performing the Path ceremony.
  8. Arrangement should be made for Pathis to take rest and they should be attended properly.

Q.25     What procedure is to be followed for performing the last rites of a dead body ?

Ans         After a person has breathed his last, the funeral ceremony should be performed according to the Maryada of Sri Sat Guru ji as follows.

  1. The dead-body should be bathed.
  2. After putting on fresh clothes, the dead body should be given Amrit as per the Maryada.
  3. The feet of the dead-body should be kept towards the East as much as possible.
  4. Ardas should be performed before lighting the pyre.
  5. After lighting the pyre, path of Kirtan Sohila should be performed. After that Ardaas is to be performed. Nothing else is to be recited other than the above described.
  6. Everybody present at the cremation site shall take bath and rinse the clothes immediately. If anybody who touches the person who has returned from cremation-site and still not taken bath, then even if he has not attended the cremation ceremony; he or she must take bath and rinse the clothes also.
  7. After returning from the cremation-ground, everybody, after taking bath and changing into fresh clothes, should reach the place where the Path is to be begun.
  8. After starting the Path, Karah Parshad is distributed among the Saadh Sangat and a small amount of Karah Parshad is thrown into the pyre.
  9. After a gap of 36 hours, the ash is collected in a gunny bag and immersed into any nearby running canal or river.
  10. Only Sadharan Path should be performed for the sake of the departed soul. Akand path is not permitted.
  11. According to Sri Satguru Ji’s order, no one should weep for the departed soul since it causes a lot of anguish and pain to the departed soul.

Q.26     What instructions regarding Anand Kaaraj were given by Satguru Partap Singh Ji Maharaj ?

Ans.        Instructions to be followed are as under :

  1. Anand Kaaraj should be performed without making any distinction between the rich and the poor.
  2. No sweets should be served in connection with Anand Kaaraj.
  3. On the occasion of Diwali of 8th Nov. A.D. 1922, Muklawa (farewell ceremony held by girl’s parents after marriage) was also banned.
  4. On the occasion of Baisakhi at Amritsar in 1926 A.D., it was announced that Namdharis should make marriage relations only within the Namdhari community since the girls faced difficulties when they were married in Non­Namdhari and Non-Vegetarian families.
  5. During the Holla Mohalla of 1937 A.D. at Sri Bhaini Sahib, it was ordered that henceforth marriage ceremonies would not be conducted without the prior permission of Sri Satguru Ji.The dowry in any form such as jewellery, bridal suits, furniture, cash,Shagun or any type of gifts etc. was also banned.
  6. In 1940 A.D. on the eve of Baisakhi at Amritsar, it was ordered that the couple should be given Naam before marriage.

Q.26     What formal things should be observed while defecating and bathing?

Ans

  1. Head should be kept covered while answering the call of nature.
  2. Scrubbing hands with sand after going to toilet and then washing them properly.
  3. Rising up early in the morning and taking bath before sunrise and also, after every time you defecate.
  4. While taking bath , water should be first poured in the head and rest of the body should be washed later.

The Kachhehra (Under-Wear) should be changed in such a way that one of the legs should always be wearing the Kachhehra.

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