Ans. According to “Prachin Panth Prakash” the practice of serving “Karhah Prasaad, at the conclusion of congregational prayers was started by Guru Nanak who seems to have invented its recipe also.
Guru Arjan Dev once said that on returning after the cremation of a person, the relatives and friends should gather in the Gurdwara where Karhah Prasaad should be distributed (after reading of Guru Granth Sahib). This has a very profound meaning-a Sikh considers the will of Akaal Purakh (God) as sweet.
The Tenth Master, Guru Gobind Singh enjoined to the extent that if someone had a problem or lack of progress in a particular project, he or she should make a supplication to Akaal Purakh after preparing Karhah Prasaad and then distributing it in the congregation. Recourse should not be taken to any vows, pledges or promises to any deity, nor should one request or flatter any human being for such a purpose.
The procedure for preparing Karhah Prasaad is as follows:
First take a shower and put on clean clothes. Take a clean utensil and to this add equal amounts (by weight) of wheat flour and ghee (clarified butter); mix and cook on medium fire. Separately, dissolve equal amount of sugar in 3-4 times the amount of water on slow fire. Recite Gurbani (Japu Ji, or Waheguru) all through the process of preparation. When the flour turns pink add the sugar solution to it and keep mixing on medium fire until it attains the required consistency. Now put it in a clean wide pan, cover it with a clean piece of cloth and place it on a clean stool in front of Guru Granth Sahib.mo sins and to lined loveRecite aloud six stanzas (the first five and the last one) of Anand Sahib (the composition of the third Master, Guru Amar Das, in Raag Ram Kali).
Following this the whole congregation should join in Ardaas (supplication). At the end of the supplication a passage from Guru Granth Sahib (Vaak) is read (at random). Only after this the Kirpan (sacred sword) should be presented to the Karhah Prasaad.
Before serving to the congregation the share of Panj Piaare (the five beloved ones) should be taken out. Either this should be distributed among five Khalsa Sikhs or mixed in the bulk of Karhah Prasaad. A small portion should be put in a plate, covered with a piece of cloth and kept close to Guru Granth Sahib as the share of the person sitting with the chaur (whisk) in front of Guru Granth Sahib. After this the Karhah Prasaad should be distributed equally to everyone in the congregation. This is the directive of the Tenth Master.
According to Amar Naama, Guru Gobind Singh used to distribute Karhah Prasaad after the evening congregational prayer of Rehraas Sahib also.