Ans. Observing the discipline of principles of Sikhism and leading ones life according to these principles is called “the Rehit Maryada”. It can also be called the collective personality of the Panth.
No individual has the right to attempt to corrupt (or desecrate) this personality of the Panth.
The accepted Rehit Maryada today is the one issued by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the elected representative body of the Panth, with its head office in Amritsar. The title of this booklet is, “Sikh Rehit Maryada”.
All Rehit Naamas available today, were written, from time to time, by devoted Sikh individuals, according to their knowledge, their capacity and ability to rationalize the historical directives of the Guru, and their devotion and beliefs.
Such Rehit Naamas are said to be 37 in number.
It was feared that because of so many Rehit Naamas, Sikhs might get divided into splinter groups and follow individual paths according to these Rehit Naamas.
Therefore a single Rehit Marvada was prepared (with the consent of various Sikh intellectuals belonging to different groups).
This Rehit Marvada is divided into two parts. One part concerns individual Rehit (code of conduct) and the second part concerns the Panthic (community) Rehit.
The individual code of conduct is further divided into three sections:
1. Practice of Lord’s Name and Gurbani (utterances from Guru Granth Sahib).
2. Ethical behaviour according to Guru’s directions.
3. Self-less service.The Panthic Rehit has five sections:
1. Guru Panth (Community as embodiment of the Guru).
2. Amrit ceremony (Khalsa baptism)
3. Procedures for punishment to those who violate the Sikh tenets.
4. Procedures for taking collective Panthic decisions (Gurmattas).
5. Appeal against the decisions taken by local Sikh bodies.
The practice of Lord’s Name (recitation of Naam) has the following sub-sections:
A) Ambrosial morning time (for meditation).
B) Daily prayers (the five Sikh prayers – Nit Nem).
C) Supplication before Akaal Purakh (Ardaas).
D) Holy Congregation (Saadh Sangat).
E) Discourses on Hymns from Guru Granth Sahib.
F) Sermons.
G) Programs of Congregation.
Each section has its prescribed rules; one for the ambrosial early morning hour; one for daily prayers and three for supplication (in this section the procedures for Ardaas are described).
The sub-section of holy congregation (Saadh Sangat) has rules under the following titles:
Gurdwara has nineteen rules.Kirtan has four rules.
Vaak (random reading of a hymn from Guru Granth Sahib) has five rules.
Simple reading of complete Guru Granth Sahib (sehj paath) has one rule.
How to begin and conclude Akhand Paath (non-stop reading of Guru Granth Sahib) has two rules.
How to prepare and distribute Karhah Prasaad (sacramental pudding) has four rules.
Gurbaani discourses have three rules.
Sermon has one rule.
Agenda and program in the Gurdwara has one rule.
There are five sub-sections under ‘ethical behaviour according to Guru’s directions’:
a) Gurmatt (Guru’s advice).
b) Rites of birth and naming the baby.
c) Rites of marriage (Anand Kaaraj).
d) Rites of death.
e) Any other rites.Guru’s advice has twenty rules.
Rites of birth and naming the baby, has three rules.
Rites of marriage, has seventeen rules.
Rites of death, has seven rules. Other rites, has one rule.
The selfless service has three sub-sections:
a) Management of Gurdwara.
b) Community Kitchen.
c) Rules of how to sit in the “Langar hall” (common refractory).
In the community ethical behaviour section, the section of Guru Panth has two rules.
Amrit (baptismal) ceremony has twenty rules.
Punishment for violating the Sikh tenets has three rules.
Collective decision-making (Gurmata) has two rules.
Appeal against local decisions has one rule.