Ans. Explaining the responsibilities and principles associated with the Guruship, Guru Nanak Dev said: “This is a demand note from God which has to be paid off by the devotee; and such a devotee, as I can see, is Bhai Lehna”. Guruship is not an instrument of luxury or worldly pleasures. It is a great […]
Ans. For ages, the gods, human beings and sages had been in search of the Amrit, says Guru Amar Das: “ਸੁਰਿ ਨਰ ਮੁਨਿ ਜਨ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਖੋਜਦੇ” (SGGS, P. 918) The Sikh is fortunate that the Guru not only administered the Amrit to him but also told him the procedure to prepare it. Furthermore, the Guru
Q. 34. Describe the great significance of “Amrit*” and describe how it is administered. Read More »
Ans. Rehit, as described in the previous section (32), is to lead ones life according to the Guru’s prescribed code of conduct. To ignore or violate any of its tenets is Kuraihit. In addition, there are some specific taboos that may be called major Kuraihits. There are four Kuraihits or taboos and five Rehits.KURAIHITS (TABOOS):
Q. 33. What is the meaning of “Rehit” and “Kuraihit”? Read More »
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
Ans. No word synonymous to “Panth” exists either in a Hindu dictionary or a Muslim Encyclopedia or in any other dictionary. The Hindu thought has been confined to sects and denominations while Muslims have not been able to go beyond their restricted and exclusionary brotherhood (Millat). The white men, on the other hand cannot think
Q. 31. What is the correct meaning of the term “Panth”? Read More »
Ans. In the “Lughat-I-kashori” (Arabic dictionary) the term “Khalsa” has been defined as: that royal land which is not the property of any one else. The tenth Master, Guru Gobind Singh, made the Sikhs the Khalsa, which means that they belong only to Akaal Purakh (God Almighty). In other words there is no intermediary between
Q. 30. Who do we call a Khalsa? Read More »
Ans. For those, who have taken “Khande di Pahul” (undergone the Amrit’ ceremony of the double-edged dagger), are called Khalsa, and the followers of Guru Nanak. In order to understand the difference between a Sikh and a Singh, it will be advantageous to read the dialogue that took place between Lord Budha and his disciple,
Q. 29. Whom do we call a Singh? Read More »
Ans. Guru Hari Rae made the daily routine of his life such that by following it (like a beacon) a Sikh could make his life’s journey easy and comfortable. He would get up by the end of the third quarter of night.Then he would take a bath with generous supply of water (one hundred buckets,
Q. 27. Describe the daily routine of Guru Hari Rae (the seventh Master). Read More »
Ans. The five sacred pools in the city of Amritsar are: 1. Amritsar (Amrit Sarovar) 2. Kaulsar 3. Santokhsar 4. Bibeksar 5. Ramsar According to the old tradition among Sikhs it was essential to take a bath at Kaulsar before taking a dip at Amritsar; though some devotees took a bath at all the other
Q. 25. Name the five sacred lakes (pools) in Amritsar and describe their significance. Read More »
Ans. According to the decision of the “Panth” (collective Sikh nation) there are five Takhats (seats of temporal power)*: The construction of Akaal Takhat was started on July 9, 1609. Gur Bilas Patshahi Chhevin gives the following description: In the month of Asarh (Bikrami calendar), on Panchmi (fifth Lunar day) Guru Har Gobind started a
