I heard this question first time in a Sikh Youth Camp in Sydney, run by Malaysian Sikhs. They say that the Sikhs only need to do Japji, Jap Sahib and Tvaprasad Savaiye in the morning and Rehras Sahib and Kirtan Sohila at night. This is what they preached the young Sikhs attending the camp. Their argument is that if we sing /read 'Kabiyo Baach Benti Chopai' and Anand Sahib that would count as seven bani's a day. They also argue that these two bani's are included in the Rehras Sahib anyway (only the 6 pauris of Anand Sahib). I didn't think much of it then, as I was going to continue what I do anyway.
A few days ago my sister rang and she was very concerned about it as some Malaysian Sikh lady was fostering the same philosophy in the Parklee Gurdwara. I also asked her to simply ignore such people and keep doing what we do. We enjoy and feel comfortable doing five Bani's in the morning, one in Rehras in the evening and Kirtan Sohila at Bedtime as we believe its the right thing to do.
Then I really thought harder about it. What did Guru Gobind Singh ji asked us to do when he said Five Bani's to recite as Nitnem? The answer lies in the following simple question. "Which five Banis do Panj Pyaras recite before the Khanda Bata Amrit Sanchar ceremony since Guru Gobind Shing Ji's time?" As far as I know these are - Japji, Jap Sahib, Traprasad Savaiye, 'Kabiyo Baach Benti Chopai' and complete Anand Sahib. They are the five Bani's of Nitnem that are compulsory for an initiated Sikh to recite in the morning.
Another point that these change lovers might have missed is that all the Nitnem Bani's were completely written by one Guru where as Rehras Sahib and Kirtan Sohila are both compilation of Shabads by more than one Guru. For those who don't understand , the number after the word Mehla indicates which Guru from 1-10 wrote the Bani or Shabad.
If the modern Malaysian Panj Pyaras have changed the five bani's for Amrit Sanchar as well then it won't be long before they will start Fast Food style Amrit Sanchar soon, just because they believe people don't have time and Sikh rules should be changed to accommodate that. Fast food didn't help anyone get healthier and short cuts never helped anyone finish their research for Doctorate quicker.
Conversation with God demands time, feeling and complete attention /devotion. Reciting path is not about ticking another box. If the path is recited only so you can say you did your Nitnem, you are wasting time in a game that you may never win. Do you count time when you sit with your loved one's and have nice time together? Doing path is having a conversation with God and time for contemplation. Guru Nanak says - Parh parh Gaddi Ladiyai - you are only adding more burden to you daily chores and more burden on your headspace, if you are memorising path without understanding the message and without taking action to follow the message. Therefore, if you do not feel like spending time with God, having a conversation with your Guru for understanding, then what is the purpose of doing the daily prayer anyway?
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3 comments:
A deep scratched history said, these Nitnem banis else then JapJi sahib, were added during 1900's by that time SGPC. Before this so far no proof(its controversial and confusion matter).
Gurfathe.
Are you arguing that in Guru Gobind Singh ji's time Panj Pyaras didn't recite five banis' but only Japji Sahib? I would find it hard to believe this as there is something do with number Five Shabads 'Panch Shabad' (not five banis', but still) very important in other religions as well. Buddhists say that if you don't remember the five sacred words when stopped at the Gate of Heaven / Enlightenment, then you are not allowed to precede any further, after death.
The original five Banis(as I heard in one Katha),which sikh use to recite were:Japji Sahib, Rehras Sahib, So Dar, Asa Di Var and Sukhmani Sahib.
Guru Gobing Singh Ji ordered us to follow Guru Granth Sahib Ji as our Shabad Guru. But Sikh in position of authorities have failed to convey this message or is this is the political element who does not want Sikhs to know the TRUTH, as they know that once the Sikh follow his Sabhad Guru, He/She become detached to everything and will work for the righteousness Universal benefit.
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