 |
| Subject Expert |
: |
|
Dr. Jagir Singh
Professor & Former Head
Department of Gurmat Sangeet |
| Translator |
: |
|
Dr. Amanjot Kaur |
| Voice Over |
: |
|
Ms. Raman Chahal |
|
 |
| |
|
|
| |
In Sikh religion, it is a convention for every Sikh to say and meditate the prescribed five scriptural compositions as an individual or in a congregational form daily. The prescribed scriptural compositions include the ' Japu'  ( Japu Ji Sahib) , ' Jaapu' ( Jaapu Sahib) , the 'Ten Sawayyas' in the ambrosial hours and ' Sodar Rehras' in the evening and 'the Sohila' - to be recited at night everyday before going to bed. The founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak Dev ji gave the principle of waking up in the ambrosial hours and meditating upon the name of God to the followers of the Sikhism. Reflecting this principle, Guru Ramdas ji in the verses say: |
|
| |
|
|
| |
ਗੁਰ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਜੋ ਸਿਖੁ ਅਖਾਏ ਸੁ ਭਲਕੇ ਉਠਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਵੈ। |
|
| |
gur satgur kaa jo sikh akhaa-ay so bhalkay uth har naam Dhi-aavai. |
|
| |
(Sri Guru Granth Sahib, P. 305) |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Which means, "He, who calls himself a Sikh of Great True Guru, should rise early and meditate on God's Name." The recital of three scriptural compositions daily by the Sikhs had already been propagated before the era of Guru Arjan Dev. Therefore, Guru Arjan Dev ji compiled these banis in their orderly form in the year 1604 in Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Even Bhai Gurdas ji refers to the convention of reciting Keertan of ' Sodar' and ' Aarti' and the 'Japu' bani in the ambrosial hours by Guru Nanak Dev ji while living in Kartarpur." |
|
| |
|
|
| |
ਸੋਦਰੁ ਆਰਤੀ ਗਾਵੀਐ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਵੇਲੇ ਜਾਪੁ ਉਚਾਰਾ। |
|
| |
Sodaru Aaratee Gaaveeai Anmrit Vaylay Jaapu Ouchaaraa.
(Sodar and Arati were sung and in the ambrosial hours Japu was recited.)
|
|
| |
(Vaaran Bhai Gurdas Vaar 1, Pauri 38) |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Guru Gobind Singh ji's Bani was later added to these scriptural compositions to be recited everyday. |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
According to The Sikh Reht Maryada (The code of Sikh Conduct and Conventions), there is a convention for every Sikh to recite the prescribed set of prayers daily. Bhai Gurdas has referred to this in many of his Vaars. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਵੇਲੈ ਨਾਵਣਾ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਜਪੁ ਗੁਰਮੰਤੁ ਜਪਾਇਆ। |
|
| |
Anmrit Valai Naavanaa Guramukhi Japu Guramantu Japaaiaa
(In ambrosial hours the gurmukhs undertake to inspire themselves and others to bathe and recite the mantra of the Guru.)
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
ਰਾਤ ਆਰਤੀ ਸੋਹਿਲਾ ਮਾਇਆ ਵਿਚਿ ਉਦਾਸੁ ਰਹਾਇਆ। |
|
| |
Raati Aaratee Sohilaa Maaiaa Vichi Udaasu Rahaaiaa.
(In the evening, instructing the recitation of Arati and Sohila, the true Guru has inspired people to remain detached even amidst maya.)
|
|
| |
(Vaaran Bhai Gurdas Vaar 26, Pauri 4) |
|
| |
|
|
| |
The tradition of ancient time is every evident from the above references by Bhai Gurdas ji. It is clear that in those times, it was obligatory for every Sikh to wake up in the ambrosial hours, take bath following the recital of 'Japu' bani 'Sodar' in the evening and then 'Sohila Bani' at night before going to bed. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Japu : |
|
| |
Japu bani is the first bani among the five banis of Nitnem (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, P. 1-8). These compositions by Guru Nanak Dev ji is in the form of introductory Salok and 38 pauris. This composition is enscribed in the beginning of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. This bani begins with ' mool-mantar' . In Sikh congregation, this bani is also respected as 'Japu Ji Sahib'.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Jaapu : |
|
| |
The Jaapu Bani composed by Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji is the second bani to be recited after the recital of the Japu bani. This bani is inscribed in the beginning of ' Dasam Granth' . This bani is composed with diverse verses of poetical forms composed in various verses. This composition has a specific tempo in which the qualities of the almighty have been defined with various adjectives. This scriptural composition is respected as 'Jaapu Sahib' in the Sikh congregations.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Ten Sawayyas : |
|
| |
The third bani of daily regimen is Sawayyas beginning with " Sarawag Sudh" . Under the heading of Sawayyas, the ten Sawayyas are included in the daily regimen. Being ten in number, they are respected as ' Dus Sawayyae' or ' Sudha Sawayyae' . This composition by Guru Gobind Singh ji is incribed in the Dasam Granth.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
So-dar Rehras : |
|
| |
This is the fourth bani to be recited in the evening time. There are many forms of this bani famous in the Sikhs. The various aspects of this were under consideration till 1936 and then in 1945. The form which was unanimously selected is prescribed in the daily regimen. The Gutkas and pothis published by Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Commmittee contain this prescribed form. This form of ' Sodar' is prescribed for the daily recital by Sikhs by the Akal Takhat is respected with the name of 'Sodar Rehras' in the Sikh congregations. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
This includes the following compositions: The nine Shabads enscribed in Sri Guru Granth Sahib (begining with Sodar till "saran paray kee raakho sarmaa." then Benti Chaupai of the tenth Guru "hamaree karo haath dhai raashaa, pooran hoe chith kee eshiaa" and ending with "sarab thaur mo hohu sehaaee, dhusatt dhokh thae laehu bachaaee" . Then the Sawayya beginning with "paae gehae jab thae thumarae thab thae kooo aakh tharae nehee aanayo" and the Dohra "sagal dhuaar ko shaadd kai gehiou thuhaaro dhuaar" the first five and the last pauri of Anand Sahib, Mundawani and the Slok Mahla 5 beginning "thaeraa keethaa jaatho naahee maino jog keethoee" It contains the compositions of the 2nd, 4th, 5th and 10th Gurus. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Sohila : |
|
| |
The Sohila bani, in sequence is the fourth bani or composition entered in the Guru Granth Sahib. It is the fifth and last to be recited as the part of daily regimen by the Sikhs. This bani is recited at night before going to bed. This contains total 5 Shabdas (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, P. 12-13). This include the compositions of Guru Nanak Dev ji, Guru Ramdas ji and Guru Arjan Dev ji. It is respected in Sikh congregation with the name 'Kirtan Sohila'. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Note : It is obligatory to conclude with Ardas in the morning as well as at the Sodar time. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
1. How many Banis of Nitnem are recited in Sikh Religion?
I. Two II. Three III. Four IV. Five
2. Which Bani has been registered first of all in Guru Granth Sahib?
I. Sodar II. Japu III. Jaapu IV. Sawayyas
3. At what time is the Japu Bani recited?
I. Evening II. At Ambrosial Hour III. Early Morning IV. At Noon
4. How many ‘Pauris’ does Japu Sahib have?
I. 38 II. 35 III. 40 IV. 37
5. Which is the second Bani of morning Nitnem?
I. Sodar II. Japu III. Jaapu IV. Sawayyas
6. Which of the following Banis is recited after evening?
I. Japu II. Jaapu III. 10 Sawayyas IV. Sodar Rehras
7. How many Banis composed by Guru Gobind Singh ji are included in the morning Nitnem?
I. Two II. Three III. Four IV. Five
8. In which Bani of the Nitnem, maximum names and adjectives are used for God?
I. Sodar II. Japu III. Jaapu IV. Sawayyas
9. Whose compositions Sawayyas are?
I. Guru Nanak Dev ji II. Guru Angad Dev ji
III. Guru Gobind Singh ji IV. Guru Teg Bahadur ji
10. In which Granth are the Jaapu and Sawayyas inscribed?
I. Dasham Granth II. Shri Guru Granth Sahib III. Gurpartap Suraj Granth IV. Sarabloh Granth
11. How many Sawayyas are there in the Bani Sawayye, which is recited in the morning?
I. 5 II. 11 III. 10 IV. 12
12. “Benti Chaupai Patshahi 10” is recited along with which Bani of Nitnem?
I. Sodar Rehras II. Jaapu III. Sawayyas IV. Japu
13. Which Bani is recited at night, before going to bed?
I. Rehras II. Jaapu III. Sawayyas IV. Sohila
14. How many Shabads are there in Sohila Bani?
I. Two II. Three III. Four IV. Five
15. Which Bani of Nitnem is mentioned first of all in Dasham Granth?
I. Japu II. Jaapu III. 10 Sawayyas IV. Sodar Rehras |
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
1. Mahan Kosh, Kahn Singh Nabha, Language Department Punjab, Patiala, 2006
2. Guru Granth Vishav Kosh, Dr. Rattan Singh Jaggi, Punjabi University Patiala, 2002
3. Shabadarth Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji (Part I-IV), Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, Sri Amritsar, 2004
4. Sri Guru Granth Sahib (English & Punjabi Translation) (Vol. I - VIII), Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Commitee, Sri Amritsar, 2006 |
|
| |
|
|
