PHIL 202-3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Karah Parshad, Anand Sahib, Guru Hargobind
PHIL 202
Ch. 9 Sikh Traditions (pt. 2)
Practice
Prayer
• The Early Morning Order (3–6 a.m.)
1. Japji (Honoured Recitation)
2. Jap Sahib (Master Recitation)
3. The Ten Savayyas (Ten Panegyrics)
4. Benati Chaupai (Verses of Petition)
5. Anand Sahib (Song of Bliss)
• The Evening Prayer
1. Sodar Rahiras (Supplication at that Door)
• The Bedtime Prayer
1. Kirtan Sohila (Song of Praise)
Congregational Worship
• Guru Granth Sahib is installed in the gurdwara each morning
• Worshippers cover heads, remove shoes, and bow before the Guru Granth Sahib
• Granthi (reader) reads from the Guru Granth Sahib and is the custodian of the gurdwara
• Kirtan
o Attune to the divine Word
o Musicians (ragis)
o Tabla drums
• Homily
Cogregatioal Worship, cot’d
• Guru’s Vak “aig
o Morning: Inspiration for personal mediation
o Evening: Brings close to the day
• Distribution of karah prashad
o Sweet paste of flour, sugar and butter
o Sanctified by recitation of prayers
• Langar meal
The Annual Festival Cycle
• Baisakhi Da: New Year’s Da usuall April 13
o Formation of the Khalsa
• Divali: Festival of Lights
o When Guru Hargobind was released from prison
• Hola Mahalla: March/April
o Military exercises
o Athletic and literary contests
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• Anniversaries of the births and deaths of the Gurus
o Unbroken reading of scripture, Takes approximately 48 hours
Life-Cycle Rituals
• Guru Granth Sahib is central to all rituals
o Child-naming
o Marriage
o Khalsa initiation
o Death
Naming a Child
• Child is taken to the gurdwara
• Karah prashad is presented to the Guru Granth Sahib
• Prayers of thanks, recitation of Ardas
• Guru Granth Sahib is opened
o The first letter of the first composition on the left side becomes the first letter
for the hild’s ae
• Five stanzas of Japji are recited after the child is given sweetened water
Marriage
• Spiritual compatibility is emphasized
• Ceremony must take place in front of the Guru Granth Sahib
• Four vows
1. Lead an action-oriented life and never shun familial obligations
2. Maintain reverence and dignity
3. Keep enthusiasm alive and remain detached from world attachments
4. Cultivate a balanced life
• Circle the scripture to symbolize the cycle of life
Khalsa Initiation
• Amrit sanskar
• No fixed age for initiation
• Recitation of prayers
• Drink amrit five times to purify body of the five vices (lust, anger, greed, attachement,
and pride)
• Amrit sprinkled on their eyes five times and poured on head five times
Death
• Bathed, dressed in clean clothes, and cremated
• Reading of entire scripture
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