Nitnem (original) (raw)

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Daily prayers in Sikhism

A typical Nitnem "Gutka", or Sikh Prayer book, extremely common in many Sikh households

Nitnem (Punjabi: ਨਿਤਨੇਮ, lit. 'daily routine') is a collection of Sikh hymns (Gurbani) to be read minimally 3 different times of the day. These are mandatory and to be read by every Amritdhari Sikh[1] as expressed in the Sikh Rehat Maryada.[2] Optionally additional prayers may be added to a Sikh's nitnem. There are five hymns (Five Banis) to be done during Amrit Vela (early morning),[1] the Rehras Sahib hymn for the evening and Kirtan Sohila for the night. The morning and evening prayers should be followed by an Ardaas.[3][4]

The initiated Sikh is asked by the Panj Piare during the Amrit Sanchar ceremony to recite the following five banis (Punjabi: ਪੰਜ ਬਾਣੀਆਂ, romanized: paja bāṇī'āṁ) as a commitment to the Sikh Gurus and Waheguru. The banis are also recited daily, starting in the early morning (Amrit Vela). Through time, the "five banis" has come to mean different things to different groups of Sikhs.

As per the Sikh Code of Conduct, Sikhs are only required to recite Japji Sahib, Jaap Sahib, & the Ten Sawayyas in the morning.[5][6] Many Sikhs, including those who follow the lifestyle of the Damdami Taksal & AKJ, believe that Chaupai Sahib & Anand Sahib are also required in the morning prayers. Sometimes this is referred to as the Five Banis. These prayers are recited between 2 - 6 AM. These morning prayers are required to be followed by the Ardas.[7][8]

Five Banis can also refer to Japji Sahib, Jaap Sahib, & the Ten Sawayyas in the morning, along with Rehras Sahib and Kirtan Sohila in the evening, which are the five minimum prayers to be recited daily by any amritdhari Khalsa Sikh, as per the Sikh Code of Conduct.[9][10]

This prayer is recited after sunset and takes about 8–12 minutes to recite. This evening prayer is required to be followed by the Ardas.[11][12][13][14]

Some Sikh schools of thought also recite Rakhiya De Shabad before Kirtan Sohila. This prayer is recited before going to bed and takes about 5–12 minutes to recite. This night prayer is not required to be followed by the Ardas.[11][15][16][17]

Nitnem is typically read from a gutka (Sikh Prayer book) or pothi (wider rectangular book), of which the main forms are the Panj Granthi (5 main scriptures from Guru Granth Sahib) and the Das Granthi (main scriptures from Dasam Granth). The Sundar Gutka (A larger gutka containing a mix of many compositions, lit. Beautiful Gutka) is also common in Sikh households.

Other prayers commonly read are:

  1. ^ a b Singh, H.S. (2005). The Encyclopedia of Sikhism (Second ed.). New Delhi: Hemkunt Press. p. 15. ISBN 978-8170103011.
  2. ^ Dr. H.S. Singha (2005). Sikh Studies, Book 7. Hemkunt Press. p. 56. ISBN 9788170102458.
  3. ^ Singh Sethi, Manmohan (13 August 2017). Nitnem and Ardaas : English Transliteration: Japji, Jaap, Sawaiye, Rehras, Kirtan Sohila, Ardaas. Sukan Publishing Universe. p. 3. ISBN 978-1-502-26421-3.
  4. ^ Singh, Gurinder (2001). The Making of Sikh Scripture. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 133. ISBN 978-0195130249.
  5. ^ "Sikh Reht Maryada, the Definition of Sikh, Sikh Conduct & Conventions, Sikh Religion Living, India".
  6. ^ "Sikh Reht Maryada, the Definition of Sikh, Sikh Conduct & Conventions, Sikh Religion Living, India".
  7. ^ "NITNEM". The Sikh Encyclopedia. 2000-12-19. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
  8. ^ "Sikh Reht Maryada, the Definition of Sikh, Sikh Conduct & Conventions, Sikh Religion Living, India".
  9. ^ "NITNEM". The Sikh Encyclopedia. 2000-12-19. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
  10. ^ "Sikh Reht Maryada, the Definition of Sikh, Sikh Conduct & Conventions, Sikh Religion Living, India".
  11. ^ a b Haribala Rani Kaur Vaid (2007). The Sikh Religion: An Introduction (illustrated ed.). Star Publications. pp. 36–7. ISBN 9788176502306.
  12. ^ Panesar, Rajinder; Ganeri, Anita (2008). Sikh Prayer and Worship. Sea to Sea Publications. ISBN 9781597710947.
  13. ^ "Sikh Reht Maryada, the Definition of Sikh, Sikh Conduct & Conventions, Sikh Religion Living, India".
  14. ^ "Sikh Reht Maryada, the Definition of Sikh, Sikh Conduct & Conventions, Sikh Religion Living, India".
  15. ^ Kapoor, Sukhbir (2002). Guru Granth Sahib - An Advance Study (Volume I). New Delhi: Hemkunt. p. 283. ISBN 978-8170103172.
  16. ^ "Sikh Reht Maryada, the Definition of Sikh, Sikh Conduct & Conventions, Sikh Religion Living, India".
  17. ^ "Sikh Reht Maryada, the Definition of Sikh, Sikh Conduct & Conventions, Sikh Religion Living, India".