Recitation Of Guru's Bani During The Times Of Our Gurus

[spnadmin]

Respected forum members,

A question just came to me by gmail only minutes ago. Surely someone on the forum has a detailed response that I could share with my sister. She is trying to help a convert and neither of us can answer with anything close to a knowledgeable response.

During the times of our Gurus was there a kind of Nit Nem -- in other words did our Gurus and their sangats recite any prescribed banis at certain times of the day? Or did the practice of Nit Nem commence with the Rehit Maryada/?

Obviously it would be impossible to recite Sukhmani Sahib before the time of Guru Arjan Dev, or to recite Benti Chaupai before the time of Guru Gobind Singh. That is not her question. :welcome: Rather it is more general. Was there something similar to a Nit Nem -- if there was what was did it include?

Thanks for any insights. I will keep her informed.

 

[Gyani Jarnail Singh]

Bhai Gurdass Ji in His vaars does say that..in the Evening...Bab ji (Guur nanak JI) sat with the Sangat and performed REHRAAS. This would be the REHRAAS that is in the SGGS ( nad NOT the later one found in Gutkas with additionals shabds etc) .
This is probabaly becasue GURU JI as wella s all the others were HARD WORKING FARMERS etc and they were free only Evening time after work...
Bhai Gurdass ji and Gurbani alos tells us nishanis of a GURSIKH..is
One who wakes up at DAWN, takes Bath, remembers Waheguru and ATTENDS SANGAT for Kirtan/Katha. So probabaly a morning Diwan was also held.
ALL this began with Guur nanak Ji...so as more and more GURBANI was written by successor Gurus...additional shabds came to be included...up to AAD GRANTH - Guru Arjun Ji..the REHRASS SHABADS with this TITLE and the SOHILA Shabds with this Title are in SGGS.
Witht he advent of the SRM..the present Nitnem was Standardised by the Singh Sabha.
Some Sampardaiis like Damdami taksaal, nanaksar, AKJ etc have continued to have their own Maryadas..hence additional banis..

 

[spnadmin]

Thanks Gyani ji

Later my friend found a pauree in the vaars of Bhai Gurdas ji that basically affirms your response. Naturally, why didn't we think of this, the Nit Nem would have to have been established after the death of Guru Gobind Singh ji...and hence the SRM determined the banis later on. For the interest of readers the pauree is this one: Vaar 6 Pauree 3

ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਵੇਲੇ ਉਠਿ ਕੈ ਜਾਇ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਦਰੀਆਉ ਨ੍ਹਵੰਦੇ ।
anmrit vaylay utdi kai jaai andari dareeaau nhavanday|
Getting up at the ambrosial hour of morning the Sikhs bathe in the river.

ਸਹਜਿ ਸਮਾਧਿ ਅਗਾਧਿ ਵਿਚਿ ਇਕ ਮਨਿ ਹੋਇ ਗੁਰ ਜਾਪੁ ਜਪੰਦੇ ।
sahaji samaadhi agaadhi vichi ik mani hoi gur jaapu japanday|
By putting their mind in the unfathomable God through deep concentration, they remember Guru, the God by reciting Japu (Ji).

ਮਥੈ ਟਿਕੇ ਲਾਲ ਲਾਇ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਚਲਿ ਜਾਇ ਬਹੰਦੇ ।
madai tikay|aal|aai saadhasangati chali jaai bahanday|
Getting fully activated then they go to join the holy congregation of the saints.

ਸਬਦੁ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਲਿਵ ਲੀਣੁ ਹੋਇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਬਾਣੀ ਗਾਇ ਸੁਣੰਦੇ ।
sabadu surati|iv|eenu hoi satigur baanee gaai sunanday|
Becoming absorbed in remembering and loving the sabad they sing and hear the Guru's hymns.

ਭਾਇ ਭਗਤਿ ਭੈ ਵਰਤਿਮਾਨਿ ਗੁਰ ਸੇਵਾ ਗੁਰਪੁਰਬ ਕਰੰਦੇ ।
bhaai bhagati bhai varatimaani gur sayvaa gurapurab karanday|
They love to spend their time in meditation, service and fear of God and they serve the Gum by observing his anniversaries.

ਸੰਝੈ ਸੋਦਰੁ ਗਾਵਣਾ ਮਨ ਮੇਲੀ ਕਰਿ ਮੇਲਿ ਮਿਲਦੇ ।
sanjhai sodaru gaavanaa man maylee kari mayli miladay|
They sing the Sodar in the evening and heartily associate with one another.

ਰਾਤੀ ਕੀਰਤਿ ਸੋਹਿਲਾ ਕਰਿ ਆਰਤੀ ਪਰਸਾਦੁ ਵੰਡੰਦੇ ।
raatee keerati sohilaa kari aaratee parasaadu vandanday|
Having recited the Sohila and made supplication at night they distribute sacred food (prasad).

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸੁਖ ਫਲੁ ਪਿਰਮ ਚਖੰਦੇ ॥੩॥
guramukhi sukh dhalu piram chakhanday ॥3॥
Thus gurmukhs gladly taste the fruit of happiness.

The Sodar is the Rehiras that you have talked about above. So it was only 3 -- Japji Sahib, Sodar Rehiras, and Sohila, by the time that Bhai Gurdas wrote this pauree. And as you said, bathing, simran and kirtan were part of their daily spiritual practice.

Another interesting thing about this pauree -- Bhai Gurdas refers to "Sikhs" and says that the "Sikhs" do..... which has nothing to do with the question. However, more than once a visitor to SPN has asked when Sikhi was established as a distinctive way of life and religious community. And Bhai Gurdas is showing that an early sense of religious identity had formed by his time.

 

[Gyani Jarnail Singh]

AAD ji..
Gurfateh.

You have arrived at the correct conclusion.
GURU NANAK JI SAHIB set ALL the Parametres of GURMATT.
ANY and ALL...whatever we have in Sikhi/Gurmatt TODAY..has its beginning in our FOUNDER.
The successor Nanaks...elaborated..grew...contributed/added...to the CORE that Guru nanak ji had already set in place.

1. The EK-OANGKAAR Concept that sets apart Guru nanak ji from all others..
2. Talk..discuss..debate.. Travel TOWARDS....others...not "demand" they come to you !! Talk their Language..not demand they learn yours.....ask questions, provide answers..ENGAGE !!!
3. Stand up to tyranny..injustice...stand on TRUTH and TRUTH alone...regardless of the consequences
4. Be prepared...to sacrifice...suffer...
5. The DHARAMSAAL..in EACH and EVERY HOUSE...( Today the SGGS must be in each and every House to provide Spiritual GUIDANCE/SUPPORT ) Ghar Gar ander Dharamsaal...
6. The REHIT.....Naam japp Kirt Kar waand chhak...the Morning Jap, Evening Rehrass and night sohila
7. The Guru ka Langgar...SANGAT..PANGAT....Shabad ka langgar for MIND..Food for body...
8. POTHI to write down Gurbani, collected Banis of Bhagats on travels...percursor of AAD Granth/and Mark of Gurgadee (tilak) is passing down of thsi Pothis of Gurbani...

ALL THESE and many more of the CORE INSTITUTIONS of Gurmatt come from Guru nanak ji...the MASTER PLANNER>>ARCHITECT>>and all.....

Bhai Gurdass Ji who RECORDED all these...is evidence par excellence.