Amrit Vela - The Naam

[namjiwankaur]

Sat Sri Akal

I'm really happy with how things are going. So far I'm listening to Nitnem both in the morning and evening. I have been using mostly English versions, but there have been so many awesome traditional ones I've discovered online also.

Are their specific things Sikhs do during Amrit Vela? Certain shabads? Chants of a certain Name?

Speaking of recitation of the Naam, wondering how converts like myself worked on developing the constant repetition of the Naam. As a Sufi, I love dhikr, but still struggle with a continuous repetition. Once I'm distracted, I forget.

So how do Sikhs develop this type of constant worship and remembrance?

Thanks for all your help, all. I have more questions, but one step at a time.

J. :carefreekaur:

 

[Ishna]

Bheinji

Briefly, Naam is not a chant - it is more like the 'Spirit of God'. In the beginning it is difficult to make the distinction.

Chanting any particular word is a meditation technique, that is all. When you say someone's name, you think of them and the qualities associated with them. When you do Naam Jap you are repeating Waheguru Waheguru not to think of the word but to think of the Essence, the real Naam.

Maintaining the constant awareness of this essence (Naam) is simran, and the goal is to maintain that constant awareness 24/7, like Guru Nanak says, the mind is the boy flying a kite, although he may be talking with his friends, his hand is always aware of the kite in the air. So it is with day to day life - you may work, socialise etc but your mind should be aware of Naam like the sensitive hand on the kite string. To constantly chant Waheguru in your mind is not the goal.

Activities in amrit veal should be outpouring if love for Creator and preparing your mind for the day to help you maintain awareness.

Check the Sikh Rehat Maryada for a list of morning nitnem banis.

 

[Luckysingh]

That Ishnaji, is a very nice and clear explanation.
cheerleader

 

[namjiwankaur]

I totally get this. But I stay stuck too much in the shallowest places. Why can't I seem to get immersed in the ocean? All I know is that I Love the Sound of Love, but I can't seem to make that Sound at all. Of course, I do make sounds, but I want my sounds to be Songs for God not the chattering in my mind.

I have PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and I suspect that is part of the problem. But God is Healer. And therefore if I can tune my heart to the right Sound, I will heal enough to Heal myself. Or maybe its not meant to be...I never know why I keep calling...and then stop listening for the answer. The Answer must be in my heart....I know it is. But its been a life time of silence...or maybe now...maybe its all been a Duet all along or a Divine Solo I can't hear myself singing.

J.peacesignkaur

Bheinji

Briefly, Naam is not a chant - it is more like the 'Spirit of God'. In the beginning it is difficult to make the distinction.

Chanting any particular word is a meditation technique, that is all. When you say someone's name, you think of them and the qualities associated with them. When you do Naam Jap you are repeating Waheguru Waheguru not to think of the word but to think of the Essence, the real Naam.

Maintaining the constant awareness of this essence (Naam) is simran, and the goal is to maintain that constant awareness 24/7, like Guru Nanak says, the mind is the boy flying a kite, although he may be talking with his friends, his hand is always aware of the kite in the air. So it is with day to day life - you may work, socialise etc but your mind should be aware of Naam like the sensitive hand on the kite string. To constantly chant Waheguru in your mind is not the goal.

Activities in amrit veal should be outpouring if love for Creator and preparing your mind for the day to help you maintain awareness.

Check the Sikh Rehat Maryada for a list of morning nitnem banis.

 

[Luckysingh]

Sometimes it's like trying to tune in to a radio station. You eventually find it and then lose complete reception. Or sometimes you get the perfect signal, but something else distracts it to stop the connection like the power goes out or radio breaks.

You do get the signal in the end and then it's a task to stay tuned in harmony to what you are listening to. You just need to be patient and not get distressed about it.
Keeping the faith is sometimes more important than getting all the results on demand.

 

[Harry Haller]

So how do Sikhs develop this type of constant worship and remembrance?

Not all of us do Bhenji, some of us associate these mental gymnastics as insignificant.

My own opinion is that 'constant worship', 'simran' etc can be achieved by your actions in Creation. I personally do not pray, chant, meditate or sing Shabad. I read Bani, and I try and implement that in my daily life, and I am afraid that is the only thing that makes me a Sikh.

However, having sat on the extremes most of my life, I would say both Luckyji and Ishnaji probably have a better grasp of the whole picture.

 

[Kanwaljit.Singh]

Chants of a certain Name?

Naam is One. Not Many. It is not as if in the morning this Naam works and in afternoon the same Naam stops working.

 

[namjiwankaur]

Sat Sri Akal

Kanwaljit ji, I thought that Naam was the word for "Names of God", but I researched and I see it is not that at all. I have a lot to learn. I'm so thankful for the guidance I have received here.

I'm still somewhat confused about what Naam actually is...but I see it is a soulful experience and not only a Name uttered.

J.
peacesignkaur

Naam is One. Not Many. It is not as if in the morning this Naam works and in afternoon the same Naam stops working.

 

[Harry Haller]

Naam, I believe, is the connection with Creator, which would count as a definite soulful experience!

 

[TigerStyleZ]

Like Kala Afghana states that why just Amrit Vela is the time to meet the Guru? What is with the rest of the day? What is so specially on Amrit Vela?
I sometimes have this thought as well..

 

[Archived_Member16]

1. Amrit Vela - Importance - Guru's Hukam (gurbani lines)
http://youtu.be/Rf8ckFxvK-g

2 (a). Amrit Vela Sach Nao Wadiyaae Vichar- Vol 1 - Giani Sant Singh Ji Maskeen
http://youtu.be/zygRJLvKG6M


2 (b). Amrit Vela Part 02 - Giani Sant Singh Ji Maskeen
http://youtu.be/4btnqRvUu_U

In the final analysis it a matter whether one follows Gurmat ( Guru ji's wisdom as per Gurbani ) or manmat ( one's own mind wisdom )!

 

[Ishna]

This shabad on Ang 305 says a lot about morning routine:

<TABLE cellSpacing=5><TBODY><TR><TD>ਮਃ ੪ ॥

Mėhlā 4.

Fourth Mehl:


</TD></TR><TR><TD>ਗੁਰ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਜੋ ਸਿਖੁ ਅਖਾਏ ਸੁ ਭਲਕੇ ਉਠਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਵੈ ॥

Gur saṯgur kā jo sikẖ akẖā▫e so bẖalke uṯẖ har nām ḏẖi▫āvai.

One who calls himself a Sikh of the Guru, the True Guru, shall rise in the early morning hours and meditate on the Lord's Name.


</TD></TR><TR><TD>ਉਦਮੁ ਕਰੇ ਭਲਕੇ ਪਰਭਾਤੀ ਇਸਨਾਨੁ ਕਰੇ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਸਰਿ ਨਾਵੈ ॥

Uḏam kare bẖalke parbẖāṯī isnān kare amriṯ sar nāvai.

Upon arising early in the morning, he is to bathe, and cleanse himself in the pool of nectar.


</TD></TR><TR><TD>ਉਪਦੇਸਿ ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਜਪੁ ਜਾਪੈ ਸਭਿ ਕਿਲਵਿਖ ਪਾਪ ਦੋਖ ਲਹਿ ਜਾਵੈ ॥

Upḏes gurū har har jap jāpai sabẖ kilvikẖ pāp ḏokẖ lėh jāvai.

Following the Instructions of the Guru, he is to chant the Name of the Lord, Har, Har. All sins, misdeeds and negativity shall be erased.


</TD></TR><TR><TD>ਫਿਰਿ ਚੜੈ ਦਿਵਸੁ ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਗਾਵੈ ਬਹਦਿਆ ਉਠਦਿਆ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਵੈ ॥

Fir cẖaṛai ḏivas gurbāṇī gāvai bahḏi▫ā uṯẖ▫ḏi▫ā har nām ḏẖi▫āvai.

Then, at the rising of the sun, he is to sing Gurbani; whether sitting down or standing up, he is to meditate on the Lord's Name.


</TD></TR><TR><TD>ਜੋ ਸਾਸਿ ਗਿਰਾਸਿ ਧਿਆਏ ਮੇਰਾ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਸੋ ਗੁਰਸਿਖੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਮਨਿ ਭਾਵੈ ॥

Jo sās girās ḏẖi▫ā▫e merā har har so gursikẖ gurū man bẖāvai.

One who meditates on my Lord, Har, Har, with every breath and every morsel of food - that GurSikh becomes pleasing to the Guru's Mind.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<TABLE cellSpacing=5><TBODY><TR><TD>ਜਿਸ ਨੋ ਦਇਆਲੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਮੇਰਾ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਤਿਸੁ ਗੁਰਸਿਖ ਗੁਰੂ ਉਪਦੇਸੁ ਸੁਣਾਵੈ ॥

Jis no ḏa▫i▫āl hovai merā su▫āmī ṯis gursikẖ gurū upḏes suṇāvai.

That person, unto whom my Lord and Master is kind and compassionate - upon that GurSikh, the Guru's Teachings are bestowed.


</TD></TR><TR><TD>ਜਨੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਧੂੜਿ ਮੰਗੈ ਤਿਸੁ ਗੁਰਸਿਖ ਕੀ ਜੋ ਆਪਿ ਜਪੈ ਅਵਰਹ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਾਵੈ ॥੨॥

Jan Nānak ḏẖūṛ mangai ṯis gursikẖ kī jo āp japai avrah nām japāvai. ||2||

Servant Nanak begs for the dust of the feet of that GurSikh, who himself chants the Naam, and inspires others to chant it. ||2||
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
​

What I find interesting is the focus on Naam simran between 2am and 6am, but no one ever says anything about this line:

Then, at the rising of the sun, he is to sing Gurbani; whether sitting down or standing up, he is to meditate on the Lord's Name.



Such emphasis is put on the dark hours but here is specifically says - sing Gurbani at sunrise. Have you ever done that? Because of the change of season I find myself at the bus stop at sunrise these days. It is awesome to be outside with the singing birds and that crisp glow and the air at sunrise and I know Japji is to be chanted but the last few days I couldn't help myself but make up a bit of a tune alone the way. Awesome!

Who makes sure they sing Gurbani at sunrise every day?

 

[Luckysingh]

Like Kala Afghana states that why just Amrit Vela is the time to meet the Guru? What is with the rest of the day? What is so specially on Amrit Vela?
I sometimes have this thought as well..

It's not a time for meeting the guru nor is it auspicious in that sense.
It's more about before you begin your day.
We all wake up and wash or shower in the mornings before our day begins. In the same sense it is about cleansing your mind from the days impurities by doing naam simran before your next day begins.
Once you can understand this, then you will realise that real daily cleansing should be more about our minds and not just the bodies.

This is how I understand it to be, and it does need to be done daily.

Ishnaji, I really think that in todays day, we have to adjust our time scales according to busy lifestyle and work. The actual times have to suit our needs and working day.
It doesn't matter what exact time you do it as someone working graveyard or nightshifts will rise in the evening some time. So they will wash or shower at about 6-8pm, therefore somewhere around here would be appropriate for their personal amrit vela.

 

[Gyani Jarnail Singh]

GURBANI...SGGS..is a MANUAL OF LIFE...a SUCCESSFUL LIFE.

Successful life means DISCIPLINE...REHAT...MARYADA...RULES...REGULATIONS.

Simple as THAT.

A person who sleeps way past MIDNIGHT...wakes up at NOON....munches on some leftovers and drinks stale milk and goes back to sleep at 3pm...etc ?? IS HE a SUCCESS ?? Is he what an EMPLOYER will JUMP and EMPLOY ?? Is he one a Girl will say is the Man of my dreams and one i want to marry ? is he the one the kids can say..I am proud of you Dad ??

The GURU wants and desires His SIKH to be a successful, happy, etc etc etc...and the way to that lies in what GURBANI TEACHES...simple and short and therefore very SWEET. KISS of LIFE.

 

[Ishna]

My question then would be, is:

ਫਿਰਿ ਚੜੈ ਦਿਵਸੁ ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਗਾਵੈ ਬਹਦਿਆ ਉਠਦਿਆ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਵੈ ॥

Fir cẖaṛai ḏivas gurbāṇī gāvai bahḏi▫ā uṯẖ▫ḏi▫ā har nām ḏẖi▫āvai.

Then, at the rising of the sun, he is to sing Gurbani; whether sitting down or standing up, he is to meditate on the Lord's Name.
​

actually specifying a precise time? If not, why do you think it's been translated thus?

If it does in fact specify the rising of the sun, why is it disregarded?

 

[Luckysingh]

My question then would be, is:

ਫਿਰਿ ਚੜੈ ਦਿਵਸੁ ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਗਾਵੈ ਬਹਦਿਆ ਉਠਦਿਆ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਵੈ ॥

Fir cẖaṛai ḏivas gurbāṇī gāvai bahḏi▫ā uṯẖ▫ḏi▫ā har nām ḏẖi▫āvai.

Then, at the rising of the sun, he is to sing Gurbani; whether sitting down or standing up, he is to meditate on the Lord's Name.
​

actually specifying a precise time? If not, why do you think it's been translated thus?

If it does in fact specify the rising of the sun, why is it disregarded?

Well, after midnight, the next day officially starts as per calender ie..the date number changes. Thus we have the very early hours of the morning.
However, at the rising of the sun is when the daytime light and day officially starts or begins.
This is also when the ''next'' day starts for most of us.

In the shabad it mentions ''fir charai divas'' meaning at the turn of the light or as when the sun rises and starts to light up the beginning of the day.
When you think about it, this is probably the best way to put the shabad, because if it just stated at the beginning of the day then that could mean 12.00 am or early hours of the morning.
I think that in this sense it is stated as such, so as to avoid confusion when the real practical begining of the day is.

 

[Ishna]

Thank you Lucky bhaji.

Do you think there is a difference between ''fir charai divas'' and "amrit vela" or are they describing the same time?

As I understand it, amrit vela is not necessarily a designated time - it's 'sweet hour' right, which could be anytime really?

Whereas "fir charai divas" is specifying a time, precisely.

Could it also be suggesting sunset???

 

[TigerStyleZ]

Yes.. I fully understand that you wake up and start the day with Gurbani - because Gurbani makes happy - and "cleanse" the mind... and I understand that - but what is if you work all night long - and during day you sleep? How should someone rise up and cleanse himself when is on already on duty? Has this certain person no chance to get this "amrit veela" feeling?
Second thing what I used to mean is that what Ishna ji already posted - the ceratin line:
ਫਿਰਿ ਚੜੈ ਦਿਵਸੁ ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਗਾਵੈ ਬਹਦਿਆ ਉਠਦਿਆ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਵੈ ॥

Fir cẖaṛai ḏivas gurbāṇī gāvai bahḏi▫ā uṯẖ▫ḏi▫ā har nām ḏẖi▫āvai.
Then, at the rising of the sun, he is to sing Gurbani; whether sitting down or standing up, he is to meditate on the Lord's Name.

Full shabad at http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=306&g=1&h=0&r=1&t=1&p=0&k=0&fb=0



For me Amrit veela is great - when I read gurbani it makes me so endless happy and i start my day with this kind of smile :grinningkaur:. It is just the silence and everything in amrit veela.. I dont know how to explain..

@ Lucky ji,

you said we should change the time accroding to busy lifestyle? But Amrit veela is Amrit veela or not? How we can change Gurus word? How we can have any doubt on that and change it like we want? Or does our Gur jis meant personal Marit veela time? When we think it is amrit veela we should repeat the name of god? Example: I think 18 pm is Amrit veela time - maybe they meant this "Amrit Veela" metaphorical?

 

[Harry Haller]

Tigerstylezji

If we place ritualism on one side of a line and complete free will on the other side, somewhere in the middle is wisdom, understanding, discretion.

Don't get bogged down with literal meanings, if you enjoy Bani, enjoy it any time, I am sure one day the complete meaning of the relevance of time will jump out at you when you least expect it, till then, my own opinion is that every hour and every minute is Amrit Vela

 

[Ishna]

Harry ji

I appreciate your point and I agree with it 99%.

The 1% is still the fact that Guruji appears to have been very specific with regard to timing here.

So at the least, if one is unable to observe any 'amrit vela', he should still sing Gurbani at sunrise. This seems very specific to me. I see no room for a metaphorical interpretation of the line I quoted previously. It almost seems like an 'at the very least, at sunrise, turn your thoughts to Creator'.

The amrit vela line is somewhat open to interpretation - every moment can be amrit vela. But not every moment can be 'at the turn of light' unless it is in reference to 'at the turn of insight' or when you are connected to Guruji.

But I am still very curious about the Gurbani - does it mean sunrise or sunset or is it open to interpretation?

The Gurmukhi dictionary doesn't provide a translation of 'charai' so I can't analyse the original.