Rehat Maryada

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The Rehat Maryada is the Sikh Code of Conduct which was put into force right from the birth of Sikhi.

The SGPC only later on realeased the version which may or may not be the true rehat maryada the one released by Damdami Taksaal is more relevant

In 1915 and later in 1931, attempts were made to create a modern standard Rehat (Rehat or code). This effort involved several Sikh scholars who worked to produce the current version. In 1950 the "Sikh Rehat Maryada" was finally approved. The document has been accepted as the official version which provides guidelines for all Sikh individuals and communities around the world. Its implementation has resulted in a high level of uniformity in the religious and social practices of Sikhism.

Sikh Rehat Maryada is based on earlier codes (Rehat namas), the earliest of them are:

  1. Tanakhah-nama (Nasihat Nama) Samvat 1776 (1718-19 CE), ten years after the death of Guru Gobind Singh.
  2. The Prahilad Rai Rehat-nama
  3. Sakhi Rehat ki: About 1735 CE
  4. Chaupa Singh Rehat-nama: 1740-1765 CE (1700 CE according to Piara Singh Padam). Chaupa Singh was a member of the Guru's retinue. He was entrusted with the care of infant Gobind Das by Guru Tegh Bahadur. Some members of Chaupa Singh's family became martyrs with the Guru Tegh Bahadur in Delhi and others served under the 10th Guru.
  5. Desa Singh Rehat-nama: late 18th century
  6. Daya Singh Rehat-nama

Contents

[edit] Main Points Covered

The following is a summary of the main issues covered by the Sikh Reht Maryada: (see SGPC site)

  • 1. Definition of Sikh
  • 2. Sikh Living
    • Sikh's Personal Life
    • Sikh's Communal Life
  • 3. Meditating and Holy Scriptures
  • 4. Sadh Sangat and Reflecting on Gurbani
  • 5. Service in Gurdwaras
    • Kirtan
    • Ardas & Guru's Hukam
    • Akhand Paath and Sadharan Paath
    • Festivals
  • 6. Living by the Guru's Way (Gurmat Rehni)
  • 7. Sikh Ceremonies
    • Baby Naming Ceremony (Naam Karan)
    • Baptism Ceremony (Amrit Sanskar)
    • Marriage Ceremony (Anand Sanskar)
    • Funeral Ceremony (Antim Sanskar)
    • Other Rites and Conventions
  • 8. Voluntary Service (Seva)
  • 9. Communal Life & Other Matters

[edit] 1. Definition of Sikh

A Sikh is defined as any person male or female who faithfully:

  • i. believes in the existence of One eternal God
  • ii. Accepts as their only Spiritual guide as the Guru Granth Sahib and the ten human Gurus and follows their teachings
  • iii. Is preparing to take the baptism Amrit Sanchar as promoted by the tenth Guru, and
  • iv. does not owe allegiance to any other religion.

[edit] 2. Sikh Living

There are two aspects to a Sikh living. One is the adherence to a personal discipline and the development of a strong family life. The other is the involvement in communal life and to ensure community well-being and infra-structure for support of the weak within the community local and globally. This is the practical aspect of the three pillars of Sikhism promoted by Guru Nanak called Wand kay Shako (Share and consume)

[edit] Personal life

i). Naam Japna - Meditation on God's Name and the recital of the holy scriptures:

    • a). To arise in the early hours and recite Gurbani in the morning (Five Banis), evening (Rehras) and night (Kirtan Sohila) followed each time with the Ardas prayer. To remember God at all times and to recite his name whenever possible. (Naam Simran)
    • b). Seek only the support of the Almighty Lord before beginning any new task or venture. (Ardas)

ii. Kirat Karni - Leading ones life in accordance with the Guru's teachings:

    • a). Engage in a honest profession or other work or study course.
    • b). Promote the family way of life giving time to children in an active way so as to ensure their proper awareness of the Sikh way of life.
    • c). To live humbly and with love in an extended family group encouraging Gurmat principles and offering moral support within this extended structure.

iii. Seva – Undertake free voluntary service within the community at Gurdwaras, community projects, hospitals, old peoples homes, nurseries, etc.

    • a). At every opportunity to spend ones free time to free community work and devote at least 10% of ones wealth in time or money to support community projects.
    • b). To positively support weaker members within the community.

iv). Disciplined Life: The Sikh is commanded by the Gurus to lead a disciplined life and to not follow blindly rituals and superstitions which bring no spiritual or material benefit to the person or community.

    • b). Eat simple non-halal food in moderation and refrain from any food or drink that causes determent to the body or mind like alcohol, drugs, tobacco.
    • c). Refrain from rituals, superstitions and other anti-Sikh behaviour such as gambling, etc.
    • d). Apart from ones wife (or Husband) to treat all or females (or males) as daughters, sisters or mothers (sons, brothers or fathers) depending on their age.
    • e). To practise and promote complete equality between the genders; castes; races, religions, etc.

[edit] Communal Life

The Sikh has a duty to actively contribute to the community outside the family unit. Time need to be given to the greater Sikh community and the even wider world community. It is the duty of the Sikh to hold a continuous dialogue with all members of the bigger community to treat them as equals and respect their religion and their customs.

[edit] 3. Meditating and Holy Scriptures

It is the duty of all Sikhs to engage in personal and communal meditation, Kirtan and the study of the holy Scriptures. Meditating and understanding of the Guru Granth Sahib is important to the proper development of a Sikh. One must study Gurmukhi and be able to read Gurbani and understand the meaning of the text. Translations and other material may be used to assist the Sikh but must not be the primary text for the Sikh. The Sikh has to revert back to the Guru Granth Sahib for the all spiritual guidance in ones life – from birth to death.

[edit] 4. Holy Congregation (Sadh Sangat) and Reflecting on Gurbani

It is believed that a Sikh is more easily and deeply affected by Gurbani when engaged in a congregational gatherings. For this reason, it is necessary for a Sikh to visits Gurdwaras , the places where the Sikhs congregate for worship and prayer, and joining the holy congregation, take part and obtain benefit from the joint study of the holy scriptures.

No one is to be barred from entering a Gurdwara, no matter in which country, religion or caste he/she belongs to. The Gurdwara is open to all for the Guru's darshan (seeing the holy Guru) and Langar. However the person must not have on his/her person anything, such as tobacco or other intoxicants, which are tabooed by the Sikh religion.

[edit] 5. Service in Gurdwaras

During a service ina Gurdwara and while congregational sessions is present, only one activity should be done at a time in one hall in the presence of the Guru - performing of kirtan, delivering of discourse, interpretative elaboration of the scriptures, or reading of the scriptures.

[edit] Kirtan

Only a Sikh is allowed to perform Kirtan (Spiritual hymn singing) in a congregation and only hymns (Shabads) from the holy scriptural compositions in traditional musical measures should be sung. Only Shabads from Gurbani (Guru Granth's or Guru Gobind Singh's hymns) and the compositions of Bhai Gurdas and Bhai Nand Lal, may be performed. It is improper to sing hymns to rhythmic folk tunes or popular film tunes.

[edit] Ardas & Guru's Hukam

Before taking a Hukam from the Guru, an Ardas must been done where all the congregation would stand for the Ardas and then sit down and carefully listen to the Hukam of the Guru.

[edit] Akhand Paath and Sadharan Paath

Akhand Paath: Is the non-stop reading of the Guru Granth Sahib carried on during difficult times or during occasions of joy and celebration. The reading takes approximately forty eight hours of continuous and uninterrupted reading by a relay of skilled Gurbani readers. The reading must done in a clear voice and with correct and full pronunciation. Reading the Gurbani too fast, so that the person listening in cannot follow the contents, is discouraged and is considered as disrespect for the Scriptures and the congregation (Sangat).

Sadharan Paath: This is a non-continuous reading of the Guru Granth Sahib and one can take from seven days to many months to complete the full reading of the 1430 pages of the text.

[edit] Festivals

The important Sikh festivals that are celebrated are:

  • Gurpurbs – Birthday and other important anniversaries (martyrdom, etc) from the lives of the Gurus;
  • Vaisakhi – First Amrit Sanchar and Harvest festival

[edit] 6. Living according to the Guru's Way

To live and promote the tenets stipulated by the Gurus.

  • Belief in One God
  • Equality of All the Human race
  • Respect for All, irrespective of gender, age, status, color, caste, etc
  • Self-Control – Kill the Five Evils; no rituals or superstitions; no gambling, tobacco, alcohol, intoxicating drugs, etc.
  • Self-Improvement – Promote the Five Virtues
  • Maintenance of a distinct external image – 5 Ks and Bana

[edit] 7. Sikh Ceremonies

[edit] 8. Voluntary Service (Seva)

Seva (Voluntary Service) is an important prominent part of the Sikh religion and all Sikhs must get involved in this communal service whenever an opportunity arises. This in its simple forms can be: sweeping and washing the floors of the Gurdwara, serving water and food (Langar) to or fanning the congregation, offering provisions to and rendering any kind of service in the common kitchen-cum-eating house, dusting the shoes of the people visiting the Gurdwara, etc.

Guru ka Langar (Guru's Kitchen-cum-Eating House) is a very important part of Sikhism. The main philosophy behind the Langar is two-fold : to provide training to engage in Sewa and an opportunity to serve the Sikhs and to help banish all distinction of high and low, touchable and untouchable from the Sikhs' minds.

[edit] 9. Communal Life & Other Matters

Sikhism offers strong support for a healthy communal life and a Sikh must undertake to support all worthy projects which would benefit the community and promote Gurmat principles. Importance is given to Inter-faith dialogue, support for the poor and weak; better community understanding and co-operation, and so on.

[edit] References

  • Piara Singh Padam, Rehatname, Patiala, 1974
  • Sikhs of the Khalsa : History of Khalsa Rehat, W.H.Mcleod, Oxford Press 2003

[edit] External links

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