Everything You Need to Know About Sikhism Scriptures and Prayers

Standing or sitting for the practice of daily prayer in Sikhism includes:

• Naam simran, contemplation of the Divine in early morning meditation.
• Paath, devotional reading of Guru Granth Sahib or daily prayers.
• Nitnem banis, a set of five required daily prayers.
• Mala, use of rosary prayer beads.
• Kirtan, prayerful worship in song.
• Ardas, the prayer of petition.

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Guru Granth Sahib the holy scripture and everlasting Guru of the Sikhs is a collection of hymns written in raag authored by Sikh gurus, minstrels and bards, offering guidance to overcoming ego thus realizing the divine and achieving enlightenment:

• All About the Guru Granth Sahib, Sikhism's Holy Scripture
• Who are the Authors of Sikhism's Holy Scripture, The Guru Granth?
• What is the Significance of Raag in Guru Granth Sahib?
• Raag Melodious Hue

The Guru's ordinance is determined by reading a random verse, or hukam:

• Hukam Divine Command
• Before You Read a Hukam
• Illustrated Guide to Reading Hukam

Every Sikh is to read the complete scripture of Guru Granth Sahib:

• 2 Free Akhand Paath Schedules
• Read Akhand Paath, Sadharan Paath, or Sehaj Paath
• Read Guru Granth Sahib in Under a Year 10 Free Plans
• How To Read Akhand Paath Ceremonial Protocol Illustrated

A question often asked is, "What's the use of reading Gurbani if I'm not able to understand it?"

The hymns of Guru Granth Sahib refereed to as Gurbani, the guru's word, are considered to be medicine for the soul afflicted by egoism, and a daily prescription which counter acts ego. Subduing ego comes with faithful practice of reading Nitnem and Guru Granth Sahib scripture regularly to become familiar with Gurbani:

• Sikhism and Learning Gurbani
• Why Read Gurbani If You Don't Understand the Words?
• Making Time to Read Gurbani Daily
• Learn to Read Sikh Scripture at Home
• Gurbani Tuk - Memory Verse
• Share a Gurbani Tuk, the Treasure of Guru Granth Sahib
• Gurbani Word Association
• Exquisite Gurbani in Classical Raag

Nitnem is a  word meaning daily covenant. Nitnem prayers, or banis, are written in Gurmukhi script. Nitnem banis are daily prayers required to be read, recited or reviewed by listening appropriately.  Nitnem includes a set of five prayers known as Panj Bania :

• Morning Prayers - Japji Sahib, Jap Sahib, Tav Prasaad Swaye
• Evening Prayers - Rehras
• Bedtime Prayers - Kirtan Sohila

Amrit Banis are prayers recited by the Panj Pyare during the initiation ceremony and are included as part of the morning prayers by devout Sikhs as part of their nitnem:

1. Japji Sahib
2. Jap Sahib 
3. Tev Prashad Swayae
4. Benti Choapi
5. Anand Sahib has 40 stanzas, six are included at the close of Sikh worship services and ceremonies whenever sacred prashad is served.

The various prayer books of Sikhism are:

• Gutka - Hand held prayer book.
• Amrit Kirtan - Hymnal of immortal nectar.
• Pothi - a sacred book with selections from Gurbani.
• Bir - Collection of compositions in the sacred volume of Guru Granth Sahib.
• Granth - Religious book containing Sikhism's holy scriptures such as Guru Granth or Dasam Granth.

All Sikhs regardless of origin are required to learn to read the Gurmukhi script in order to be able to read Sikhism daily prayers and scriptures, Nitnem and the Guru Granth Sahib:

• Learning Gurmukhi Script

Each character of Gurmukhi script has its own particular unchanging sound grouped by classification:

• Consonants - significance in Sikh scripture.
• Vowels
• Auxiliary Symbols
• Numerals - significance in Sikh scripture.

Learning Gurmukhi script can happen a variety of ways:

• Gurmukhi cross stitch gallery includes samplers stitched by Susheel Kaur featuring Gurmukhi script, Sikhism symbols, slogans and prayers.
• "Let's Learn Punjabi Jigsaw" is a fun 40 piece Punjabi alphabet jigsaw puzzle which aids learning Gurmukhi script.

Gurmukhi script is identical to the Punjabi Alphabet. Books offer invaluable guides to pronunciation and character recognition vital for learning to read the phonetic Gurmukhi script used in Sikh scripture and daily prayers. Books for English speaking beginners tutor using a Romanized phonetic system:

• Punjabi Made Easy (Book One) by J.S.Nagra
• Learn Punjabi in 30 Days by N.S.R. Ganathe
• A Start in Punjabi Based on Comparative Structures of Punjabi and American English by Henry A. Gleason, Jr and Harjeet Singh Gill,

Learn to read and understand prayers in Gurmukhi with the aid of Romanized transliteration and English translation:

• "Sacred Nitnem" - by Harbans Singh Doabia Nitnem bani daily prayers in Gurmukhi and English.
• "Sacred Sukhmani"  by Harbans Singh Doabia "Peace Lagoon" a divine composition of Guru Ajrun Dev.

"Bani Pro" by Rajnarind Kaur is a multiple track CD set designed for teaching proper pronunciation of Nitnem banis, the required daily prayers of Sikhism:

• "Bani Pro 1" designed according to Panj Bania, five required prayers as outlined by Sikh Rahit Marayda (SRM), code of conduct.
• "Bani Pro 2" is a supplemental CD with additional prayers not included in "Bani Pro 1" which are read daily by many devout Sikhs.

These Do It Yourself projects provide protection for Sikhism prayerbooks:

• Sew a DIY Gurbani prayer book cover to protect your Nitnem gutka or Amrit kirtan pothi.
• Carry or store scriptures in this DIY practical protective prayer book pothi pouch that you can easily sew yourself.
• Teach your baby Sikhism symbols and respect for sacred prayer books with DIY Baby's First Prayerbook .
• Build and furnish a DIY portable altar for reading Guru Granth Sahib.

The hymns of the Guru Granth Sahib reflect the journey of the soul through life in partnership with the divine. The hymns and prayers of Gurbani mirror the emotions experienced by every individual. In Sikhism life’s important events are accompanied by the singing sacred verses appropriate to the occasion:

• Hymns in Praise of Women
• Hymns of Hope and Blessings for a Child
• Hymns of Encouragement During Hard Times
• The Hymns of Anand Karaj the Sikh Wedding Ceremony
• Dasam Bani Praise of Khalsa, Vaisakhi Holiday and Khalsa Initiation Hymns
• Antam Sanskaar Funeral Hymns of Consolation for Bereaved

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Gurbani Kirtan CD's Gurmat Gian Group Devotional Hymns For All Occasions

Prayers for peace cross over the boundaries of religious affiliation unifying interfaith communities:

• Meditation for Peace and Healing
• Make My Tongue Your Prayer Flag Waheguru
• Interfaith Inauguration Peace March