Amrit Sanchar - Sikh Ceremony of Rebirth - Initiation of Khalsa

Amrit Sanchar - Sikh Ceremony of Rebirth - Initiation of Khalsa

Amrit Sanchar, the Sikh ceremony of rebirth takes place in a clean and secluded location at any chosen time. To commence the initiation of Khalsa, an attendant carries Siri Guru Granth Sahib to a low, draped platform and offers the prayer of Ardas before opening and selecting a random hukamnama verse. A Sikh holds a sword, and stands guard outside.

Panj Pyara:

• Five men or women who are Amritdhari Sikhs.
• Have pleasing personalities, good health and vision, without physical defects.
• Have committed no breach of faith or any cardinal sin.

Initiates seeking baptism:

• Mature man, or woman, of any caste, color, or creed.
• Freshly bathed, freshly washed hair, and clean clothing.
• Adorned with kes (covered), kanga, kachhera, kirpan, and kara.
• No ornament piercing the body.
• No token of any other faith.
• No sort of cap, or bare headed.

At least one new initiate must participate. Initiates stand facing Siri Guru Granth Sahib with hands folded. Panj pyara interview initiates seeking re-baptism, assigning appropriate chastisement. Panj pyara explains the Sikh tenants to initiates, who agree to:

• Worship one God.
• Read Siri Guru Granth Sahib.
• Join in sangat, congregation.
• Serve the Khalsa.
• Refrain from worshiping any created object, or living thing.

Khandae Pahul, Nectar of the Sword

One Pyara offers Ardas for the preparation of Amrit. The others stand by an iron bowl, in which Amrit is to be prepared. The attending granthi reads aloud the hukamnama, a random verse. Panj Pyara gather around the bowl kneeling in bir assan, with the left knee upright, while squatting on the right heel.

• One pyara pours clean water into the bowl, adding crystallized sugar.
• One pyara holds onto the bowl with the left hand, grasping a double edged iron sword with the right hand, and stirs the sugar in to the water while reciting one of five Amrit banis, the ceremonial prayers.
• The others hold the edge of the bowl with both hands, passing the sword and reciting prayers turn by turn, concentrating fully on the Amrit nectar.

At the conclusion of the Amrit banis, one of the panj pyara offers Ardas.

Administration of Amrit:

Initiates, by turn, assume the bir posture, cupping right hand, over left.

• One pyara dips a hand into the bowl and pours Amrit into the cupped hands of an initiate saying, “Waheguru ji ka Khalsa Waheguru ji ki Fateh,” (Khalsa is of the wondrous, dark dispelling light, as is victory). The initiate drinks the nectar, and answers in like manner. The process is repeated five times.
• One pyara sprinkles a handful of the Amrit nectar into the initiate’s eyes, saying, “Waheguru ji ka Khalsa Waheguru ji ki Fateh.” The initiate answers in like manner. The process is repeated five times.
• One pyara bares the top portion of the initiates head, and wets the initiate’s hair with a handful of Amrit saying, “Waheguru ji ka Khalsa Waheguru ji ki Fateh”. The initiate answers in like manner. The process is repeated five times.

When all initiates have been thusly baptized, they stand. Panj pyara pass around the bowl with remaining the Amrit nectar, holding it to the lips of each initiate, giving everyone a drink, until all is consumed.

Code of Conduct:

Panj pyara in one voice, first reverberate gurmanter, the name Waheguru, followed by moolmanter, the opening phrase of Siri Guru Granth Sahib. The initiates repeat in like manner. Panj pyara recount the discipline of Khalsa instructing initiates in the code of conduct:

• Khalsa renounces all lineages of caste, creed, country, occupation, religious affiliations, prophets, incarnations, gods, and goddesses.
• Khalsa is reborn to the order of Khalsa, the house Guru, ending the cycle of transmigration.
• Khalsa are sons and daughter of one father, Guru Gobind Singh and one mother, Mata Sahib Kaur.
  
  • Female initiates take the surname of Kaur equating the status of prince.
  • Male initiates take the surname of Singh signifying kingly stature and courage of a lion.
• Khalsa has the birthplace of Kesghar sahib, and homeland, Anand Pur.
• Khalsa accept the ten Gurus as their liberators, Siri Guru Granth Sahib as salvation, worshiping one timeless being, Akal Purkh.
• Khalsa must learn to read the gurmukhi script.
• Khalsa must read, recite, or listen to Nitnem including:
  Required Morning Prayers:
  
  • Japji Sahib – composed by Guru Nanak Dev.
  • Jap Sahib – composition of Guru Gobind Singh from ‘Dasm Granth’.
  • Tev Prasaad Swaye – composition of Guru Gobind Singh from ‘Akal Ustat’.
  Required Evening Prayers:
  
  • Rehraas – selections from Siri Guru Granth Sahib with Benti Chaupai.
  Required Bedtime Prayers:
  
  • Kirtan Sohila – composed by Guru Nanak Dev, Guru Raam Das, and Guru Arjan Dev.
• Khalsa must keep on the person at all times five kakars, required articles of faith:
  
  • Kes - Unshorn hair.
  • Kanga – Wooden comb.
  • Kachherra – Loose undergarment.
  • Kirpan – Short curved sword.
  • Kara – Iron, or steel, bangle.
• Khalsa must refrain from the cardinal sins of Bujjar Kurehit:
  
  • Hukaa – Use of tobacco and other intoxicants.
  • Hajaamat – Dishonoring, alteration, or tampering of any hair.
  • Halaal – Kuttha, killing (especially in the Muslim sacrificial way) for food.
  • Haraam – Cohabitation with other than one’s spouse.
• Khalsa, who commit any transgression, appear before Panj Pyara for re - initiation.

Panj pyara lead the initiates to the waiting congregation. Someone beats a large kettle drum as they file in one by one, and bow before Siri Guru Granth Sahib. The congregation resume singing kirtan of devotional hymns.

Conclusion:

• A Sikh offers ardas.
• The granthi reads hukamnama.
• The congregation sings Anand Sahib, song of bliss.
• A Sikh serves prashad, a blessed sweet, to the congregation.
• The congregation partake of langar from the guru's free kitchen.

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