Amrit is said to be the ambrosial nectar of gods, immortalizing those who drink of it.
Phonetically a single a sound translates to mean "un". A double aa translates to mean "come". Mrit means "death". Put together these sounds form the word Amrit which means, literally, "death is un come," and implies a state of immortality.
In the Sikh baptism ceremony Amritsanchar, the five beloved panj pyara prepare Amrit by stirring sugar cakes into an iron bowl filled with water using an iron sword. This is done while reciting Amrit Banis, the five prayers of initiation, to infuse the water with the sweetness of sugar, strength of iron and the immortalizing properties of prayer.
Initiates drink Amrit to experience a kind of rebirth, immortalizing the soul and releasing it from the bonds of transmigration. Panj pyara instruct initiates to recite the nectar name Waheguru, to recreate Amrit within. Once partaking of the Amrit nectar, initiates are known as Amritdhari. Instructions are given to Amritdhari initiates to meditate during the early morning hours before dawn. This is a practice known as Amritvela, or an instance of immortality.
