Paath
Encyclopedia
Paath or Path, from the Sanskrit
patha which means reading or recitation, is, in the religious context, reading or recitation of the holy texts. In Sikhism
, it implies daily repetition of scriptural texts from the Guru Granth Sahib
.
, alone or with others listening or reciting along. The person reciting Gurbani should pronounce every syllable correctly so that the Naad
, the sound current may be produced and affect the consciousness of the one reciting and the one listening.
Gurbani may be recited in the Sadh Sangat at any time, whether or not one is in the presence of Siri Guru Granth Sahib. A beautiful form of recitation in a group is to divide into groups of men and women with each reciting an alternate sutra. (A sutra is a complete line of poetry.) In the Gurmukhi each sutra is separated by two vertical lines (//). Gurbani should be recited rhythmically and meditatively.
’s nitnem
or daily religious regimen. Paath of these prescribed texts is performed from a handy collection, called gutka (missal or breviary) or from memory. Three of the banis, Guru Nanak’s Japji and Guru Gobind Singh
’s Jaap Sahib
and Savaiye — constitute the Sikh
s mandatory morning paath or devotions, and two — Rehras
and Kirtan Sohila
— evening paath. Individuals add certain other texts as well such as Shabad Hazaare, Anand Sahib
and Sukhmani
.
The paath is also performed individually and more particularly in sangat
from the Guru Granth Sahib
itself. The Holy Volume is ceremonially installed under coverlets on a decorated seat resting on a raised platform, with a canopy above, and is opened by the paathi or reader who sits reverentially behind. Usually, another person stands in attendance, waving the fly-whisk
over the Holy Book. The paathi should have bathed and be dressed in clean clothes. Besides the reading of one single hymn to obtain vak or hukamnama
(lesson or command for the day) or of some passages, three forms of complete paath of the Guru Granth Sahib
are current: Akhand Paath
(unbroken recitation completed in forty-eight hours), Saptahik (completed in a week) and Sadharan or Sahij (taken in slow parts with no time-limit for completion). A rarest variety is Ati Akhand Paath, hardly ever practised, in which a single participant reads within the prescribed 48 hours the entire text.
is repeated with the chosen line or lines. The relay of paathis (readers) in this instance will naturally be larger than in the case of a normal akhand paath.
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
patha which means reading or recitation, is, in the religious context, reading or recitation of the holy texts. In Sikhism
Sikhism
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded during the 15th century in the Punjab region, by Guru Nanak Dev and continued to progress with ten successive Sikh Gurus . It is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world and one of the fastest-growing...
, it implies daily repetition of scriptural texts from the Guru Granth Sahib
Guru Granth Sahib
Sri Guru Granth Sahib , or Adi Granth, is the religious text of Sikhism. It is the final and eternal guru of the Sikhs. It is a voluminous text of 1430 angs, compiled and composed during the period of Sikh gurus, from 1469 to 1708...
.
Background
Paath is the recitation of Gurbani. It can also be called prayers of some instances. It may be done individually or in a group; it can be the recitation of one’s Banis or any part of the Siri Guru Granth SahibGuru Granth Sahib
Sri Guru Granth Sahib , or Adi Granth, is the religious text of Sikhism. It is the final and eternal guru of the Sikhs. It is a voluminous text of 1430 angs, compiled and composed during the period of Sikh gurus, from 1469 to 1708...
, alone or with others listening or reciting along. The person reciting Gurbani should pronounce every syllable correctly so that the Naad
Naad
Naad is an Indian semi-pro rock band formed in 2006 with Chandrahaas Uniyal on vocals, Madhur Shukla and Uvais Mohammed on guitars, Maruthishankar Chandrasekaran on bass guitars and Sriram on drums...
, the sound current may be produced and affect the consciousness of the one reciting and the one listening.
Gurbani may be recited in the Sadh Sangat at any time, whether or not one is in the presence of Siri Guru Granth Sahib. A beautiful form of recitation in a group is to divide into groups of men and women with each reciting an alternate sutra. (A sutra is a complete line of poetry.) In the Gurmukhi each sutra is separated by two vertical lines (//). Gurbani should be recited rhythmically and meditatively.
Sikh’s daily religious regimen
Reading of certain banis is part of a SikhSikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
’s nitnem
Nitnem
Nit Nem is a collaboration of different banis that were designated to be read by sikhs every day.The Nit Nem bani's usually include the Panj bania which are read in the morning 1am and Rehras Sahib in the evening 6pm and Kirtan Sohila at night 9pm*Japji Sahib *Jaap Sahib *Tav-Prasad Savaiye*Benti...
or daily religious regimen. Paath of these prescribed texts is performed from a handy collection, called gutka (missal or breviary) or from memory. Three of the banis, Guru Nanak’s Japji and Guru Gobind Singh
Guru Gobind Singh
Guru Gobind Singh is the tenth and last Sikh guru in a sacred lineage of ten Sikh gurus. Born in Patna, Bihar in India, he was also a warrior, poet and philosopher. He succeeded his father Guru Tegh Bahadur as the leader of Sikhs at a young age of nine...
’s Jaap Sahib
Jaap Sahib
Jaap Sahib is the morning prayer of the Sikhs. The Prayer or Bani was composed by the tenth Sikh Master, Guru Gobind Singh. This Bani is one of 5 Banis that a Sikh must recite everyday and is recited by the Panj Pyare while preparing Amrit on the occasion of Amrit Sanchar , a ceremony held to admit...
and Savaiye — constitute the Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
s mandatory morning paath or devotions, and two — Rehras
Rehras
The rehras sahib is the evening prayer of the Sikhs. It is recited at the end of a working day. Its purpose is to add energy to one's being and living environments...
and Kirtan Sohila
Kirtan Sohila
Kirtan Sohila: Three Gurus – Guru Nanak, Guru Ram Das and Guru Arjan - contributed five shabads on the pain of separation and celebrating the bliss of union. The first three Shabads were uttered by Guru Nanak, the fourth by Guru Ram Das and the fifth by Guru Arjan Dev. This is the night prayer said...
— evening paath. Individuals add certain other texts as well such as Shabad Hazaare, Anand Sahib
Anand Sahib
Anand Sahib: This Bani is part of the Nitnem or prayer which are read by Amritdhari Sikhs in the morning. The Bani was written by Guru Amar Das, the third Guru of the Sikhs and form part of the 5 Banis that are recited daily by baptised Sikhs. The Bani appears on pages 917 to 922 of Guru Granth...
and Sukhmani
Sukhmani
Sukhmani Sahib is the name given to the set of hymns divided into 24 sections which appear in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh Holy Scriptures on page 262. Each section, which is called an Ashtpadi, consists of 8 hymns per Ashtpadi. The word Sukhmani literally means Peace in your mind...
.
The paath is also performed individually and more particularly in sangat
Sangat
Sangat is a Sikh term with its origin in the Sanskrit word 'sangh', which means company, fellowship and association. In Sikh vocabulary, the word has a special connotation. It stands for the body of men and women who meet religiously, especially in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib...
from the Guru Granth Sahib
Guru Granth Sahib
Sri Guru Granth Sahib , or Adi Granth, is the religious text of Sikhism. It is the final and eternal guru of the Sikhs. It is a voluminous text of 1430 angs, compiled and composed during the period of Sikh gurus, from 1469 to 1708...
itself. The Holy Volume is ceremonially installed under coverlets on a decorated seat resting on a raised platform, with a canopy above, and is opened by the paathi or reader who sits reverentially behind. Usually, another person stands in attendance, waving the fly-whisk
Fly-whisk
A fly-whisk is a tool to swat or disturb flies. It is used as a regalia in some cultures.In Indonesian art, a fly-whisk is one of the items associated with Shiva. The fly-whisk is frequently seen as an attribute of both Hindu, Daoist, and Buddhist deities...
over the Holy Book. The paathi should have bathed and be dressed in clean clothes. Besides the reading of one single hymn to obtain vak or hukamnama
Hukamnama
A Hukamnama refers to a hymn from the Guru Granth Sahib which is given as an order to Sikhs or a historical order given by one of the Guru's of Sikhism....
(lesson or command for the day) or of some passages, three forms of complete paath of the Guru Granth Sahib
Guru Granth Sahib
Sri Guru Granth Sahib , or Adi Granth, is the religious text of Sikhism. It is the final and eternal guru of the Sikhs. It is a voluminous text of 1430 angs, compiled and composed during the period of Sikh gurus, from 1469 to 1708...
are current: Akhand Paath
Akhand Path
Akhand Path is the common practise of continuous recitation of sacred religious texts in Hinduism and Sikhism.-Sikhism:...
(unbroken recitation completed in forty-eight hours), Saptahik (completed in a week) and Sadharan or Sahij (taken in slow parts with no time-limit for completion). A rarest variety is Ati Akhand Paath, hardly ever practised, in which a single participant reads within the prescribed 48 hours the entire text.
Sampat Paath
Another variety is the sampat paath. No time-limit is specified for it. Different schools and different groups or paathis have their own schedules. But the commonest factor in this variety of paath is that a whole shabad or a portion of it from the holy text will be set apart for repetition after every full stanza or apportioned section of it has been recited. Time-limit will thus be variable, depending upon the length of the verse or verses chosen for repetition. The hymn or portions of it chosen for repeated recitation will be governed by the occasion or purpose of the paath. At certain places even the Mul MantraMul Mantra
The Mul Mantar is the first composition in the Sikh holy book, the Adi Granth. It is a series of affirmations and is the basis of Sikh theology. The Mul Mantar is the first composition of Guru Nanak and the origin of the Adi Granth. The Adi Granth begins with the Mul Mantar and it occurs more than...
is repeated with the chosen line or lines. The relay of paathis (readers) in this instance will naturally be larger than in the case of a normal akhand paath.