Baptism

Written by Administrator

Anyone can be initiated into the Sikh religion if one can read and understand the contents of Guru Granth Sahib and is matured enough to follow the Sikh code of conduct. The baptism ceremony is known as -Amrit Chhakna". It is conducted. in a holy place, any place sanctified with the presence of Guru Granth Sahib, preferably a Gurdwara. The ceremony is conducted by five baptized Sikhs known as Singhs or Khalsa who must be observant of the Sikh religious discipline and the Sikh code of conduct A date and place is fixed for the baptismal ceremony and information to that effect is given in the local press. All the candidates interested in the initiation then formally apply for admission. The candidates are interviewed and if found worthy of initiation are called at the specified place at the fixed date and time. The formal ceremony is conducted in the following way: A. Guru Granth Sahib is opened in the ceremonious way. One of the five Khalsas selected for the Amrit ceremony offers the formal prayer in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib which is followed by a random reading from the holy book. B. The entrants join in the formal prayer and sit cross legged when the verse from Guru Granth Sahib is being read. Then they stand in front of the congregation (if there is any) and ask their permission for admission into the Khalsa brotherhood. The permission is normally given by means of the religious call-Bolay So Nihal Sat Sri Akal (Whosoever Would Speak Would Be Blessed-God Is The Supreme Truth). C. One of the Khalsa then instructs the aspirants in the following way: After taking Amrit you must: 1. Believe in the teaching of the ten Sikh Gurus and Guru Granth Sahib. 2. Recite five Banis-(Collection of Hymns) every day. 3. Wear the five Ks-i.e., uncut hair, sword, comb, underwear and the steel bracelet 4. Live upon your own honest and sincere earnings. 5. Treat all human beings as equal. 6. Spread the name of the God. After taking Amrit you must not: 1. Deal with persons who have no belief in God 2. Take drugs, intoxicants and tobacco in any form 3. Have any faith in magic, superstitions, charms and rituals 4. Have any relations with mines (descendants of Prithi Chand, a brother of Guru Aijan who revolted against his father, Guru Ramdas, to have the Guruship for himself) Dhirmaliaa (descendants of Dhirmal, a grandson of Guru) Guru HarGobind Singh Ji, who also revolted against his father and grand father to inherit the Guruship and child killers, a sect of Hindus who would kill their babies if they were girls. After the general acceptance of the above instructions, the Amrit (the holy nectar) is prepared. A big iron bowl is filled with fresh water and some sugar pellets are put in.The water is stirred by all the five selected Khalsa with a double edged dagger. Five holy Banis viz., Jap Sahib., (composed by Guru Gobind Singh Ji), Japji Sahib (composed by Guru Nanak), Sudha Swayas (composed by Guru Gobind Singh Ji), Benti Chaupai (composed by Guru Gobind Singh Ji), and Anand Sahib (composed by Guru Amardas) are recited while the water is being stirred After the completion of the five Banis a prayer is said and a random verse is read from Guru Granth Sahib. Then the Amrit is administered to each candidate, one by one, as follows: Firstly, five sips of Amrit are poured into the hollow made by the palm of the right hand of each entrant to drink one after another. Secondly, theAmrit is sprinkled five times into the eyes and heads of the candidates. Finally, each candidate drinks a little Amrit from the same bowl until is finished completely. After the administration of the Amrit in the above way, the Bani of Anand Sahib is recited followed by the prayer and random reading of a verse from Guru Granth Sahib. At the end Karah Parshad (the sweet pudding) is distributed to all. The congregation then congratulates all the candidates for their admission in the Khalsa brotnerhood Ambrosial baptism should be held at an exclusive place away from common human traffic. At the place where ambrosial baptism is to be administered, the holy Guru Granth Sahib should be installed and ceremonially opened. Also present should be six committed baptized Sikhs, one of whom should sit in attendance of the Guru Granth Sahib and the other five should be there to administer the ambrosial baptism. These six may even include Sikh women. All of them must have taken bath and washed their hair. The five beloved ones who administer ambrosial baptism should not include a disabled person, such as a person who is blind or blind in one eye, lame, one with a broken or disabled limb, or one suffering from some chronic disease. The number should not include anyone who has committed a breach of the Sikh discipline and principles. All of them should be committed baptized Sikhs with appealing personalities. Any man or woman of any country, religion or caste who embraces Sikhism and solemnly undertakes to abide by its principles is entitled to ambrosial baptism. The person to be baptized should not be of very young age; he or she should have attained a plausible degree of discretion.

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