Amrit Sanskar
The Amrit Sanskar ceremonyThe rite of initiation into the Khalsa (Sikhs who commit themselves to a daily discipline). is an important event in a Sikh’s life. It shows that a Sikh has decided to show commitment to the KhalsaThe Sikh community, literally 'the community of the pure'. Refers particularly to initiated Sikhs. and become an Amritdhari SikhA Sikh who has been initiated into the Khalsa..
The ceremony includes the following elements:
- The person who is being initiated wears the five KsFive articles which identify a Sikh who has been initiated into the Khalsa..
- A granthiReader of the Guru Granth Sahib, who officiates at ceremonies. This can be a man or a woman. reads from the Guru Granth SahibThe Guru Granth Sahib is the most important Sikh holy book. It is a collection of songs, prayers and hymns from the Sikh Gurus and other holy men, as well as teachings from other faiths. It is treated as a living Guru..
- The ceremony is performed by Amritdhari Sikhs, who represent the Panj PyareThe five beloved ones. Those first initiated into the Khalsa; those who perform the rite today.. As part of the ceremony, they stir the amritNectar. Sanctified (holy) liquid made of sugar and water, used in initiation ceremonies. mixture with a KhandaSymbolises the Sikh faith: it shows a double-edged sword, a chakram and two single-edged swords. .
- The congregation then share Karah PrashadSanctified food ( a sweet pudding made from wheat flour, sugar, clarified butter and water) distributed at Sikh ceremonies..
The ceremony is often called ‘taking amrit’ because the person being initiated drinks the amrit from a steel bowl. This is done to imitate the Panj Pyare, who drank amrit when the Khalsa was founded by Guru Gobind SinghGuru Gobind Singh was the tenth and final Sikh Guru. He established the Khalsa and completed the Guru Granth Sahib, the most important Sikh holy book. at Vaisakhi The most important of the Sikh festivals; also written as Baisakhi. in AD1699.
The names ‘Singh’ and ‘Kaur’
Sikhs who take amrit and are initiated into the Khalsa are given names:
- Women are given the name KaurPrincess. Second name given to Sikh females., which means ‘princess’.
- Men are given the name SinghLion. Name adopted by Sikh males., which means ‘lion’.
These names represent the idea of equality and fairness within all humanity. By having the same name, all people are shown to be equal before God.
Amritdhari Sikhs
Amritdhari Sikhs are individuals who have gone through the Amrit Sanskar initiation ceremony.
They must follow the rules of the Rahit MaryadaAlternate spelling: Rehat Maryada. The Sikh Code of Conduct., which is the Sikh code of conduct. These include:
- wearing the Five K’s
- paying daswandh / dasvandhThe Sikh practice in the giving of money (a tenth of one's income) in the name of the Guru to help those who are poorer / less well off.
- avoiding eating meat that has been ritually slaughtered (such as halal meat)
- avoiding drinking and gambling
- avoiding arranging marriages for their children for financial gain
Sahajdhari Sikhs
Sikhs who have not gone through the Amrit Sanskar ceremony, and therefore have not been initiated into the Khalsa, are known as Sahajdhari SikhA member of the Sikh community who has not taken part and been baptised in the Amrit Sanskar ceremony.. These Sikhs are just as much a part of the sangatCongregation in a Sikh gurdwara. as Amritdhari Sikhs. Anybody who is part of a Sikh family can be part of the sangat.
The Bhai Gurda is a text that is used to encourage Sikhs to take amrit and join the Khalsa:
Being one with each other the Guru and the Sikh have made the Lord perceptible (in the form of Guru). Getting initiated by the Guru the disciple has become a Sikh. It was the Lord’s desire that the Guru and the disciple would become one. It seems as if the diamond cutting the diamond has brought the other one in one string.
Question
What is the difference between Amritdhari Sikhs and Sahajdhari Sikhs?
Amritdhari Sikhs have taken amrit and been initiated into the Khalsa. Sahajdhari Sikhs have not joined the Khalsa. However, both groups are equally important in the Sikh sangat.
