Chapter 4, Article 5: Joining the Congregation for Reflecting on Gurbani

(a) One is more easily and deeply affected by Gurbani (the holy Bani bequeathed by the Gurus) participating in congregational gatherings. For this reason, it is necessary for a Sikh that he visit the places where the Sikhs congregate for worship and prayer (the Gurdwaras), and joining the congregation, partake of the benefits that the study of the holy scriptures bestows.

(b) Sri Guru Granth Sahib should be ceremonially opened in the Gurdwara every day without fail. Except for special exigencies, when there is a need to keep Guru Granth Sahib open, the Holy Book should not be kept open during the night. It should, generally, be closed ceremonially after the conclusion of the Rehras (evening scriptural recitation). The Holy Book should remain open so long as a granthi or attendant can remain in attendance, persons seeking darshan (seeking a view of or making obeisance to it) keep coming, or there is no risk of commission of irreverence towards it. Thereafter, it is advisable to close it ceremonially to avoid any disrespect to it.

(c) Guru Granth Sahib should be opened, read and closed ceremonially with reverence. The place where it is installed should be absolutely clean. An awning should be erected above. Guru Granth Sahib should be placed on a cot measuring up to its size and overlaid with an absolutely clean mattress and sheets. For proper installation and opening of Guru Granth Sahib, there should be cushions/pillows of appropriate kind etc. and, for covering it, romalas (sheet covers of appropriate size). When Guru Granth Sahib is not being read, it should be covered with a romal. A whisk, too, should be there.

(d) Anything except the afore-mentioned reverential ceremonies, for instance, such practices as the arti with burning incense and lamps, offering of eatables to Guru Granth Sahib, burning of lights, beating of gongs, etc., is contrary to Gurmat (the Guru's way). However, for the perfuming of the place, the use of flowers, incense and scent is not barred. For light inside the room, oil or butter-oil lamps, candles, electric lamps, kerosene oil lamps, etc. may be lighted.

(e) No book should be installed like and at par with Guru Granth Sahib. Worship of any idol or any ritual or activity should not be allowed to be conducted inside the Gurdwara. Nor should the festival of any other faith be allowed to be celebrated inside the Gurdwara. However, it will not be improper to use any occasion or gathering for the propagation of the Gurmat (the Guru's way).

(f) Pressing the legs of the cot on which Guru Granth Sahib is installed, rubbing nose against walls and on platforms, held sacred, or massaging there, placing water below Guru Granth Sahib's seat, making or installing statues, or idols inside the Gurdwaras, bowing before the picture of the Sikh Gurus or elders - all these are irreligious self-willed egotism, contrary to Gurmat (the Guru's way).

(g) When Guru Granth Sahib has to be taken from one place to another, the Ardas should be performed. He/she who carries Guru Granth Sahib on his/her head should walk barefoot; but when the wearing of shoes is a necessity, no superstitions need to be entertained.

(h) Guru Granth Sahib should be ceremonially opened after performing the Ardas. After the ceremonial opening, a hymn should be read from Guru Granth Sahib.

(i) Whenever Guru Granth Sahib is brought, irrespective of whether or not another copy of Guru Granth Sahib has already been installed at the concerned place, every Sikh should stand up to show respect.

(j) While going into the Gurdwara, one should take off the shoes and clean oneself up. If the feet are dirty or soiled, they should be washed with water.

(k) No person, no matter which country, religion or caste he/she belongs to, is debarred from entering the Gurdwara for darshan (seeing the holy shrine). However, he/she should not have on his/her person anything, such as tobacco or other intoxicants, which are tabooed by the Sikh religion.

(l) The first thing a Sikh should do entering the Gurdwara is to do obeisance before Guru Granth Sahib. He/she should, thereafter, having a glimpse of the congregation and bid in a low, quiet voice, "Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh".

(m) In the congregation, there should be no differentiation or discrimination between Sikh and non-Sikh, persons traditionally regarded as touchable and untouchable, the so-called high and low castes, the high and the low.

(n) Sitting on a cushion, a distinctive seat, a chair, a stool, a cot, etc. or in any distinctive position in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib or within the congregation is contrary to Gurmat.

(o) No Sikh should sit bare-headed in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib or in the congregation. For Sikh women, joining the congregation with their persons uncomfortably draped and with veils drawn over their faces is contrary to Gurmat (Guru's way).

(p) There are five takhts (lit, thrones, fig., seats of high authority):
   (i) the holy Akal Takht, Amritsar
   (ii) the holy Takht, Patna Sahib
   (iii) the holy Takht Kesgarh Sahib, Anandpur
   (iv) the holy Takht Hazur Sahib, Nanded
   (v) the holy Takht Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo

(q) Only an Amritdhari (initiated) Sikh man or woman, who faithfully observes the discipline ordained for the initiated Sikhs, can enter the hallowed enclosures of the takhts. (Ardas for and on behalf of any Sikh or non-Sikh, except a fallen or punished (tankhahia) Sikh, can be offered at the takhts.

(r) At a high-level site in every Gurdwara should be installed the Nishan Sahib (Sikh flag). The cloth of the flag should be either of xanthic or of greyish blue color and on the top of the flag post, there should either be a spearhead or a Khanda (a straight blade with convex side edges leading to slanting top edges ending in a vertex).

(s) There should be a drum (nagara) in the Gurdwara for beating on appropriate occasions.

Chapter 5, Article 6: Kirtan (Devotional Hymn Singing)

(a) Only a Sikh may perform Kirtan in a congregation.

(b) Kirtan means singing and scriptural compositions in traditional musical measures.

(c) In the congregation, Kirtan only of Gurbani (Guru Granth Sahib's or Guru Gobind Singh's hymns) and, for its elaboration, of the compositions of Bhai Gurdas and Bhai Nand Lal, may be performed.

(d) It is improper, while singing hymns to rhythmic folk tunes or to traditional musical measures, or in team singing, to induct into them improvised and extraneous refrains. Only a line from the hymn should be a refrain.

Chapter 6, Article 7: Taking Hukam (Command)

(a) Doing obeisance to Guru Granth Sahib, respectfully, taking a glimpse of the congregation, an embodiment of the Guru's person, and taking the command: these together constitute the view of the Satguru (Immortal Destroyer of darkness, the True Guru). Raising the drapery covering Guru Granth Sahib and merely taking a look or making others take a look at the exposed page, without taking the command (reading the prescribed hymn) is contrary to Gurmat (Guru's way).

(b) In the course of the congregational sessions, only one thing should be done at a time: performing of kirtan, delivering of discourse, interpretative elaboration of the scriptures, or reading of the scriptures.

(c) Only a Sikh, man or woman, is entitled to be in attendance of Guru Granth Sahib during the congregational session.

(d) Only a Sikh may read out from Guru Granth Sahib for others. However, even a non-Sikh may read from it for himself/herself.

(e) For taking the command (Hukam), the hymn that is continuing on the top of the left page must be read from the beginning. If the hymn begins on the previous page, turn over the page and read the whole hymn from the beginning to the end. If the scriptural composition that is continuing on the top of the left hand page is a var (ode), then start from the first of the slokas preceding the pauri and read upto the end of the pauri. Conclude the reading at the end of the hymn with the line in which the name 'Nanak' occurs.

(f) Hukam must also be taken at the conclusion of the congregational session or after the Ardas.

Chapter 7, Article 8: Sadharan Path (Standard Scriptural Reading)

(a) Every Sikh should as far as possible, maintain a separate and exclusive place for the installation of Guru Granth Sahib, in his home.

(b) Every Sikh man, woman, boy or girl, should learn Gurmukhi to be able to read Guru Granth Sahib.

(c) Every Sikh should take the Hukam (Command) of Guru Granth Sahib in the ambrosial (early) hours of the morning before taking meals. If he/she fails to do that, he/she should read or listen to a reading from Guru Granth Sahib some time during the day. If he/she cannot do that either, during travel etc., or owing to any other impediment, he/she should not give in to a feeling of guilt.

(d) It is desirable that every Sikh should carry on a continuous reading of Guru Granth Sahib and complete a full reading in one or two months or over a longer period.

(e) While undertaking a full reading of Guru Granth Sahib, one should recite the Anand Sahib (the first five and the last stanzas) and perform the Ardas. One should, thereafter, read the Japuji.

Chapter 7, Article 9: Akhand Path (Uninterrupted Scriptural Reading)

(a) The non-stop reading of Guru Granth Sahib is carried on at hard times or on occasions of elation or joy. It takes forty-eight hours. The non-stop reading implies continuous uninterrupted reading. The reading must be clear and correct. Reading too fast, so that the person listening in to it cannot follow the contents, amounts to irreverence to the Scriptures. The reading should be correct and clear, due care being bestowed on consonant and vowel, even though that takes a little longer to complete.

(b) Whichever family or congregation undertakes the non-stop reading should carry it out itself through its members, relatives, friends, etc., all together. The number of reciters is not prescribed. If a person himself, cannot read, he should listen in to the reading by some competent reader. However, it should never be allowed to happen that the reader carries on the reading all by himself/herself and no member of the congregation or the family is listening in to the reading. The reader should be served with food and clothing to the best of the host's means.

(c) Placing a pitcher, ceremonial clarified butter fed lamp, coconut, etc. around during the course of the uninterrupted or any other reading of Guru Granth Sahib, or reading of other Scriptural texts side by side with or in the course of such reading is contrary to Gurmat.

Chapter 7, Article 10: Commencing the Non-Stop Reading

While undertaking the intermittent reading of the whole Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred pudding (Karhah Prashad) for offering should be brought and after reciting the Anand Sahib (six stanzas) and offering Ardas, Hukam should be taken.

While beginning the unbroken reading, the sacred pudding should first be laid. Thereafter, after reciting the Anand Sahib (six stanzas), offering the Ardas and taking the Hukam, the reading should be commenced.

Chapter 7, Article 11: Concluding the Reading

(a) The reading of the whole Guru Granth Sahib (intermittent or non-stop) may be concluded with the reading of the Mundawani or the Rag Mala according to the convention traditionally observed at the concerned place. (Since there is a difference of opinion within the Panth on this issue, nobody should dare to write or print a copy of Guru Granth Sahib excluding the Rag Mala). Thereafter, after reciting the Anand Sahib, the Ardas of the conclusion of the reading should be offered and the sacred pudding (Karhah Prashad) distributed.

(b) On the conclusion of the reading, offering of draperies, fly whisk and awning, having regard to the requirements of Guru Granth Sahib, and of other things, for Panthic causes, should be made to the best of means.

Chapter 8, Article 12: Karah Prasad (Sacred Pudding)

(a) Only the sacred pudding which has been prepared according to the prescribed method shall be acceptable in the congregation.

(b) The method of preparing the Karhah Prashad is this: In a clean vessel, the three contents (wheat flour, pure sugar and clarified butter, in equal quantities) should be added and cooked while reciting the Scriptures. Then, covered with a clean piece of cloth, it should be placed on a clean stool in front of Guru Granth Sahib. The first five stanzas and the last stanza of Anand Sahib should be recited aloud (so that the congregation can hear), the Ardas offered and the pudding divided with the sacred Kirpan for acceptance. [If another vessel of the sacred pudding is brought in after the recitation of the Anand, it is not necessary to repeat the recitation of Anand Sahib. Simply dividing the pudding brought later with the sacred Kirpan is enough.]

(c) After this, before the distribution of the Karhah Prashad to the congregation, the share of the five beloved ones should be set apart and then recombined. Thereafter, while commencing the general distribution, the share of the person in attendance of Guru Granth Sahib should be put in a small bowl or vessel and handed over (giving a double share to the person in attendance constitutes improper discrimination). The person who doles out the Karhah Prashad among the congregation should do so without any discrimination on the basis of personal regard or spite. He should dole out the Karhah Prashad equally to Sikhs, non-Sikhs, and persons of high or low caste. While distributing the Karhah Prashad, no discrimination should be made on considerations of caste, ancestry, or assumed untouchable origin.

(d) A minimum of two pice (a penny) in cash should be offered to Guru Granth Sahib if Karhah Prashad is to be distributed.

Chapter 9, Article 13: Exposition of Gurbani (Sikh Scriptures)

(a) The exposition of the Gurbani in a congregational gathering should be carried out only by a Sikh.

(b) The object of the exposition should only be promoting the understanding of the Guru's tenets.

(c) The exposition can only be of the ten Gurus' writings or utterances, Bhai Gurdas’s writings, Bhai Nand Lal’s writings or of any generally accepted Panthic book or of books of history (which are in agreement with the Guru’s tenants) and not of a book of any other faith. However, for illustration, references to a holy person’s teachings or those contained in a book may be made.

Chapter 9, Article 14: Expository Discourse

No discourse contrary to the Guru's tenets should be delivered inside a Gurdwara.

Chapter 9, Article 15: Gurdwara Service

In the Gurdwara the schedule of the congregational service is generally:

Ceremonial opening of Guru Granth Sahib, Kirtan, exposition of scriptures, expository discourses, recitation of Anand Sahib, the Ardas (see Article IV (3-a)), the raising of Fateh slogan and then the slogan Sat Sri Akal and taking the Hukam.