Paath

Paath or Path (Punjabi: ਪਾਠ {{Small|(Gurmukhi)}}), from the Sanskrit patha which means reading or recitation, is, in the religious context, reading or recitation of the holy texts. In Sikhism, comprehension of what is being read is considered more important than ritual recitation Guru Granth Sahib.

Background

Paath is the recitation of Gurbani. However it is considered lower than gurbani vichar/discussion.

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 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.

Daily regimen

Reading of certain banis is part of a Sikh’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 Amrit Savaiye — constitute the Sikhs mandatory morning paath or devotions, and two — Rehras and Kirtan Sohila — evening paath. Individuals add certain other texts as well such as Sabad Patshahi 10, 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.

Types

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 Pāth (unbroken recitation completed in forty-eight hours),
Saptahik Pāth (completed in a week or seven days, derived from the word saptāh meaning "week"){{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/29703420 |title=The encyclopaedia of Sikhism |date=1992–1998 |publisher=Punjabi University |others=Harbans Singh |isbn=0-8364-2883-8 |volume=4: S–Z |location=Patiala |pages=57 |oclc=29703420 |quote=Even where the limit is fixed and it exceeds a week, it will be called a sadharan path ...}} and
Sadharan or Sahij Pāth (taken in slow parts with no time-limit for completion).{{Cite book |last=Singha |first=H. S. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/967096375 |title=Sikhism : a complete introduction, book 7 |date=1994 |others=Satwant Kaur |isbn=81-7010-245-6 |location=New Delhi |pages=88 |oclc=967096375 |quote=Oral recitation of Gurbani or nitnem is also called path and has been discussed earlier in the section on Sikh worship. There are two types of path of the Guru Granth Sahib arranged by Sikhs: Akhand path and Sahaj paath.}}
Ati Akhand Paath, hardly ever practised, is when a single participant reads within the prescribed 48 hours the entire text.{{Cite book |last=Bakhshi |first=Surinder |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1311132507 |title=Sikhs in the diaspora : a modern guide to practice of the Sikh faith : a knowledge compendium for the global age |date=2008 |isbn=9780956072801 |edition=Special |location=Birmingham, UK |pages=127–131 |oclc=1311132507}}{{Cite book |last=Niraṅkārī |first=Māna Siṅgha |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/289070938 |title=Sikhism, a perspective |date=2008 |publisher=Unistar Books |others=Neelam Man Singh Chowdhry |isbn=978-81-7142-621-8 |location=Chandigarh |pages=34–45 |oclc=289070938}}{{Cite book |last=McLeod |first=W. H. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/435778610 |title=The A to Z of Sikhism |date=2009 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |others=W. H. McLeod |isbn=978-0-8108-6344-6 |location=Lanham |pages=10 |oclc=435778610}}

References

External links

[http://www.amritsar.org/ Amritsar Paath]
[https://nitnemsahib.com/nitnem/ All Nitnem Path (Nitnem Prayers) in Punjabi, Hindi, English]

Category:Sikh scripture

Category:Reading of religious texts