Sikhism - Culture - Gurmat Veechar

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~ ~ ~ 30T orfi:r II (tI7;T ~Et)
y)OurArdass ~~
Collective or individual benign prayer
One ofthe most important gifts our forefathers have given us is our
Ardass - our daily prayer that may be performed individually or
collectively at any time a'hd, / or at any place. It has a fOffilat and a
standard form. While some Parts of it are mandatory others are
optional and are subject to change as per the circumstances, period or
the purpose of the prayer etc. Then the contents may be abridged and
expanded as per the requirement. The set standard or format of the
Ardass as published by Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandhak Committee
in Sikh Rehat Maryada is reproduced below. Both the versions,
Punjabi as well as English, have been reproduced.
The thing to be appreciated or that deserves the special
attention of the curious readers is the fact that a glance at the
contents of the format of'Ardass' shall reveal that whereas a few
parts of it relate to actual prayer, it is actually over all a mini
sketch ofSikh history. Its wordings are so well drafted that it starts
from mentioning ofGuru Nanak as our founder Guru. It traverses
through different pages of Sikh history and covers in brief all the
major events of last more than 500 years in a very touching
manner. If one is attentive or puts his mind into the Ardass, while
standing with Guru in his horizon or vision, he will have insight
into our history and shall recall the glorious feats, performances,
sacrifices of our Gurus, great martyrs, the launch and the history
of different 'morchas', happening of different holocausts, sagas
.etc. While through Ardass, one peeps into the past, there is more
and more awakening and awareness in the Sikh mind about the
greatness ofSikhi Swaroop and Gursikhi principles.
As published in Sikh Rehat Maryada, issued by the Shiromani
Gurdwara Prabhandhak Committee, Sri Amritsar, the format of the
'Ardass' is given hereunder.
82/ The Sikhism - Culture, History & Religion