Nitnem by Dr. Kulwant Singh, with Punjabi & English ... - Gurbani Files

16The present situation is very unsatisfactory. Our Gutkaas (Pocket-size scripturebooklets) may have lot of errors. Perhaps, Dassam Granth too, needs attention. It appears as ifall is not quite well with the Holy Sriptures, even. Besides Padd-Chhed, mainly responsible arecareless printing, negligent editing, and lax correction marking. It can be remedied by the strictsupervision, efficient control, and non-discriminating inspection of the Gurbani and relatedprintings. There is a need of an honest, independent body only for this purpose.The Khalsa Panth, the highest Sikh institution, is the only body that can provide theworld with the standardized Sikh Scriptures, other important works, and their translations toaddress to all these problems. Without standard reference works for comparison, there is noway to stamp out the errors from the Sikh religious literature.TRANSLATIONIn the Gurmukhi-Punjabi translation of different Banis, at some places at least, it has been triedto locate the meanings under and close to the original words of the scripture. In this broadbasedtranslation, this may help to make out meanings of some of the words.To avoid confusion created by the alternative meanings, and to keep it more simlpe aswell as easily understandable, double meanings, names, places, etc. have mostly been avoidedespecially in the English script, but still some of these are there.When learning the meanings of the short scriptures like those of “Nit-Nem” (DailyRoutine-Recitation), it is profitable to study more than one work. Every author or scholar mayhave his-her own variations in some areas, at least. Jaap Sahib has an abundance of such words.The author may as well have limitations imposed by the type of work he or she is doing i.e. it isa restricted (unexplained) or a detailed – elaborate work.The Sikh Scriptures are in poetry. Bani has many words from other languages.Especially Jaap Sahib is rich in Sanskrit, Persian, and Bihari vocabulary. In the Hymns, only asingle word may be there to represent a whole sentence. In this environment, each stanza,vesrse, and word can have more deductions of their meanings, and by grouping a word withone or the other part of a line, addition in them may further increase. The placement ofimaginary punctuation may add more. Due to this, particularly Jaapu Sahib needs a little morecare and attention to read and undrstand it.PRELUDE TO NIT-NEMThese introductory write-ups are a bit long, and so these have been grouped together here, tomake a separate chapter.Amritvela: the Holy Time – is the fourth-part of the night, from 3 A.M. to 6 A.M. Itends with the sunrise. This time is for reciting Nit-Nem: routine or prescribed daily prayer. Onegets up at this time, bathes, and to recite the Name of God. After this, begins the recitation ofBani. Most of us do every other thing, yet they do not find the time for God.Every prayer paves the way for remembering Him, but this path we do not adopt. We donot realize what the Guru tells us to do in the scriptures! It is so easy and we have simply tomake a habit of it.Naam-Jaap - Sit down straight up, cross legged, on a cushion or on any other suitable seat.Focus your eyes at a point between the two eyebrows and slightly higher - almost level withtheir upper borders. Now, take deep breath and along with it, in your mind, say “Wahe.” Afterthis, without any interval, breathe out and along with it mentally say “Guru.”