ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>CHAU&#7748K&#298</TITLE> <style type="text/css"> .BODY { background-color: #EAF1F7; background-image: url('images/gtbh.jpg'); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed; background-position: center; color: #0066CC;} .C1{text-align: justify;color: #0066CC;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .BIB{text-align: center;color: #000099;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .CONT{text-align: right;color: #FF0000;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} </style><META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="CHAUDK*"> <META http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></HEAD> <BODY class="BODY" oncontextmenu="return false" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false"> <FONT ALIGN="JUSTIFY" FACE="Tahoma"> <p class="C1">&#65279CHAU&#7748K&#298 or Chauk&#299, lit. quarter, a four-footed wooden platform upon which sat the holy choir to recite the sacred hymns in a <i>gurdw&#257r&#257</i> or at a gathering of the devotees. The term <i>chau&#7749k&#299</i> also refers to a session of <i>k&#299rtan</i> or hymn-singing, the number of singers at such sessions commonly being four, nowadays usually three, playing different instruments. <i>K&#299rtan</i> is a popular form of worship among Sikhs. At all major <i>gurdw&#257r&#257s</i> at least four <i>k&#299rtan chau&#7749k&#299s</i> are held. At the central shrine, in Amritsar, the Harimandar, <i>k&#299rtan</i> goes on all the time, from 2. 45 a. m. to 9. 45 p. m. Four major <i>chaunk&#299s</i> or sittings are counted :</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) <i>As&#257 d&#299 V&#257r chaunk&#299</i> in the early morning;</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) <i>Charan Ka&#7749val</i> or <i>Bil&#257val d&#299 chau&#7749k&#299</i> in the forenoon commencing at about four hours after sunrise;</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) <i>Rahr&#257si d&#299 chau&#7749k&#299</i> in the evening held immediately before the recitation of evening prayers of Rahr&#257si; and</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) <i>Kaly&#257n d&#299 chau&#7749k&#299</i>, later in the evening just preceding the recitation of the last prayer of the day, <i>K&#299rtan Sohil&#257</i>.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;These <i>chau&#7749k&#299s</i> take place in the presence of the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib, professional <i>r&#257g&#299s</i> or hymn-singers participating in them to the accompaniment of instruments, usually two harmoniums, a pair of <i>tabl&#257s</i> or drumlets and occasionally adding a pair of cymbals and/or <i>chim&#7789&#257s</i> (tongs fitted with metallic discs).</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But in the precincts of the Darb&#257r S&#257hib, Amritsar, some other <i>chau&#7749k&#299s</i> are led out by groups of devotees, chanting hymns as they walk, circumambulating the holy complex including the <i>sarovar</i>, the sacred tank, and the <i>sanctum sanctorum</i>. The column marching and reciting the hymns divides itself into two, one section leading and the other repeating the hymn verse by verse in a singing tune. The performance is called <i>chau&#7749k&#299 cha&#7771hn&#299</i> (mounting or marching of the <i>chau&#7749k&#299</i> ). These <i>chau&#7749k&#299s</i> are also four in number:</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) The first and the oldest one is said to have been introduced by B&#257b&#257 Bu&#7693&#7693h&#257 (d. 1635) during Gur&#363 Hargobind's absence from Amritsar at the time of his internment by the Mu<u>gh</u>al emperor, Jah&#257&#7749g&#299r, in the Fort at Gw&#257lior. It has a special procedure laid out for it and a special set of hymns assigned to it. After the conclusion of <i>Rahr&#257si</i> prayer at the Ak&#257l Ta<u>kh</u>t those participating. in the <i>chau&#7749k&#299</i> stand below the Ak&#257l Ta<u>kh</u>t; and officiant of the Ta<u>kh</u>t hands to them a flag and a Sr&#299 S&#257hib; one of the group says <i>ard&#257s</i>, the initial supplication; the <i>chau&#7749k&#299</i> then commences its march, <i>parikram&#257</i> or circumambulation of the <i>sarovar</i> keeping the holy Harimandar on its right and singing hymns in groups; two torch-bearers walk, with the group, one in front and the other in the rear, with a herald alerting the pilgrims to the approaching procession; on completion of the <i>parikram&#257</i> the <i>chau&#7749k&#299</i> proceeds to the Harimandar across the causeway; as it approaches the sanctum, singing all the time, the <i>k&#299rtan</i> already being performed inside stops while the <i>chau&#7749k&#299</i> circumambulates the sanctum and performs <i>ard&#257s</i> after which it returns to the Ak&#257l Ta<u>kh</u>t to deposit the flag and the sword before it disperses.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) In imitation of the above, Bh&#257&#299 Ghanaiy&#257 Si&#7749gh of the A&#7693&#7693ansh&#257h&#299 sect introduced another <i>chau&#7749k&#299</i> in 1830. It has since split into two separate groups known as Chau&#7749k&#299 Mahant Sobh&#257 Si&#7749gh and Chau&#7749k&#299 Mahant D&#299n&#257 N&#257th. Both are mounted one after the other when the traditional <i>chau&#7749k&#299</i> of B&#257b&#257 Bu&#7693&#7693h&#257 has completed its round. But the carrying of the banner and Sr&#299 S&#257hib from the Ak&#257l Ta<u>kh</u>t is the privilege only of the old <i>chau&#7749k&#299</i>.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) A morning <i>chau&#7749k&#299</i> introduced by Bh&#257&#299 Narai&#7751 Si&#7749gh in 1905 is mounted immediately after the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib has arrived at the Harimandar at about 5 a. m.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) Another morning <i>chau&#7749k&#299</i> was introduced by Mahant Sant Si&#7749gh Kal&#299v&#257le in 1910. It is mounted after the conclusion of <i>&#256s&#257 d&#299 V&#257r, ard&#257s</i> and <i>hukam</i> in the Harimandar at about 6. 45 a. m.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In addition to these daily <i>chau&#7749k&#299s</i>, based in Amritsar, there are other monthly and annual <i>chau&#7749k&#299s</i>. One of them is mounted from the Ak&#257l Ta<u>kh</u>t on the eve of the new-moon day. It travels throughout the night singing hymns all the way and arrives at Darb&#257r S&#257hib, Tarn T&#257ran, early in the morning. Another one mounted similarly on the eve of the full-moon day reaches Goindv&#257l the next morning. For return journey the devotees may use motor transport. Annual <i>chau&#7749k&#299s</i>, mounted on some <i>gurpurabs</i> or festivals in honour of the Gur&#363s, visit some historical <i>gurdw&#257r&#257s</i> in villages surrounding Amritsar such as Chhehar&#7789&#257, Vall&#257, Verk&#257, Va&#7693&#257l&#299, Jhab&#257l, B&#299&#7771 B&#257b&#257 Bu&#7693&#7693h&#257, and B&#257sarke.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Smaller <i>gurdw&#257r&#257s</i> have their own schedules of taking out <i>chau&#7749k&#299s</i>, saying <i>&#347abdas</i>, usually as part of the evening service.</p> </ol><p class="CONT">Major Gurmukh Si&#7749gh (Retd.)<br></p><BR> </font> <img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""> </HTML></BODY>