ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>D&#298V&#256N</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="D*VN"> <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">&#65279D&#298V&#256N, in Persian, means royal court, conference, audience. Appearing as <i>d&#299b&#257n</i> or <i>d&#299b&#257&#7751u</i> in Gur&#363 Nanak's compositions, the word stands for both the divine court of justice and the law courts of the State. In the Sikh tradition, <i>d&#299v&#257n</i> has come to mean the court of the Gur&#363 or a congregation in the name of the Gur&#363. The Gur&#363 was addressed by Sikhs as <i>Sachch&#257 P&#257tish&#257h</i> or True King whose audience was given the name of <i>d&#299v&#257n</i> or court. As the office of Gur&#363 became vested in the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib, any assembly in the hall or court where the Sacred Volume was installed was called the <i>d&#299v&#257n</i>. A gathering of devotees in the presence of the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib at which holy hymns are sung and the holy Name is meditated upon is a <i>d&#299v&#257n</i>. Nowadays Sikh social and political gatherings and conferences, with Scripture presiding over them, are also designated <i>d&#299v&#257ns</i>. The term nevertheless applies primarily to Sikh religious assemblies in <i>gurdw&#257r&#257s</i> or elsewhere.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; At a Sikh <i>d&#299v&#257n</i>, Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib is seated on a high pedestal or throne. Sikhs enter reverentially with folded hands and kneel down touching the ground in front of it with their foreheads and making offerings, usually of money. They will, thereafter, greet the assembly, and, where the hall is spacious enough to permit this, circumambulate the Sacred Volume in token of allegiance to the Gur&#363 before taking their seats on the ground among the <i>sa&#7749gat</i>. Dispersal is in the same reverent style; the departing member will leave his seat, stand before the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib, with hands clasped, fall on his knees making a low bow and retreat respectfully, taking care not to turn his back towards the Holy Book.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In Sikh <i>gurdw&#257r&#257s</i> commonly two <i>d&#299v&#257ns</i> take place daily - one in the morning and the second in the evening. In the morning, the service will begin with the induction and installation of the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib. After the <i>ard&#257s</i> or supplicatory prayer, the Book will be opened to obtain from it what is called <i>hukam</i>, i. e. the Gur&#363's command or lesson for the day. This will be followed by <i>k&#299rtan</i> or chanting by a choir of musicians of holy hymns from the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib, if not of the entire composition entitled <i>&#256s&#257 k&#299 V&#257r</i>. At larger <i>gurdw&#257r&#257s</i>, <i>k&#299rtan</i> will be preceded by the recitation of Gur&#363 Arjan's <i>Sukhman&#299</i> and of morning <i>nitnem</i>, i. e. texts comprising the daily regimen of Sikh prayers for that hour. Then there will take place <i>kath&#257</i> or exposition of the <i>hukam</i> of that morning or of any other hymn from the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib, followed by a discourse or lecture on Sikh theology or history. Recitation of the six cantos by the whole assembly from Gur&#363 Amar D&#257s's composition, the <i>Anand</i>, and of the last <i>&#347lok&#257</i> of the <i>Japu, ard&#257s</i>, proclamation of the <i>hukam</i> from the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib and distribution of <i>ka&#7771&#257hprasad</i> or communion will bring the <i>d&#299v&#257n</i> to a conclusion. At the evening <i>d&#299v&#257n</i>, besides <i>k&#299rtan</i>, two <i>b&#257&#7751&#299s</i> prescribed for the service, <i>Rahr&#257si</i> and the <i>k&#299rtan Sohil&#257</i> are recited. At the central shrine at Amritsar, the Harimandar, the <i>d&#299v&#257n</i> remains in session continuously from early hours of the morning till late in the evening, with <i>k&#299rtan</i> being recited uninterruptedly. Special <i>d&#299v&#257ns</i> are held to mark important anniversaries on the Sikh calendar and social events in families. The format allows for variations to suit the occasion, but one binding condition is that the congregation occurs in the presence of the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib.</p> </ol><p class="CONT">T&#257ran Si&#7749gh<br></p><BR> </font> <img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""> </HTML></BODY>