ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>P&#256HUL</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="PHUL"> <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">&#65279P&#256HUL or <i>amrit sa&#7749sk&#257r</i>, the name given in the Sikh tradition to the ceremony of initiation. The word p&#257hul or <i>pahul</i> is a derivative from a substantive, <i>pahu</i> &#8212 meaning an agent which brightens, accelerates or sharpens the potentialities of a given object. In the history of the Sikh faith, the initiation ceremony has passed through two distinct phases. From the time of Gur&#363 N&#257nak (1469-1539), the founder, up to 1699, <i>charan&#257mrit</i> or <i>pagp&#257hul</i> was the custom. <i>charan&#257mrit</i> and <i>pagp&#257hul</i> meant initiation by water touched by the Master's toe&#8212the <i>charan</i> and <i>pag</i> both being equivalents of the word &#8216foot'. In early Sikhism, the neophytes sipped water poured over the Gur&#363's toe to be initiated into the fold. Where the Gur&#363 was not present, <i>masands</i> or local <i>sa&#7749gat</i> leaders officiated. A reference to initiation by <i>charan&#257mrit</i> occurs in Bh&#257&#299 Gurd&#257s, <i>V&#257r&#257&#7749</i>, I.23, born 12 years after the passing away of Gur&#363 N&#257nak. The practice continued until 1699 when, at the time of the inauguration of the <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257, Gur&#363 Gobind Si&#7749gh introduced <i>kha&#7751&#7693e d&#299 p&#257hul</i>, i.e. <i>p&#257hul</i> by <i>kha&#7751&#7693&#257</i>, the double-edged steel sword. This was done at Anandpur at the time of Bais&#257kh&#299 festival on 30 March 1699, in a soul-stirring drama. At the morning assembly of the Sikhs drawn from all four corners of India, Gur&#363 Gobind Si&#7749gh, sword in hand, proclaimed, "My sword wants today a head. Let any one of my Sikhs come forward. Isn't there a Sikh of mine who would be prepared to sacrifice his life for his Gur&#363?" To five similar calls successively made, five Sikhs offered their heads one after the other. They were Day&#257 Si&#7749gh, Mohkam Si&#7749gh, S&#257hib Si&#7749gh, Dharam Si&#7749gh and Himmat Si&#7749gh. Gur&#363 Gobind Si&#7749gh proceeded to hold the ceremony of initiation to mark their rebirth as new men. Filling an iron bowl with clean water, he kept stirring it with a two-edged sword while reciting over it five of the sacred texts, <i>b&#257&#7751&#299s Japu, J&#257p, Savaiyye, Chaupa&#299</i> and <i>Anand</i> (stanzas 1-5, and 40). The Gur&#363's wife, M&#257t&#257 J&#299toj&#299 (according to some, M&#257t&#257 S&#257hib Dev&#257&#7749), poured into the vessel sugar crystals, mingling sweetness with the alchemy of iron. The five Sikhs sat on the ground around the bowl reverently as the holy water was being churned to the recitation of the sacred verses. With the recitation of the five <i>b&#257&#7751&#299s</i> completed, <i>kha&#7751&#7693e d&#299 p&#257hul</i> or <i>amrit</i>, the Nectar of Immortality, was ready for administration. Gur&#363 Gobind Si&#7749gh gave the five Sikhs five palmsful each of it to drink. The disciple sat <i>b&#299r-&#257san</i>, i.e. in the posture of a warrior with his left knee raised and the right knee touching the ground. Every time the Gur&#363 poured the nectar into his palms to drink, he called out aloud, "<i>Bol V&#257higur&#363 j&#299 k&#257 <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 V&#257higur&#363 j&#299 k&#299 Fateh</i> (Utter, Hail the <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 who to the Lord belongs; the Lord to whom belongs victory)&#8222 The Sikh repeated the blessed utterance. After the five life giving draughts had been thus administered, the Gur&#363 sprinkled the holy liquid into his face gazing intently into his eyes. He then anointed his hair with the nectar. In the same manner, Gur&#363 Gobind Si&#7749gh initiated the other four one by one. At the end, all five of them were given the steel bowl to quaff from it turn by turn the remaining elixir in token of their new fraternal comradeship. Then, following the Gur&#363, they repeated V&#257higur&#363 five times as <i>gurmantra</i> and five times recited the M&#363l Mantra. They were given the common surname of Si&#7749gh, (meaning lion) and enjoined to regard themselves as the <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257, i.e. the Gur&#363's own. They were told that their rebirth into this brotherhood meant the annihilation of their family ties. (<i>kul n&#257s</i>), of the occupations which had formerly determined their place in society (<i>krit n&#257s</i>), of their earlier beliefs and creeds and of the ritual they observed. Their worship was to be addressed to none but Ak&#257l, the Timeless One. They were ever to keep the five emblems of the <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 &#8212 <i>kesa</i> or long hair and beard; <i>ka&#7749gh&#257</i>, a comb tucked into the <i>kesa</i> to keep it tidy in contrast to the recluses who kept it matted in token of their having renounced the world; <i>ka&#7771&#257</i>, a steel bracelet to be worn round the wrist of the right hand; <i>kachchh&#257</i>, short breeches; and <i>kirp&#257n</i>, a sword. In the <i>rahit</i> or code of conduct promulgated for the Sikhs on that day were the four prohibitions, i.e. the cutting or trimming of hair, fornication or adultery, <i>hal&#257l</i> meat or flesh of animal slaughtered with the Muslim ritual, and tobacco.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The five were designated by Gur&#363 Gobind Si&#7749gh as Pañj Pi&#257re, the five beloved of the Gur&#363. He now besought them to initiate him into their brotherhood, and asked them to prepare <i>kha&#7751&#7693e d&#299 p&#257hul</i>. The Pañj Pi&#257re churned the holy water following the Gur&#363's example and administered to him the vows they had received from him. Even his name changed to (Gur&#363) Gobind Si&#7749gh. Many Sikhs then volunteered to undergo initiation.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The five who took the next turn were R&#257m Si&#7749gh, Dev&#257 Si&#7749gh, &#7788ahal Si&#7749gh, &#298shar Si&#7749gh and Fateh Si&#7749gh. They were called by the Gur&#363 Pañj Mukte, the Five Liberated Ones. According to the Gur&#363 k&#299&#257&#7749 S&#257kh&#299&#257&#7749, in the next row stood Man&#299 R&#257m, Bachittar D&#257s, Ude R&#257i, Anik D&#257s, Aj&#257b D&#257s, Aj&#257ib Chand, Chaupat R&#257i, D&#299w&#257n Dharam Chand, &#256lam Chand Nachn&#257 and S&#257hib R&#257m Koer, followed by R&#257i Chand Mult&#257n&#299, Gurba<u>kh</u>sh R&#257i, Gurba<u>kh</u>sh&#299sh R&#257i, Pa&#7751&#7693it Kirp&#257 R&#257m Datt of Ma&#7789&#7789an, Subeg Chand, Gurmukh D&#257s, Sanmukh D&#257s, Amrik Chand, Purohit Day&#257 R&#257m, Barn&#257, Ghan&#299 D&#257s, L&#257l Chand Peshauri&#257, R&#363p Chand, So&#7693h&#299 D&#299p Chand, Nand Chand, N&#257n&#363 R&#257m of Dilv&#257l&#299, and Haz&#257r&#299, Bha&#7751&#7693&#257r&#299 and Darb&#257r&#299 of Sirhind.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Kha&#7751&#7693e d&#299 p&#257hul</i> thus supplanted <i>charan&#257mrit</i>. Since then initiation has been by <i>amrit</i> or holy water prepared in the manner laid down by Gur&#363 Gobind Si&#7749gh. For the novitiates the same ceremony will be repeated. Pañj Pi&#257re chosen at any place for their piety and reputation will officiate, in the presence of the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib attended by a Granth&#299. Among the Pa&#328j Pi&#257re could be women too, as there could be among the novitiates. No particular age is prescribed for initiation. It could take place any time the novitiate is able to appreciate the significance of the ceremony and is prepared to abide by the discipline it imposed. A <i>patit</i>, an apostate or lapsed Sikh guilty of committing a <i>kurahit</i>, i.e. violation of any of the prohibitions laid down by Gur&#363 Gobind Si&#7749gh, will have to go through the same ceremony to have himself reinitiated and readmitted into the <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 fold. <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 <i>rahit</i> or discipline flowing from <i>kha&#7751&#7693e d&#299 p&#257hul</i> has been sought to be codified in <i>Rahitn&#257m&#257s</i>, manuals of conduct. Some of these are attributed to Gur&#363 Gobind Si&#7749gh's contemporaries such as Bh&#257&#299 Day&#257 Si&#7749gh, Bh&#257&#299 Chaup&#257 Si&#7749gh and Bh&#257&#299 Nand L&#257l.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Directions with regard to the conduct of the <i>amrit</i> ceremony as issued by the Shiroma&#7751&#299 Gurdw&#257r&#257 Parbandhak Committee in its publication <i>Sikh Rahit Mary&#257d&#257</i> are as follows:</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a) The initiation ceremony may be conducted in any quiet and convenient place. In addition to the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib, presence of six Sikhs is necessary : one <i>granth&#299</i> to read from the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib and five to administer the rites.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b) Both receiving initiation and those administering it should bathe and wash their hair prior to the ceremony.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;c) Any Sikh who is mentally and physically 'whole" (man or woman) may administer the rites of initiation provided that he himself had received the rites and continues to wear the five K's, i.e. Sikh symbols each beginning with the Gurmukh&#299 letter "&#2581&#8221.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;d) Any man or woman of whatever nationality, race or social standing, who is prepared to accept the rules governing the <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 community, is eligible to receive initiation.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;e) No minimum or maximum age limit is stipulated for those receiving initiation.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;f) Those undergoing initiation should have the five K's (unshorn hair, comb, shorts, sword, steel bangle). No jewellery or distinctive marks associated with other faiths may be worn. The head must be covered.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;g) Anyone seeking readmission after having resiled from his previous pledges may be awarded a penalty by the five administering initiation before being readmitted.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;h) During the ceremony, one of the five Pi&#257re (&#8220five loved ones&#8221 &#8212 representing the first five Sikhs), stands and explains the main rules and obligations of the <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 Panth. These are to love and pray to one God, to read, study and live according to the Sikh teachings, and to help and serve humanity at large.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Those receiving initiation are then asked if they are willing to abide by these rules. If they indicate their assent one of the five says a prayer for the commencement of the preparation of the <i>Amrit</i> (Nectar) and a lesson or passage from the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib randomly opened is read.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Clean water and sugar or other soluble sweet is placed in the bowl which must be of steel. The five now position themselves around the bowl in the <i>b&#299r &#257san</i> position (kneeling on the right knee with the weight of the body on the right foot, and the left knee raised). Having so positioned themselves they commence to recite the following :</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The <i>Jap&#363j&#299 S&#257hib, J&#257p S&#257hib, Ten Svaiyy&#257s (Sar&#257vag sudh v&#257le), Bent&#299 Chaupa&#299</i> (from <i>Hamr&#299 k&#257ro h&#257th dai rachchh&#257</i> to <i>dush&#7789 dokh te leho bach&#257&#299</i> and the first five verses and the last verse of <i>Anandu S&#257hib</i>.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Anyone who is reciting these prayers should place his left hand on the edge of the bowl and stir the nectar with a short sword held in the right hand. The others participating in the ceremony should place both hands on the edge of the bowl and concentrate and meditate on the nectar.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After the completion of these prayers, one of the five says the <i>ard&#257s</i>, after which the nectar is served. Only those who have sat through the whole ceremony may be served.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Nectar is received by those being initiated whilst sitting in the <i>b&#299r &#257san</i> position (previously described) with the hands cupped, right on left, to receive the nectar.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This is received five times in the cupped hands; each time after receiving the nectar, the person being initiated says "V&#257higur&#363 j&#299 k&#257 <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257, Sr&#299 V&#257higur&#363 j&#299 k&#299 Fateh.&#8221 This salutation is repeated each time the nectar is sprinkled on the eyes (5 times) and hair (5 times). The remainder of the nectar is then shared by those receiving initiation, all drinking from the same bowl.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After this, all those taking part in the ceremony recite the M&#363l Mantra in unison:</p> <blockquote class="C1"><p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There is one God; His name is truth,</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The all-pervading Creator,</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Without fear, without hatred;</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Immortal, unborn, self-existent.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</blockquote></p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; One of the five then details the rules and obligations applying to the initiates.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "From now on your existence as ordinary individuals has ceased, and you are members of the <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 brotherhood. Your religious father is Gur&#363 Gobind Si&#7749gh (the tenth and last Gur&#363, founder of the <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 brotherhood) and S&#257hib Kaur your mother. Your spiritual birthplace is Kesga&#7771h S&#257hib (birthplace of the <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257) and your home Anandpur S&#257hib (the place where Gur&#363 Gobind Si&#7749gh inaugurated the <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257). Your common spiritual parentage makes you all brothers and you should all forsake your previous name (surname) and previous local and religious loyalties. You are to pray to God and God alone, through the scriptures and teachings of the ten Gur&#363s. You should learn the Gurmukh&#299 script if you do not know it already and read daily the <i>Japj&#299</i>, <i>J&#257p, Das Svaiyye, Sodaru Rahr&#257si</i> and <i>Sohil&#257</i>, and should hear or read the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib. You must keep the five K's and are forbidden to:</p> <blockquote class="C1"><p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;i) smoke tobacco or take drugs</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ii) eat meat killed by ritual slaughter (i.e. according to Muslim or Jewish rites)</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;iii) commit adultery</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;iv) cut your hair</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</blockquote></p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Anyone who contravenes any of these rules has broken his <i>amrit</i> vows. He must go through the ceremony afresh after a suitable penance if the contravention has been deliberate.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Members of the <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 must be always ready to work for the community and should donate one tenth of their income for the furtherance of religious or social work.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;j) The newly initiated Sikhs are told not to associate with:</p> <blockquote class="C1"><p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) the followers of Prith&#299 Chand, Dhir M&#257ll, R&#257m R&#257i or other breakaway groups</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) those who actively oppose Sikhism</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iii) those who practise infanticide</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iv) those who take alcohol, tobacco or drugs</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(v) those who wed their children for monetary considerations</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(vi) those who perform any rite or ceremony not sanctioned in Sikhism</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;vii apostate Sikhs who do not adhere to the five K's.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</blockquote></p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;k) <i>Ard&#257s</i> is then said and followed by the reading of the <i>hukam</i>. Finally, any of those present with a name that was not chosen using the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib, are asked to choose a new name in the customary manner.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The ceremony is then concluded with distribution of <i>kar&#257h prasad</i>, which, to emphasize the new brotherhood, is eaten by those newly initiated from a common plate.</p> </font> <p class="BIB"> BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"><i>Sikh Rahit Mary&#257d&#257</i>. Amritsar, 1975<BR> <li class="C1"> Kuir Si&#7749gh, <i>Gurbil&#257s P&#257tsh&#257h&#299 10</i>, ed. Shamsher Si&#7749gh Ashok. Patiala, 1968<BR> <li class="C1"> Kapur Si&#7749gh, <i>Par&#257&#347arapra&#347na</i>. Amritsar 1989<BR> <li class="C1"> Cole, W. Owen, and Piara Singh Sambhi, <i>The Sikhs : Their Religious Beliefs and Practices</i>. Delhi, 1978<BR> <li class="C1"> Sher Singh, ed., <i>Thoughts on Symbols in Sikhism</i>. Lahore, 1927<BR> </ol><p class="CONT">T&#257ran Si&#7749gh<br></p><BR> </font><img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""></HTML></BODY>