ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>P&#256&#7788H</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="PlH"> <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&#256&#7788H, from the Sanskrit <i>p&#257&#7789ha</i> which means reading or recitation, is, in the religious context, reading or recitation of the holy texts. In Sikhism, it implies daily repetition of scriptural texts from the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib. Reading of certain <i>b&#257&#7751&#299s</i> is part of a Sikh's <i>nitnem</i> or daily religious regimen. <i>P&#257&#7789h</i> of these prescribed texts is performed from a handy collection, called <i>gu&#7789k&#257</i> (missal or breviary) or from memory. Three of the <i>b&#257&#7751&#299s</i>, Gur&#363 N&#257nak's <i>Japu</i> and Gur&#363 Gobind Si&#7749gh's <i>J&#257pu</i> and <i>Savaiye</i> &#8212 constitute the Sikhs mandatory morning <i>p&#257&#7789h</i> or devotions, and two &#8212<i>Rahr&#257si</i> and <i>K&#299rtan Sohil&#257</i> &#8212 evening p&#257&#7789h. Individuals add certain other texts as well such as <i>Shabad Haj&#257re, Anandu</i> and <i>Sukhman&#299</i>. The <i>p&#257&#7789h</i> is also performed individually and more particularly in <i>sa&#7749gat</i> from the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib itself. The Holy Volume is ceremonially installed under coverlet on a decorated seat resting on a raised platform, with a canopy above, and is opened by the <i>p&#257&#7789h&#299</i> or reader who sits reverentially behind. Usually, another man stands in attendance, waving the flywhisk over the Holy Book. The <i>p&#257&#7789h&#299</i> should have bathed and be dressed in clean clothes. Besides the reading of one single hymn to obtain <i>v&#257k</i> or <i>hukamn&#257m&#257</i> (lesson or command for the day) or of some passages, three forms of complete <i>p&#257th</i> of the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib are current : akha&#7751&#7693 (unbroken recitation completed in forty eight hours), <i>sapt&#257hik</i> (completed in a week) and <i>s&#257dh&#257ran</i> or <i>sahij</i> (taken in slow parts with no time limit for completion). A rarest variety is <i>at&#299 akha&#7751&#7693 p&#257&#7789h</i>, hardly ever practised, in which a single participant reads within the prescribed 48 hours the entire text. Another variety is the <i>sampa&#7789 p&#257&#7789h</i>. No time limit is specified for it. Different schools and different groups or <i>p&#257&#7789h&#299s</i> have their own schedules. But the commonest factor in this variety of <i>p&#257th&#299s</i> that a whole <i>&#347abda</i> or a portion of it from the holy text will be set apart for repetition after every full stanza or apportioned section of it has been recited. Time-limit-will thus be variable, depending upon the length of the verse or verses chosen for repetition. The hymn or portions of it chosen for repeated recitation will be governed by the occasion or purpose of the <i>p&#257&#7789h</i>. At certain places even the M&#363l Mantra is repeated with the chosen line or lines. The relay of <i>p&#257&#7789h&#299s</i> in this instance will naturally be larger than in the case of a normal <i>akha&#7751&#7693 p&#257th</i>.</p> </font> <p class="BIB"> BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1">Cole, W. Owen and Sambhi, P.S., <i>The Sikhs : Their Religious Beliefs and Practices</i>. Delhi, 1978<BR> </ol><p class="CONT">T&#257ran Si&#7749gh<br></p><BR> </font><img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""></HTML></BODY>