Ardas Questions

When performing Ardas outdoors is it compulsory to:

- remove shoes in any weather conditions?
- touch the ground with hand or matha tek at the conclusion?

Also is reading Dohra required if doing Ardas at home or should it be read only in Sangati roop? Finally who penned the Dohra?

- remove shoes in any weather conditions?
Better to remove.

- touch the ground with hand or matha tek at the conclusion?
Matha Tek is fine.

Also is reading Dohra required if doing Ardas at home or should it be read only in Sangati roop?
If there is Parkash of Guru Sahib at home then it is better to recite all 5 dohras even if a single sareer is there.

Finally who penned the Dohra?
Agya Bhaee Akaal Ki...
Sri Guru Gobind Singh Jee did ucharan of this one and noted by Sikhs.

Guru Granth Jee Manyo...
Giani Gyaan Singh

Raj Karega Khalsa...
Bhai Nand Lal Singh

Waheguru Naam Jahaaj ...
Prose by Sri Guru Gobing Singh Jee Maharaaj, noted by Darbaari Kavi

Khanda Ja Kay haath ...
Darbaari Kavi of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Jee Maharaaj

This is what Daas knows, If there is any mistake then someone please correct.

With Regards,
Jasjit Singh

Dhanvaad Jasjit Singh Ji,

Some final questions:

Would we do matha tek outside as well ie touch Dastar on the ground?

In absence of Guru Sahib is it still ok to read Dohra?

I was always under the impression Guru Gobind Singh Ji wrote full Dohra, so interesting to know that different authors wrote separate lines.

Would we do matha tek outside as well ie touch Dastar on the ground?
No, what I meant is just Namaskaar and not to touch hand or Dastaar to ground. May be I misunderstood your question first time.

In absence of Guru Sahib is it still ok to read Dohra?
Daas never seen Singhs doing that. In absence of Guru Sahib's Jaahar Saroop just Fateh and Jaikara is fine.

I was always under the impression Guru Gobind Singh Ji wrote full Dohra, so interesting to know that different authors wrote separate lines.
Just to clarify further its not a single Dohra but five different Dohras.

With Regards,
Daas

Quote

When performing Ardas outdoors is it compulsory to: - remove shoes in any weather conditions?

As Bhai Jasjit Singh pointed out, it's better to remove your shoes irrespective of the weather, however, if some is physically challenged for whatever reason, then's we must realize that Guru Sahib is Jaani-Jaan and in such circumstances it's okay if such person keeps shoes on. Normally, everyone must stand in Ardaas but if someone is unable to stand due to one's physical condition, then Guru Sahib is always Merciful and Forgiving.

Quote

- touch the ground with hand or matha tek at the conclusion?

Touching the ground with hand while bowing is fine. In many cases, the ground surface may not be clean and may even have tobacco products or other impurities. In such circumstances, there is no compulsion to touch one's Dastaar and forehead on the ground.

Quote

Also is reading Dohra required if doing Ardas at home or should it be read only in Sangati roop? Finally who penned the Dohra?

Agya Bhaee Akal kee including Raj Karega Khalsa is Gurbani. Guru Sahib did not record this in written form because this was done Uchaaran at the time Guru Sahib was about to Jyoti Jyot Samaa. Gursikhs present over there immediately memorized these Gurbani Bachans and then Gursikhs like Bhai Nandlal jee have recorded these words of Guru Sahib. So it's a must to sing these Dohras at the end of Ardaas in the Hazoori of Siri Guru Granth Sahib jee and if Degh is to be distributed. At other occasions, one can skip singing these Dohras.

The Dohras Vaheguru Naam Jahaaz hai and Khanda Ja kai Haath mein are wonderful words but are not Gurbani and were not uttered by Satguru jee. So many Gursikhs don't sing these at the end of Ardaas. But again, sky is not going to fall if these Dohras are sung. Singhs in olden days also used to sing "Dilli Takhat par bahegi, Aap Guru kee Fauj" but stopped singing perhaps due to pressure from the British. This particular Dohra definitely seems like Guru Sahib's Bachan because Guru Sahib jee's Fauj will in fact sit on the Delhi Takhat one day. Hopefully we can see such Bol-Baale of Siri Khalsa jee.

Kulbir Singh

Bhai Sahib Ji - Thanks for the replies.