Akhand Paath

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

Just had a quick question about having an Akhand Paath at home. Today I went to the gurdwara to book an Akhand Paath and the Granthi Singh Ji said that during the Akhand Paath they won't allow prakash of Japji Sahib Pothi; they won't keep Jal; they won't light a jyot; and they won't light any dhoof and will not keep a coconut as these things goes against the gurdwara's maryada and is deemed as manmat.

Is it really manmat to have these things present during an Akhand Paath and if so Why? or is it important to have these present during an Akhand Paath. The thing which pinches me the most is that they don't allow Prakash of Japji Sahib Pothi.

Bhul Chuk Muaaf

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

Not saying that one should or should not keep jal, but Guru Sahib prepared Amrit while reciting bani and rubbing his Khanda in sweetened jal in a sarabloh baata. He could have just recited bani and left out the amrit jal, but he choose to do it.

Thanks for your reply eyesacademic!

Could someone please clarify the purpose behind keeping a coconut, dhoof and prakash of japji sahib pothi during an Akhand Paath??

Keeping a coconut and having a jot during Sri Akhand Paath Sahib does not seem in accordance to Gurmat. It only makes sense to have a jot in Puratan times so that at night they can continue to do paath.

Sri Japjee Sahib paaths have been done in the past alongside Sri Akhand Paath Sahib but the paath is still complete even without the Sri Japjee Sahibs and I personally don't see the point of having any other paath happening in the same Mandal as Sri Akhand Paath Sahib. When Guru Sahib is speaking why would we do anything else but listen attentively.

Putting Jal in a kumb is in accordance with Gurmat because it is used for Amritsanchar afterwords. This being said, Sri Akhand Paath Sahib Smagam is still complete without the presence of jal or anything else. Sri Akhand Paath Sahib in itself is enough for the udhaar of jeev. What is needed is to listen to the Paath with full dhiyaan.

Preetam Singh

Quote

Just had a quick question about having an Akhand Paath at home. Today I went to the gurdwara to book an Akhand Paath and the Granthi Singh Ji said that during the Akhand Paath they won't allow prakash of Japji Sahib Pothi; they won't keep Jal; they won't light a jyot; and they won't light any dhoof and will not keep a coconut as these things goes against the gurdwara's maryada and is deemed as manmat.

The reason why they deemed it as manmat because according to Panthic Maryada is it manmat. This practice or keep coconuts, water, and, incense present throughout an Akhand Paath originates from Deras its a form of a Devi worship.

funny thing no one i repeat no one can know if an individual with or without the coconuts and water and incense::

"This being said, Sri Akhand Paath Sahib Smagam is still complete without the presence of jal or anything else. Sri Akhand Paath Sahib in itself is enough for the udhaar of jeev. What is needed is to listen to the Paath with full dhiyaan."

Ns44 jeeo,

Im not sure what you mean, can you please clarify?

Preetam Singh

apolgies what i mean is as you say in your words no one can know if one is listening with full dhyiaan apart from Guru Sahib and the individual - incense - coconuts are a long way off.

Sri Akhand Paath sahib maryada was started by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji. The maryada includes placing jal, deeva, thoof, coconut, parshaad alongside the Akhand Paath sahib. Jap Ji sahib was done alongside. Jal is kept for multiple purposes: the jal is made amrit when baani is recited, jal can be used to extinguish a fire and prevent beadbi to Guru Granth Sahib Ji etc.. Deeva is useful in that gurbani can be read if there is a power outage, thus avoiding khandan of Sri Akhand Paath sahib. The burning of desi ghe from the deeva opens up nardia (veins) and lungs thus keeping the paathi Singh wide awake and preventing khandan. Thoof is used so that bad air does not cause beadbi of Guru Sahib. The maryada of placing the coconut was started by pehle Paatshaah, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji when they did matha-taek to dooje Paatshaah, Sri Guru Angad Sahib Ji on gurtagaddi, giving Guru Sahib a coconut is symbolically giving your sees (head) to Guru Sahib, sometimes wrapped in white or saffron.

Bhul chuk maaf.

Dasan Das Ji, can you provide any concrete evidence that this maryada was established by SRi GUru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji?

The first parkaash of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was done by Baba Buddha Ji at Sri Harmandir Sahib during the times of Sri Guru Arjan DEv Ji. There was no AKhand Paaths during this time as the maryada was to do continuous kirtan day and night. Parkaash, the opening of Sri GUru Granth Sahib Ji was only done after Asa Di Vaar and Sodar Rehars during the giving of Hukumnama. There has never been any Akhand Paath Maryada during the times of GUru Sahiban as Akhand Paaths did not exist.. First Akhand Paaths started during the times of Dal Khalsa when Singhs were living in the jungles. Jots were kept during the night for practical reasons but not in the day as it makes no sense.

Dhoonph is ok as long as it us used to remove bad odor- there is no need to keep it going when bad odor is removed. Most people use air refreshners or natural flowers which are much more healthier alternatives.

Maryada of keeping Jal on Amrit sanchar occasions also was established during the times of Sardar Jasssa SIngh Ji. It did not exist during times of Sri GUru Gobind Singh Ji if so there would have been an akhand path duing Vasakhi but there wasn't and the jal was obtained from the Saltuj river. The maryada of keeping jot, dhoonph , and coconut at the same time was emulated from our Hindu brothers who are fond on doing devi worship. You claim coconut offering is symbolic as we our offering our head. Traditioanlly, offering of coconut was symbolic from each proceeding GUru as it meant gurgaddi was being passed on to a certain Gursikh from the sangat . Gursikhs cannot offer Gurship to king of Kings.Who are we to offer Gurshiip to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji? Doing parikama around Sri GUru Granth Sahib Ji is symbolic of offering our head there is no need to offer coconuts, lol.