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Sahej Paath (Punjabi: ਸਹਜ ਪਾਠ) or Sadharan Paath (Punjabi: ਸਧਾਰਨ ਪਾਠ) or even Khula Paath,[1] literally means easy or simple recitation. It is a paath (recitation) which may be started and ended at any time; with as many or as few people participating as desired.[2] The recitation of the Guru Granth Sahib is started at the beginning of the Granth Sahib and the whole of the 1430 pages of the Guru Granth is read in a slow fashion over from seven days to, in some cases, over several months.[3][4] It is a slow, intermittent, non-regular, and non-urgent reading of the whole of the Guru Granth Sahib.[5] Any paath which exceeds a week's length is referred to as a Sahej Paath.[6]
Description
[edit]The Sahaj Paath, alternatively spelt as Sehaj Path and also known as Sadharan Path, is the reading from beginning to end, with no time-limit for completion.[7] of the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh Scriptures, which can be done at the reader's schedule. A Paath may be fulfilled by one or more readers, and the pace depends entirely on those reading.[8]
Fulfilling the Paath can be done in honor of a particular occasion or simply to increase one’s feeling of connection to the Guru. When done monthly, it gives the Sadh Sangat Congregation a beautiful opportunity to establish a close relationship with the Guru and provides the blessing of His Word to the community.[citation needed]
Now there are also a lot of sehaj paath apps which give convenience to proceed with sehaj paath any time and any where.[citation needed]
It is a good time to practice pronunciation and study meanings. Someone can even listen and correct the reader during the recitation. Anyone can perform their own Sahej Paath. This is the way a beginner would usually do the first few Paaths of the Guru Granth Sahib.[citation needed]
The reading concludes with a bhog ceremony.[9]
Usage
[edit]Khula Paths are performed during the Antam Sankar ceremony, which are Sikh last rites.[1][10][11]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Kapoor, Sukhbir Singh; Kapoor, Mohinder Kaur (2008). The Last Rites in Sikhism (1st ed.). Hemkunt Press. p. 16.
j. In Sikhism, a 13 days mourning called 'kirya' is also performed, but there is no such belief of any ghost etc. k. For thirteen days, stories from the Garur Puran are read. (see para r for stories). In Sikh households, a reading of Guru Granth Sahib (khulla path) is organized or paths of Sukhmani Sahib and/or shabad kirtan are organized. . On the thirteenth day the last puja (religious ceremony) is performed, it is believed that it would release the soul from the worldly bonds and put it on the path towards the trial lounge, situated above in skies. In Sikh households, the reading of Guru Granth Sahib (khulla path) is completed on this day, or paths of Sukhmani Sahib and / or shabad kirtan are organized with 'Antim Ardas', to say good bye to the soul.
- ^ Sikhism and Indian civilization. Raj Pruthi. New Delhi: Discovery Pub. House. 2004. p. 123. ISBN 81-7141-879-1. OCLC 434576317.
7. Saharan Path (Completion of Normal Intermittent Reading of the Guru Granth Sahib) Article VIll (a) Every Sikh should as far as possible, maintain a separate and exclusive place for the installation of Guru Granth Sahib, in his home. (b) Every Sikh man, woman, boy or girl, should learn Gurmukhi to be able to read the Guru Granth Sahib. (c) Every Sikh should take the Hukam (Command) of the Guru Granth in the ambrosial (early), hours of the morning before taking meal. If he/she fails to do that, he/she should read or listen to reading from the Guru Granth some time during the day. If he/she cannot do that either, during travel etc., or owing to any other impediment, he/she should not give into a feeling of guilt. (d) It is desirable that every Sikh should carry on a continuous reading of the Guru Granth and complete a full reading in one or two months or over a longer period. (e) While undertaking a full reading of the Guru Granth, one should recite the Anand Sahib (the first five and the last stanzas) and perform the Ardas. One should, thereafter, read the Japuji.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ Encyclopedia of the world's religions. R. C. Zaehner. New York. 1997. p. 428. ISBN 0-7607-0712-X. OCLC 38594192.
Sadharan path is a reading which, with intervals, lasts up to ten days. Saptah path lasts for seven days. Uninterrupted readings (akhand path) last for forty eight hours and are a popular way of marking both happy and sorrowful family occasions and religious festivals.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ Izmirlian, Harry (1979). Structure and Strategy in Sikh Society: The Politics of Passion. Manohar. p. 56. ISBN 9780836405514.
- ^ Khalsa, Sukhmandir. "Read Entire Guru Granth: Akhand Paath, Sadharan Paath, or Sahej Paath". Learn Religions. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
- ^ The encyclopaedia of Sikhism. Vol. 4: S–Z. Harbans Singh. Patiala: Punjabi University. 1992–1998. p. 5. ISBN 0-8364-2883-8. OCLC 29703420.
Even where the limit is fixed and it exceeds a week , it will be called a sadharan path ...
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ Jagraj Singh (2009). A complete guide to Sikhism. Chandigarh, India: Unistar Books. p. 118. ISBN 978-81-7142-754-3. OCLC 319683249.
Sehaj Path: Recitation of Guru Granth Sahib from the beginning to the last word, over not a specified time is called Sehaj Path.
- ^ "What is the procedure for a Sehaj Paath? | Sikh Answers". www.sikhanswers.com. 2010-04-12. Retrieved 2017-01-01.
- ^ Singha, H. S. (1994). Sikhism : a complete introduction, book 7. Satwant Kaur. New Delhi. p. 88. ISBN 81-7010-245-6. OCLC 967096375.
On the other hand, the sahaj path means slow reading of the Guru Granth Sahib. It is interrupted and reading is done in spells extending over a period of time-even months. But sahaj path is also concluded with the bhog ceremony.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Death, dying, and bereavement. Donna Dickenson, Malcolm L. Johnson, Jeanne Katz (2nd ed.). London: Sage Publications in association with the Open University. 2000. p. 342. ISBN 978-0-85702-643-9. OCLC 650088656.
Sikhs follow a similar pattern in the home, without the severe restrictions of Hindus. It is the custom to read the holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, either continuously for three days (akhand path) or over 8 to 10 days (sadharan path). This should normally begin after the funeral, but if there is a long delay, perhaps because of an inquest, it may be started sooner. At the conclusion of the reading and prayers, if the deceased was head of the household, there is a ceremony offering a turban (pagri) to his heir, followed by a feast in celebration of a long life if the deceased was elderly.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ Rait, S. K. (2005). Sikh women in England : their religious and cultural beliefs and social practices. Stoke on Trent, UK: Trentham Books. p. 77. ISBN 1-85856-353-4. OCLC 58601941.
It is common to have path bhog after the funeral, which is normally Sadharan path, kept for the peace of the soul of the dead.