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Five Prayers required in Sikhism

The 5 Banis Japji Sahib, Jaap Sahib, Anand Sahib, Benti Chaupai and Amrit Savaiye are usually recited daily by some devoted Sikhs in the early morning. Rehras Sahib is read in the evening and Kirtan Sohila before going to sleep at night. No exact time is stipulated by the Guru for the reciting of the Banis as this is left to the individual. However, the morning Banis are normally read early in the morning when the world is still asleep and it is peaceful and silent. One should endeavour to do this as early as possible in the "ambrosial" hours of the morning. Some devout Sikhs read their Banis as early as 4 am but most practising Sikh usually recite their Banis at about 6 am and it takes about 1 hour to complete their meditation.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has recommended that the following 5 Banis should be recited by a Sikh on a daily basic: Japji Sahib, Jaap Sahib and Amrit Savaiye in the morning, Rehras Sahib is to be read in the evening (about 6pm) and Kirtan Sohila before going to sleep at night.

Panj Bania refers to five prayers required in Sikhism. Panj is the Sikh word for five, and Bania is plural for bani meaning word or scripture.

The Panj Bania are commonly referred to as Nitnem. During Amrit sanchar the initiation ceremony, the panj pyara instruct the Khalsa initiates to review the panj bania either by reading, reciting or listening to them live or recorded. Panj Bania include:

Morning Prayers - to be performed after bathing, following morning meditation at sunrise.

Required:

• Japji Sahib – The first prayer composed By Guru Nanak Dev, which is the opening hymn of Guru Granth Sahib.
• Jap Sahib – The second prayer which is a composition of Guru Gobind Singh from Dasm Granth
• Benti Chaupai and Amrit Savaiye, – The third prayer which is a composition of Guru Gobind Singh from Akal Ustat.

Evening Prayers - to be performed at sunset

Required:

• Rehras - The fourth prayer of the day which includes:
  • Nine Compositions of Guru Nanak, Guru Raam Das, and Guru Arjun Dev which immediately follow Japji Sahib in the Guru Granth starting with "Sodar" and ending with final verse of "Saran pare ki rakho sarma".
• Compositions of Guru Gobind Singh including Benti Chaupai - "Hamaree karo hath dai rachai", Swaye – "Pae gahe jab te tumre," Dhora – "Sagal duar kau chhad kai".
• Anand Sahib – First five and final verses, composed by Guru Amar Daas.
• Mandavani
• Tera Kita Jato Nahee

Bedtime Prayers - to be performed last thing before sleeping.

Required:

• Kirtan Sohila – The fifth prayer of the day which includes five compositions from the Guru Granth Sahib by Guru Nanak Dev, Guru Raam, and Guru Arjun Dev.

As part of their morning or daily routine, many gursikhs, (very devout Sikhs), recite the Amrit banis. Selections from Guru Granth like Shabad Hazarre and Sukhmani Sahib, both compositions of Guru Arjun Dev, and others by Guru Gobind Singh may also be read.

The Prayers can be located on the website on the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Link, on the Sikhism links.

Information from www.sikhiwiki.org