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Summary of Question:	Panj Pyares Message When You Take Amrit
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Tuesday, 10/09/2001 8:53 AM MDT

Dear Sikhnet Brothers & Sisters - myself and my wife are looking to take amrit this year, possibly at the time of Guru Nanak Dev Ji's Birthday (30th Nov). The thing is that she allies herself with a particular Sant, and wants to take Amrit at this one Gurudwara - I'm not really that bothered, I'll take Amrit anywhere, as long as I take it !! My only concern, is that I've heard that the message that you are given by the Panj Pyare varies from Gurudwara to Gurudwara, and that you must follow what the Panj Pyare tell you WHEN YOU TAKE AMRIT. Is this true ?? Or is there a standard set of rules which one can follow, if the Panj Pyare say something that you don't agree with ?? My wife does go to other Gurudwaras aswell, but feels that she owes this Gurudwara a lot, as she has learnt a lot about Sikhi from this Gurudwara, so I can see her point of view aswell.

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REPLY
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Sat Siri Akaal, Ji:

One major problem with Sikh Panth is that we are NOT all on the same page, but need to be! Go here for information on Rehit Maryada and what Panj Piarays EVERYWHERE should be telling the newly baptized. http://www.sikhnet.com/Sikhism.

It is up to you to decide this: if the message of the Panj does not accord with what is on this site, then should you discount it as editorializing on the part of those specific Panj members? This is especially so if it does not ring true to you personally, since you clearly already have a good idea of what the Panj should be telling you. You might want to ask the Panj or someone who is part of the Panj at the Gurdwara you use just what their message is to the newly baptized.

I might add that your wife will probably be asked in her Amrit ceremony to follow the teachings of the Sant; whereas Rehit as given is to bow to NO ONE but Siri Guru Granth Sahib. This might not matter to her, but I sounds like it will matter to you. Check this issue out, I could be wrong. You might find that you will want to take Amrit at different Gurdwaras but attend each other's Amrit ceremonies as observers (which is OK to do).

Guru rakha,
-DKK