Previous

Next

Ask a Question

Summary of Question:	The Composition Of Rehraas?
Category:	Gurbani
Date Posted:	Friday, 3/05/2004 1:10 PM MST

I have been performing the Rehras prayers from the Nitnem Gutkas ever since I was able to read but until lately I discovered that theNitnem Gutkas from Nanaksar Gurudwaras are not the same ie, The Stanza of Beinti Chaupae is longer in their Gutkas. Iwish to know why there is a difference and what is the explanation for either version. WHY do we have versions in the first place?

Please enlighten. Now Punjab Radio of Southall play tapes of both these versions.

*******
reply
*******

Sat Siri Akaal. The SGPC has advocated a version of Rehiras that ends after the Mundavanee. I'm not sure why that version is the one they chose. That is one reason for seeing different Rehiras versions.

Also, I understand that in colonial days the British were impatient with our daily reading of Nitnaym because of the time it took Sikhs to say it, and so managed to get our practice around Nitnaym changed. For example, Rehiras was shortened considerably. In some Nitnayms, you will find a version of Rehiras that is considerably longer than that advocated by SGPC. Another example of this is Anand Sahib, which is shortened to 6 pauris within Rehiras; thus many Sikhs do not know the full bani, only the first 5 pauris and the 40th.

There are Rehiras versions that add a couple of extra 10th Guru single Chaupaees, and/or a few extra pauris to Benanti Chaupaee, plus the Aril. Most longer versions end with shabd by 5th Guru: Rakhay Rakhanhar, but I've heard one that goes beyond that with a couple other shabds.

I don't know how it was that Rehiras was compiled. Right after Japji in SGGS, you will see many of the shabds that compose Rehiras, but not all of them. It's a question for Sikh history buffs, isn't it?
Guru ang sang,
-DKK