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Summary of Question:	Which Prayers Do I Need To Do Daily?
Category:	Sikh Practices
Date Posted:	Tuesday, 11/23/2004 1:33 PM MST

VKVF,

I was wondering if you can help me....I want to learn how to do the prayers properly. I am not from a strict sikh family but we do go temple but no amarthardi sikh's. From a young age I have always took an interest and would like to dwell into my religion. I mean Sikhism exists for a reason and God has put us here for a reason too.

So i felt a good way to start and to know the questions that I want answered is through the bani. I cannot read punjabi but in the past years I have listen to Gurbani cassettes and interpretations. I may not know all the prayers or may not know much about the bani,but one thing for sure that I know what God wants us to do in this life and how we as individuals should believe in the creator. For example all the questions on these site many of them I know the answers to. But I am lacking knowledge of what to do when it comes to prayers. I do the Japji Sahib followed by the ardas. But I want to know what prayers should be done in the morning and what prayers should be done in the evening? I usually do the Japji/Rehras followed by the ardas. What does Sohilaa mean? I may not know much about some of the religion but in my heart from a young age I have always known what is what. I want to become a proper sikh and so would like to expand on this further. I have books and translations but a little confused about the other prayers in the book. Thank you for your co-operation.

VKVF. Kx

(REPLY) Sat Nam. I went to the SikhNet Home Page, and then to the Sikh Dharma Manual and finally to the link about the daily banis. Here's what I found:

THE DAILY BANIS
The following are the daily banis given by Guru Gobind Singh, and their relationship with the five tattvas (elements):

Ether: Japji Sahib, Shabad Hazaaray
Air: Jaap Sahib, Tev Prasaad Swaiyaas
Fire: Anand Sahib
Water: Rehiras Sahib, with Baynti Chaopai
Earth: Kirtan Sohilaa

These banis should be read from the Gudka, (a small book of Banis) so that one does not get engulfed in one’s thoughtfulness. They are best read, even though one may have them memorized.

The Power & Effect of the Daily Banis

JAJPJI SAHIB: Control’s one’s "ji," one’s soul. When your ji, your being is endangered, when the radiance of your soul is weak, recite Japji. Guru Nanak said that the thirty-eight Pauris of Japji would liberate the humanity from the cycles of birth and death.

SHABAD HAZAARAY: This is the highest disciple’s love letter, written by Arjun to Guru Ram Das. Its boon is that it gives the benefits of a thousand Shabads, and the soul shall directly merge with God. It makes the separated ones come home with grace. One who recites this Shabad shall never be separated from their beloved.

JAAP SAHIB: The Naad of Jaap Sahib rouses the soul and the self of the Being. Sahib means grace. Recite it when your position is endangered, or when your authoratative personality is weak. This Bani brings grace and greatness. It will also give you the ability, that whatever people say, you will automatically be able to compute what they are actually saying. And, once you are able to recite it correctly, it will give you the power, the Siddhi, that whatever you say, must happen. Man can direct God and God can direct man. Guru Gobind Singh recited Jaap Sahib so we won’t become beggars at the doors of others.

TEV PRASAAD SWAIYAAS: Spoken by Guru Gobind Singh. When you are not getting any satisfaction out of life, this is the Bani to recite.

ANAND SAHIB: Whosoever recites the forty Pauris of Anand will have endless bliss, because the Guru is limitless. In this Bani, mind and body are explained in relation to cosmic divinity. Guru Amar Das gave us this Song of Bliss to qualify the mind and to understand the depth. For husband and wife to get together, recite it together, alternating sutras (lines).

REHIRAS SAHIB: This Bani is recited after one has worked and is tired. It adds energy (raa-hu) to one’s being, to one’s total concept. Also, recite it when your worldly wealth is endangered. In Naad, reh means live, and raas means commodity. Rehiras Sahib helps you when you are physically weak, or weak in money, property and earthly goods.

KIRTAN SOHILAA: This Bani is done before sleep at night. It is the most harmonious Naad ever uttered. It multiplies the aura to the sensitivity of protection that it eliminates any negativity for miles and miles. When you are endangered by any species of direct or indirect source, and when you want to protect yourself with the surrounding of the entire magnetic field of the earth, recite Kirtan Sohila.