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AKHAṆḌ PAAṬH (akhaṇḍ = uninterrupted, without break; paaṭh = reading) is non-stop, continuous recital of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji from beginning to end. Such a recital is usually completed within 48 hours, however time should not be an issue. The entire Sacred Volume of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 1430 large pages, is read through in a continuous ceremony. This reading must go on day and night, without a moment's intermission. The relay of reciters who take turns at reciting Gurbani must ensure that no break occurs.

SEHAJ PAATH or SADHAARAN PAATH is the reading of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji from beginning to end, with no time-limit for completion. Even where the limit is fixed and it exceeds a week, it will be called a Sadhaaran Paath, two other terms synonymously used being Khullaa Paath (Khullaa = unrestricted, not fixed) and Sehaj Paath (slow reading). A Sadhaaran Paath may be undertaken by any individual Sikh, man or woman, or jointly with other members of the family as part of personal piety or in observance of a special occasion or family, event.

Sri Guru Nanak Dev Jee and great Sikhs of his era performed Katha and it was and is still through Katha that many people gain knowledge about Sikhism and become enlightened. Katha is both a spiritual and historical discourse, it endows the listener with spiritual and worldly knowledge, and helps Sikhs along the path of Sikhi.

Katha is the verbal explanation/discourse of Gurbani (the utterings of the Guru's) and our great history. Katha has been an integral part of Sikh practice since the revealed inception of Sikhism by Sri Guru Nanak Dev Jee.

"Sampatt Paath" is a variation of an "Akhand Paath' (continuous reading of entire Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji) in which the reading of every single complete 'shabad' (sacred hymn) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is followed by the reading of a pre-determined shabad or salok from Sri Guru Granth Sahib (for example on a sad occasion the shabad, "Aukie Gharee Na Dekhan De-ee" may be chosen), which is thus repeated throughout the recitation.

There is no difference between the Order and Word of God and God Himself. The Guru is not a physical body made of the five element, i.e. flesh & blood or ink and paper. Guru Nanak Sahib Ji was asked by Sidhs (mystics) living in the Himalayas, "Who is your Guru and who's disciple are you?" The Guru replied:

ਸਬਦੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਧੁਨਿ ਚੇਲਾ ॥
"The Shabad is the Guru, upon whom I lovingly focus my consciousness; I am the chaylaa, the disciple." (Ang 943)

This is to express our regards and our respect for the Holy Scripture, the True King. The king commanded the greatest power, hence also the maximum respect and honour, in the olden days. Guru Nanak Sahib Ji said that the true kings are those who love God and help others to do that. They are the rulers of the hearts of the people. The political kings are temporary kings and their authority ends with their death.

The correct procedure for the distribution of the Karhaah Parshaad (Sacred Pudding which is distributed to the Congregation as a symbolic gesture of the Guru's blessings) according to the Gurmat philosophy is given below. It will automatically explain why Parshaad is first given to Five Sikhs before it is given to the congregation (Sangat). At the conclusion of the Gurdwara function, the Parshaad is first accepted into the Guru Darbaar (Kirpaan Bhet) and then distributed according to Gur Maryada (Guru's tradition).

(a) KIRPAN BHET (Tucking the Parshaad with a Sword)

It is agreed by all that we should recite Paath regularly because that is a direction from the Gurus. In this, three steps are involved:

i) Reading (listening to) the message
ii) Understanding the message
iii) Benefiting from the message.

HUKAMNAMA , is a compound of two Persian words "hukam", meaning command or order, and "namah", meaning letter. In the Sikh tradition, historically it refers to the letters sent by the Sikh Gurus to their Sikhs or sangats (congregation) in different parts of the country during the period of the Ten Gurus from 1469 to 1708. However, now it is used to refer to the Shabd (Sacred Hymn) that is read after the Ardaas prayer is said in the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. In this case the word is can also be shortened to just the "Guru's Hukam".

'Parkaash' means light, radiance, expansion. It is the presence of the Guru presiding over the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. The Parkash ceremony is the installation of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib upon the Palkee Sahib for the day, or prior to a Gurdwara ceremony about to be conducted.

1. Entering Guru Ji's room (or the place where Guru Ji's Sukhaasan was done), the sewadaar (volunteer) serving as the Granthi ‘matha teks' (bows down) to Guru Sahib.