The Sikh Rehat Maryada is a code of conduct and conventions for Sikhism, approved by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Amritsar in 1945.
Although Sikhs have a primary scripture (the Guru Granth Sahib), it does not provide a practical structure for the arrangement of the community. Consequently, the Rehat Maryada was created to standardise Sikh Gurdwaras and religious practices to foster cohesion throughout the community
The Sikh Rehat Maryada addresses key issues such as the definition of a Sikh, personal and communal obligations such as meditation and volunteer service, rules for gurdwara services to include appropriate music and festivals, and the conduct of assorted Sikh ceremonies.
The Sikh Rehat Maryada is divided into six sections and thirteen chapters. Read about each section and chapter in detail by clicking the links below.
Section 1
Article 1 – Definition of Sikh
Section 2
Chapter II – Aspects of Sikh Living
Article II – Sikh Living
Chapter III – Individual Spirituality
Article III – Sikh Personal Life
Article IV – Meditating on Naam (Divine Substance) and Scriptures
Section 3
Chapter IV – Gurduwaras, Congregational Etiquette, Rites
Article V – Joining the Congregation for understanding of and reflecting on Gurbani
Article VI – Kirtan (Devotional Hymn Singing by a Group or an individual)
Article VII – Taking Hukam
Chapter VII – Reading of the Guru Granth Sahib
Article VIII – Sadharan Path (Completion of Normal Intermittent Reading of the Guru Granth Sahib)
Article IX – Akhand Path: Uninterrupted-Non-Stop-Completion of the Reading of the Guru Granth Sahib
Article X – Commencing the Non-stop Reading
Article XI – Concluding the Reading
Chapter VIII – Making Offerings, Consecration and Distribution
Article XII – Karhah Prasad (Sacred Pudding)
Chapter IX – Components of Gurdwara Service
Article XIII – Exposition of Gurbani (Sikh Holy Scriptures)
Article XIV – Expository Discourse
Article XV – Gurdwara Service
Section Four
Chapter X – Beliefs, Observances, Duties, Taboos and Ceremonies
Article XVI – Living in Consonance with Guru’s Tenets
Chapter XI – Ceremonies pertaining to Social Occasions
Article XVII – Ceremonies pertaining to Birth and Naming of Child
Article XVIII – Anand Sanskar (Lit. Joyful Ceremony)
Article XIX – Funeral Ceremonies
Article XX – Other Rites and Conventions
Section Five
Article XXI – Voluntary Service
Section Six
Chapter XIII – Panthic (Corporator Sikh) Life
Article XXII – Facets of Corporate Sikh Life
Article XXIII – Panth’s Status of Guru-hood
Article XXIV – Ceremony of Baptism or Initiation
Article XXV – Method of Imposing Chastisement
Article XXVI – Method of Adopting Gurmatta
Article XXVII – Appeals against Local Decisions
