Waheguru Ji ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh
Please help me. I’m trying to wake up at Amrit vela for the last year or so and usually take a shower. My mum was working nights so she wouldn’t really be aware I was doing this. She has lost her job recently and now is more around at night. She gets annoyed when I wake up and sends what’s app messages or tells me don’t wake up in the morning and most recently when I showered she got up and cleaned the bath (it felt quite aggressive). She is quite aggressive in nature. She doesn’t do her prayers either. I tried to explain the importance too. I want to know is it ok to do prayers at Amrit vela without ishnaan? I am initially doing once a week to build a habit and want to gradually increase this. But I feel so sad when my mum is not supportive and I feel so scared of her each time I wake up. Iv tried not showering but brushing etc but I feel guilty then. So much to the point I dont want to do av as I’m not sure if god will ever angry.
Please advise ASAP. I have tried Googling and I don’t have much Sikh friends either
Thank you so much
Respected Lotus;
Thank you so much for sharing your situation.
There is no direct answer to your question in Gurbani,
But there is plenty of references in Gurbani on shedding the ritualism.
Gurbani recommends remembering the Creator at all times, that included before and after taking a shower or any other activity.
ਸਾਸਿ ਸਾਸਿ ਸਿਮਰਹੁ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ॥
ਮਨ ਅੰਤਰ ਕੀ ਉਤਰੈ ਚਿੰਦ ॥ (ਮ:੫, ਪੰ:੨੯੫)
Yes, keeping this body, a gift of the Creator, clean and healthy is part of Gurbani message. At the same time being respectful of your parents is very important. So adjusting the time for your shower is just fine.
Remembers as per Gurbani message, the emphasis is on your way of life all twenty-four hours a day, not just in the morning, or afternoon, or any specific time.
ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ ॥੧॥ (ਮ:੧, ਪੰ:੧)
Please feel free to adjust your shower time convenient for the yourself and family. Just remember to live Sikhi values.
Respected Veerji.
The root cause of , not only this question , but so many of our other misunderstandings is our not being able to differentiate between APPROPRIATE and SACRED.
Since all the viewpoints being shared on this platform have to have the sanction of the Guru , I am sharing 2 sets of Shabads , 1st the ones which clearly state that this is an absolutely appropriate time for connecting , and the 2nd clearly stating that no specific time had to be considered as SACRED , and that God is to be remembered at all times.
1st Set APPROPRIATE:
ਨਾਉ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਤੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਧਿਆਈਐ ਛੋਡਹੁ ਦੁਨੀ ਪਰੀਤਾ ॥
नाउ प्रभातै सबदि धिआईऐ छोडहु दुनी परीता ॥
Meditate on the Name, and the Word of the Shabad, in the early hours before dawn; leave your worldly entanglements behind.
ਪ੍ਰਣਵਤਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਦਾਸਨਿ ਦਾਸਾ ਜਗਿ ਹਾਰਿਆ ਤਿਨਿ ਜੀਤਾ ॥੪॥੯॥
प्रणवति नानक दासनि दासा जगि हारिआ तिनि जीता ॥४॥९॥
Prays Nanak, the slave of God’s slaves: the world loses, and he wins. ||4||9||
—
ਗੁਰ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਜੋ ਸਿਖੁ ਅਖਾਏ ਸੁ ਭਲਕੇ ਉਠਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਵੈ ॥
गुर सतिगुर का जो सिखु अखाए सु भलके उठि हरि नामु धिआवै ॥
One who calls himself a Sikh of the Guru, the True Guru, shall rise in the early morning hours and meditate on the Lord’s Name.
—
ਝਾਲਾਘੇ ਉਠਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਿ ਨਿਸਿ ਬਾਸੁਰ ਆਰਾਧਿ ॥
झालाघे उठि नामु जपि निसि बासुर आराधि ॥
Rise early in the morning, and chant the Naam; worship and adore the Lord, night and day.
—
2 nd Set : NOT SACRED
ਜੇ ਵੇਲਾ ਵਖਤੁ ਵੀਚਾਰੀਐ ਤਾ ਕਿਤੁ ਵੇਲਾ ਭਗਤਿ ਹੋਇ ॥
जे वेला वखतु वीचारीऐ ता कितु वेला भगति होइ ॥
Consider the time and the moment-when should we worship the Lord?
ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਨਾਮੇ ਰਤਿਆ ਸਚੇ ਸਚੀ ਸੋਇ ॥
अनदिनु नामे रतिआ सचे सची सोइ ॥
Night and day, one who is attuned to the Name of the True Lord is true.
—
ਸਭੇ ਵੇਲਾ ਵਖਤ ਸਭਿ ਜੇ ਅਠੀ ਭਉ ਹੋਇ ॥
सभे वेला वखत सभि जे अठी भउ होइ ॥
If at all times, at each and every moment, they live in the fear of God
ਨਾਨਕ ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਮਨਿ ਵਸੈ ਸਚਾ ਨਾਵਣੁ ਹੋਇ ॥੧॥
नानक साहिबु मनि वसै सचा नावणु होइ ॥१॥
-O Nanak, the Lord dwells within their minds, and their cleansing bath is true. ||1||
—
ਸਭੇ ਵਖਤ ਸਭੇ ਕਰਿ ਵੇਲਾ ॥ ਖਾਲਕੁ ਯਾਦਿ ਦਿਲੈ ਮਹਿ ਮਉਲਾ ॥
सभे वखत सभे करि वेला ॥ खालकु यादि दिलै महि मउला ॥
Always, at every moment, remember God, the Creator within your heart.
There are plenty of Shabads to clarify this aspect more…..
Thank you so much uncle Ji ???????????? you answered so quickly. My mom is suggesting to not shower at all or shower in the morning (not Amrit vela) but like anytime once she is awake like after 9 am. Our home is small so she is complaining she is disturbed as well when I shower. I try to be as quiet as possible.
Is Panj ishnaan is ok as opposed to full ishnaan before Amrit vela prayer time? Thank you so much for your kind response.
ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਵੇਲਾ ਸਚੁ ਨਾਉ ਵਡਿਆਈ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥ Jap – 2
Amrit Vela is meant for analysing and understanding the qualities of Akal Purkh with the help of Gurbani.
This is not meant for completing some formalities.
Taking bath and other requirements are for keeping our body fit and fresh.
Depending upon the situation and environment one can modify and adjust.
Please go through the following article for details.
http://www.geocities.ws/sarbjitsingh/Bani2220GurMag200508.pdf
Thank you very much all – god bless. This has given me the courage to continue without worrying too much.