Reht Maryada

What is the Reht Maryada? This document is the Official Sikh Code of Conduct. There were a number of unsucessful attempts in the eighteenth century following the death of Guru Gobind Singh to produced an accurate portrayal of Sikh conduct and customs. These attempts were contradictory and inconsistent with many of the principles of the Gurus and were not accepted by the majority of Sikhs. Starting early this century in 1931 an attempt was made by the Shromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (S.G.P.C.) to produce a modern standard Rehit. These efforts involved the greatest Sikh scholars and theologians of this century who worked to produce the current version. The document produced has been accepted as the official version which provides guidelines against which all Sikh individuals and communities around the world can measure themselves. The Reht Maryada is the only version authorized by the Akal Takht, the seat of supreme temporal authority for Sikhs. It's implementation has sucessfully achieved a high level of uniformity in the religious and social practices of Sikhism.

Reht Maryada
The Code of Sikh Conduct and Conventions

Dharm Parchar Committee
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Amritsar

Excerpt from Mission Statement of Translator (Kulraj Singh): Producing an English version of the Sikh Reht Maryada with the object of promoting uniformity in the Sikh conduct and observances in the interest of deeper religious cohesion. the Sikh Reht MaryadA, as the ensuing preface to the original Punjabi text will show is the product of collective Panthic wisdom. What is more, some of the greatest Sikh scholars and savants of all times contributed to it and deliberated on its content. So this work should take precedence on any sectional beliefs and preferences. In a wider context, the content of the Reht Maryada should be taken as the final word as to the matters they deal with. That will foster panthic cohesion.

Section One Chapter I Sikh Defined Article I Definition of Sikh Section Two Chapter II Aspects of Sikh Living Article II Sikh Living Chapter III Individual Spirituality Article III Sikh’s Personal Life Article IV Meditation on Nam (Divine Substance) and Scriptures Section Three Chapter IV Gurduwaras, Congregational Etiquette, Rites Article V Joining the Congregation for understanding of and reflection on Gurbani Chapter V Kirtan Article VI Kirtan (Devotional Hymn Singing by a Group or an Individual) Chapter VI Taking Hukam - Other Items of Service Article VII Taking Hukam Chapter VII Reading of 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 Karhah Prashad - Making, Offering, Consecration and Distribution Article XII Karah Prasad (Sacred Pudding) Chapter IX Components of Gurduwara Service Article XIII Exposition of Gurbani (Sikh Holy Scriptures) Article XIV Expository Discourse Article XV Gurduwara 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 ceremonial: Sikh Matrimonial Conventions and Ceremony) Article XIX Funeral Ceremonies Article XX Other Rites and Conventions Section Five Chapter XII Altruistic Work Article XXI Voluntary Service Section Six Chapter XIII Panthic (Corporate Sikh) Life Article XXII Facets of Corporate Sikh Life Article XXIII Panth’s Status of Guru-hood Article XXIV Ceremonies of Baptism or Initiation Article XXV Method of Imposing Chastisement Article XXVI Method of Adopting Gurmatta Article XXVII Appeals against Local Decisions

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