Nitnem by Dr. Kulwant Singh, with Punjabi ... - Gurbanifiles.org

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The present situation is very unsatisfactory. Our Gutkaas (Pocket-size scripture
booklets) may have lot of errors. Perhaps, Dassam Granth too, needs attention. It appears as if
all is not quite well with the Holy Sriptures, even. Besides Padd-Chhed, mainly responsible are
careless printing, negligent editing, and lax correction marking. It can be remedied by the strict
supervision, efficient control, and non-discriminating inspection of the Gurbani and related
printings. There is a need of an honest, independent body only for this purpose.
The Khalsa Panth, the highest Sikh institution, is the only body that can provide the
world with the standardized Sikh Scriptures, other important works, and their translations to
address to all these problems. Without standard reference works for comparison, there is no
way to stamp out the errors from the Sikh religious literature.
TRANSLATION
In the Gurmukhi-Punjabi translation of different Banis, at some places at least, it has been tried
to locate the meanings under and close to the original words of the scripture. In this broadbased
translation, this may help to make out meanings of some of the words.
To avoid confusion created by the alternative meanings, and to keep it more simlpe as
well as easily understandable, double meanings, names, places, etc. have mostly been avoided
especially in the English script, but still some of these are there.
When learning the meanings of the short scriptures like those of “Nit-Nem” (Daily
Routine-Recitation), it is profitable to study more than one work. Every author or scholar may
have his-her own variations in some areas, at least. Jaap Sahib has an abundance of such words.
The author may as well have limitations imposed by the type of work he or she is doing i.e. it is
a restricted (unexplained) or a detailed – elaborate work.
The Sikh Scriptures are in poetry. Bani has many words from other languages.
Especially Jaap Sahib is rich in Sanskrit, Persian, and Bihari vocabulary. In the Hymns, only a
single word may be there to represent a whole sentence. In this environment, each stanza,
vesrse, and word can have more deductions of their meanings, and by grouping a word with
one or the other part of a line, addition in them may further increase. The placement of
imaginary punctuation may add more. Due to this, particularly Jaapu Sahib needs a little more
care and attention to read and undrstand it.
PRELUDE TO NIT-NEM
These introductory write-ups are a bit long, and so these have been grouped together here, to
make a separate chapter.
Amritvela: the Holy Time – is the fourth-part of the night, from 3 A.M. to 6 A.M. It
ends with the sunrise. This time is for reciting Nit-Nem: routine or prescribed daily prayer. One
gets up at this time, bathes, and to recite the Name of God. After this, begins the recitation of
Bani. Most of us do every other thing, yet they do not find the time for God.
Every prayer paves the way for remembering Him, but this path we do not adopt. We do
not realize what the Guru tells us to do in the scriptures! It is so easy and we have simply to
make a habit of it.
Naam-Jaap - Sit down straight up, cross legged, on a cushion or on any other suitable seat.
Focus your eyes at a point between the two eyebrows and slightly higher - almost level with
their upper borders. Now, take deep breath and along with it, in your mind, say “Wahe.” After
this, without any interval, breathe out and along with it mentally say “Guru.”