Q: At what age does a person “take Amrit” (become baptized into Sikhism)?

A: Amrit or Khande Ki Pohul is the Sikh baptism. It is carried out by drinking of holy water (prepared while reciting hymns) given by five baptized Sikhs to the person being baptized. There is no formal age for becoming a baptized Sikh. Amrit is a very beautiful practice. It can be carried on any time when a Sikh thinks he or she is ready.


Q: What worship and life one has to follow after he or she takes Amrit?

A: A Sikhs life consists of three basic rules, life honestly, remember God, and share with your fellow man.

A Sikh must earn an honest living and always interact with honesty and good ethical standards. Sikhs must also remember God. This is done through the recitation of seven daily prayers. Five prayers are recited in the morning as a reminder of God’s role in life and are meant to be the first thoughts of the day dedicated to God. One prayer is recited in the evening and one is subsequently recited at night to be the last thoughts in ones mind before sleep. In this way God is constantly a conscious part of a Sikh’s day.

One may ask, why should one recite the same hymn everyday? The basic reason is that the hymns provide guidance to worship God and tells one to live  truly and honestly. Reciting the hymns does not let one dwindle and always keeps one focused on his/her goals. Every morning the hymns ring the bell in mind and reminds one of his duties.

Along with these scriptures Sikhs are told to meditate on God while doing any work and whenever they are free. Some Sikhs get up at 3 in the morning and start worshiping God while everyone is asleep, so that there would be no distractions.

Amritdhari (or baptized Sikhs) are not to cut their hair, consume any alcohol or drugs. This is to always be conscious about one's self and keep God in the heart and mind. Sikhs are to meditate on One God only and never to do idol worship. The Amrit bearer has five symbols or articles of faith, which he or she is always to keep with them. These five symbols are Hair (covered), Comb, Steel bracelet, under shorts and a small sword. The sword is emblem of courage and self-defense. It symbolizes dignity and self-reliance, the capacity and readiness to always defend the weak and the oppressed. It helps sustain one’s martial spirit and the determination to sacrifice oneself in order to defend the truth. A Sikh is a devotee first and to protect his devotion, a Sikh is a warrior too. A real Sikh will never let weapons take the precedence over his spiritual values and devotion. A real Sikh will always help the one in need and fight for him regardless of the person's caste, color or religion. When all other means of self-protection fail, the Sikh can use his sword to protect himself and others. A Sikh will never use his sword to attack anyone.

Finally, a Sikh is to always share with others. In the spirit of defending the truth, a Sikh is also to help those in any other type of need and share his or her own bounty with those who may be less fortunate.


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