1) Birth Ceremony
When Vaheguru blesses a couple with a child, at this auspicious moment the first rite is to utter “Vaheguru" Guru mantra (blessed word of the Guru) to the child. The midwife should be a Sikh, so that she can enact this rite.
Next, the Amrit is to be prepared in the following way:
- An Amritdhari (baptised Sikh) Singh should get a bowl made of Sarab Loh (pure iron) and half fill it with water.
• Five patase (sugar cakes) should be added to the water
• This mixture is to be continuously stirred with a Sarbloh Kirpan (small iron Dagger)
• During the stirring, the Singh is to recite Japji Sahib from memory
and is to sit in The ‘Bir-Āsan' position - a Warrior pose - the left leg is to be folded inwardly to rest on and the right is to be upright, similar to a sprinters stance before a race.
- Once the Japji Sahib recital is complete the Amrit is ready.
Five drops from the tip of the Kirpan are to be given to the child and the mother is to drink the rest of the Amrit.
- This is the first ceremony of initiation of a child into the Khalsa Panth (Community).
The mother is then to breast-feed the child, from this the child should become virtuous, a warrior, saintly, charitable and a vibrant Gursikh.
Enacting any other sort of birth rites/ceremony is not allowed in Gurmat; for example lucky charms or strings tied on the child's wrist or around his/her neck.
To break all superstitions Kara (bracelet made of Sarab Loh) is to be placed on the child’s right-hand wrist. Drinking alcohol and eating meat whilst celebrating the birth of a child is a great sin.
After the above ceremony, Karah Parshad is to be prepared and an Ardas recited in the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib jī. The child's name is based on the first letter of the Hukam nāma taken from Sri Guru Granth Sahib jī.
If possible on the same day a Sehaj Pāth (Recital of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji) should be started. The child and his/her mother should listen to the whole Pāth.
At the completions of recital Guru ka langar (prasad) is to be served to the Sadh Sangat.
2) Knowledge Ceremony
“By Guru's Grace, contemplate spiritual knowledge;
read it, study it, and you shall be honoured." (SGGSJ Ang 1329)
It is essential that the child's parents ensure that he/she is educated. Those parents who do not educate their offspring are like enemies to them.
“Those parents who say ‘I have a lot of virtues’ and then do not educate their children are great enemies of their children. Those parents don't gain any splendour, their children don't gain any sense, this is the way of the world."
(Sri Guru Nanak Parkash, First half 6. Vol.2, p. 172)
When the child reaches the appropriate age he/she should be enrolled at school where he/she can maintain the Sikh lifestyle and improve his/her Sikhi discipline.
There are 2 types of education, one is worldly and the other is spiritual:
Only worldly knowledge, without knowledge of Vaheguru is useless, tasteless and of no benefit. It does not make this human birth worthwhile; rather it creates ego and atheism trapping the Individual in the cycle of births and deaths.
The Gurmukhi language - Gurbani should be taught lo the child, by gaining the guidance of a committed Gursikh who Is very faithful to the Guru.
"Oh brother the Gurmukhi language should be taught to a Sikh by another Sikh. “
(Rehatnāma Bhai Dhesa Singh ji)
The child is not to be taught Gurbani or the philosophy of the Guru, by a non-Amritdhari or a non-believer of the Guru. A child taught by a Gursikh who has complete faith in Guru Sahib jī will have Gurmat enshrined in them.
The child is to be kept away from bad or sinful company who behave in un-Sikh, un-Godly ways, for example watching corrupting films/programmes, listening to shameful music, playing cards, gambling, foul language and stealing.
"Sikh Husband and Wife congregate and discuss the boundless God.
Teaching their children how to meditate: repeat the name of the Lord."
(Rehatnāma Bhai Sahib Singh ji. p.160/
Mothers are to maintain a strong level of Sikh discipline:
Daily after their Nitnem (prayer recital) they should go to the Gurdwara Sahib (Sikh place of worship), listen to discourses on Gurmat and Kirtan, taking their young children with them:
The experiences of childhood become engraved on the child like a carving on a stone. These childhood experiences will become a foundation for the rest of their lives.
If a child becomes religious at a young age then he/she will become spiritual, charitable, saintly and a warrior.
During childhood the child should be educated about the Guru Sahib's, the Great Martyrs, the Great Sikhs/Saints, he/she will grow up with good virtues and morals.