Nitnem & Gutke

The daily Banis — a rhythm for the day.

Nitnem (“daily discipline”) is the set of Banis Sikhs recite each morning, evening and night. A Gutka Sahib is the small, respectfully kept prayer book that carries them.

What the Sikh Rehat Maryada lists. Morning: Japji Sahib, Jaap Sahib and the Ten Savaiye (Tav-Prasad Savaiye). Evening: Rehras Sahib. Night: Sohila Sahib.

Practice varies. Many Sikhs — and the Amrit Sanchar tradition — also recite Chaupai Sahib and Anand Sahib in the morning; some traditions differ in the composition of Rehras. GurVichaar presents these differences respectfully and does not treat a regional practice as universally mandatory.

Morning Nitnem

Amrit vela — the early hours
ਜਪੁਜੀ ਸਾਹਿਬ
Guru Nanak Dev Ji

Japji Sahib

Japji Sahib is the opening composition of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and the first Bani of the Sikh morning. In 38 pauris, Guru Nanak Dev Ji sets out how reality is ordered by Hukam and how a human being can come into harmony with it.

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 1–8Full text
ਜਾਪੁ ਸਾਹਿਬ
Guru Gobind Singh Ji

Jaap Sahib

Jaap Sahib is a composition of praise attributed to Guru Gobind Singh Ji, describing the Timeless One through a flowing series of names, attributes and salutations. Its rhythm is energetic and its vision vast: the One beyond every form, mark, caste and boundary.

Sri Dasam Granth SahibFull text
ਤ੍ਵ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ਸਵੱਯੇ
Guru Gobind Singh Ji

Tav-Prasad Savaiye

The Tav-Prasad Savaiye are ten verses from Akal Ustat that look at the powerful, the wealthy and the outwardly religious — and conclude that without love for the Divine, all of it is empty. Their closing line is simple and direct: only those who love have found the Divine.

Sri Dasam Granth Sahib, Akal UstatFull text
ਚੌਪਈ ਸਾਹਿਬ
Guru Gobind Singh Ji

Chaupai Sahib

Chaupai Sahib, also called Benti Chaupai, is a heartfelt prayer for the Divine's protection. It asks for the Divine hand to shelter the one who prays, to protect loved ones and to keep the mind fixed on the One.

Sri Dasam Granth SahibFull text
ਅਨੰਦੁ ਸਾਹਿਬ
Guru Amar Das Ji

Anand Sahib

Anand Sahib is Guru Amar Das Ji's song of spiritual bliss. It explains that true anand is not passing pleasure but the lasting joy that comes from meeting the True Guru and living by the Word.

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 917–922Full text

Evening

At dusk
ਰਹਰਾਸਿ ਸਾਹਿਬ
Several Gurus (Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Guru Amar Das Ji, Guru Ram Das Ji, Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Guru Gobind Singh Ji)

Rehras Sahib

Rehras Sahib is the evening prayer recited as the working day closes. It gathers shabads of several Gurus into one flow of gratitude, surrender and trust.

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 8–12, with additional compositionsFull text

Night

Before sleep
ਸੋਹਿਲਾ ਸਾਹਿਬ
Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Guru Ram Das Ji and Guru Arjan Dev Ji

Sohila Sahib

Sohila Sahib (Kirtan Sohila) is the short night prayer read before sleep. Its five shabads turn the mind towards the Divine at the end of the day, and it is also recited at Antam Sanskar and when Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is taken to rest.

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 12–13Full text

Other Banis for study & Paath

Recited and sung by many Sikhs
ਸੁਖਮਨੀ ਸਾਹਿਬ
Guru Arjan Dev Ji

Sukhmani Sahib

Sukhmani Sahib — the 'jewel of peace' — is Guru Arjan Dev Ji's long meditation on where lasting peace is found. Across 24 ashtpadis it describes the power of remembrance, the company of the holy, humility and the life of the God-conscious person.

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 262–296Full text
ਆਸਾ ਦੀ ਵਾਰ
Guru Nanak Dev Ji, with saloks of Guru Angad Dev Ji

Asa Di Vaar

Asa Di Vaar is a ballad in Raag Asa that challenges empty ritual, ego and social injustice, and points to truth, humility and the Guru's guidance. It is traditionally sung in the early morning in gurdwaras.

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 462–475Full text
Gutke

Gutka Sahib collections

A Gutka is a compact collection of Banis. GurVichaar’s structure supports multiple Gutke — for example a Nitnem Gutka (the daily Banis), a Panj Granthi and a larger Sundar Gutka — each built from the same verified Bani files, so a correction in one place corrects every collection.

Collections will open as their Banis are imported and reviewed.

Starting a Nitnem, gently

  1. Begin with one Bani you can give full attention to — many start with Japji Sahib.
  2. Read slowly with the meaning beside you; understanding grows with repetition.
  3. Keep a regular time and place; consistency matters more than length.
  4. Add Banis as the habit settles, guided by your Sangat and family tradition.
Nitnem basics for children