Panj Pyare

Panj Pyare (Punjabi: ਪੰਜ ਪਿਆਰੇ, Pañj Piārē, the five beloved ones) refers to a gathered ad hoc quintet of five baptized (Amritdhari) Khalsa Sikhs who act as institutionalized leaders for the wider Sikh community.^[1]^[2]^[3]

^ Williams, Victoria (2016). "Dastaar Bandi and Amrit Sanchar, Sikhism". Celebrating life customs around the world : from baby showers to funerals. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. p. 70. ISBN 978-1-4408-3658-9. OCLC 956633929. During the ceremony the amrit is accompanied by a solemn oath in the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib and Panj Pyare, or the five beloved ones. Panj Pyare is a quintet of initiated Sikh men or women that act as leaders within the Sikh community. The Panj Pyare oversee the Amrit Sanchar ceremony by preparing the initiates and administering the amrit to those ready to be initiated
^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Sandhu, Gian Singh (2023). "34. Who are the current panj pyare?". Who Are the Sikhs? An Exploration of the Beliefs, Practices, & Traditions of the Sikh People. Archway Publishing. ISBN 978-1-6657-3953-5. OCLC 1376370414. Today, the term panj pyare refers to an ad hoc group of five amritdhari Sikhs who are recognized by the congregation for their commitment to Sikhi and are asked to perform certain functions. The panj pyare are given the honour of conducting the amrit sanchar (initiation ceremony) and may also be called upon to perform other important services, such as laying the cornerstone of a gurdwara or leading a religious procession. They may also assist in dispute resolution, such as deciding issues confronting a family, the local Sikh sangat (community), or the greater Sikh panth as a whole. They must be of the highest moral standing and adhere strictly to Sikh principles and values. The panj pyare are all volunteers, and they are selected when the need arises. They maintain this status until the duty they were asked to perform has been fulfilled.

At crucial moments of Sikh history, the panj pyare have collectively acted as supreme authority for the Sikhs. For example, during the battle of Chamkaur, the last five surviving Sikhs constituted themselves into the Council of Five, and they commanded Guru Gobind to leave the fortress and save himself to reassemble the Sikhs. Before Guru Gobind Singh passed away, he ended the line of living gurus. Through the institution of the panj pyare, the Guru envisioned a continuing society that would conduct itself democratically and choose its leaders based on merit.

[:2-1] Williams, Victoria (2016). "Dastaar Bandi and Amrit Sanchar, Sikhism". Celebrating life customs around the world : from baby showers to funerals. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. p. 70. ISBN 978-1-4408-3658-9. OCLC 956633929. During the ceremony the amrit is accompanied by a solemn oath in the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib and Panj Pyare, or the five beloved ones. Panj Pyare is a quintet of initiated Sikh men or women that act as leaders within the Sikh community. The Panj Pyare oversee the Amrit Sanchar ceremony by preparing the initiates and administering the amrit to those ready to be initiated

[:1-2] Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[:3-3] Sandhu, Gian Singh (2023). "34. Who are the current panj pyare?". Who Are the Sikhs? An Exploration of the Beliefs, Practices, & Traditions of the Sikh People. Archway Publishing. ISBN 978-1-6657-3953-5. OCLC 1376370414. Today, the term panj pyare refers to an ad hoc group of five amritdhari Sikhs who are recognized by the congregation for their commitment to Sikhi and are asked to perform certain functions. The panj pyare are given the honour of conducting the amrit sanchar (initiation ceremony) and may also be called upon to perform other important services, such as laying the cornerstone of a gurdwara or leading a religious procession. They may also assist in dispute resolution, such as deciding issues confronting a family, the local Sikh sangat (community), or the greater Sikh panth as a whole. They must be of the highest moral standing and adhere strictly to Sikh principles and values. The panj pyare are all volunteers, and they are selected when the need arises. They maintain this status until the duty they were asked to perform has been fulfilled.

At crucial moments of Sikh history, the panj pyare have collectively acted as supreme authority for the Sikhs. For example, during the battle of Chamkaur, the last five surviving Sikhs constituted themselves into the Council of Five, and they commanded Guru Gobind to leave the fortress and save himself to reassemble the Sikhs. Before Guru Gobind Singh passed away, he ended the line of living gurus. Through the institution of the panj pyare, the Guru envisioned a continuing society that would conduct itself democratically and choose its leaders based on merit.

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