Karah Parshad or Guru Parshad is a sweet vegetarian*1 pudding, which is offered to all visitors to the Darbar Sahib in a Gurdwara. Karah Parshad is made from equal parts, by weight, of flour, ghee (clarified butter) water and gur (raw sugar) and is understood and experienced as a blessing from the Guru and should not be refused.
Those who prepare it bathe beforehand and recite hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib as they make it. When cooked, it is covered with a white cloth which is sprinkled with water as a symbol of cleanliness. It is then placed near the Guru Granth Sahib. During the Ardas at the end of worship it is stirred with a small kirpan(sword). It is then given to all who are present as a sign of their equality and unity. Offering karah parshad also makes sure that no one leaves the Guru's presence empty handed.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup ghee or 1/2 lb unsalted butter (2 cubes)
- 1 cup whole grain flour (atta)
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 cups water
- Continual recitation of Japji Sahib, Moolmanter or Gurmanter
- Measure all ingredients. Waheguru.
- Add sugar to water and set in pot to boil. Ik Onkar.
- Melt ghee or unsalted butter in a pan.
- To clarify unsalted butter heat and skim off foamy curds and spoon out solids from bottom of pan. Sat Naam.
- Add whole grain flour (atta) to melted butter. Karta Purkh.
- Stir mixture continuously to lightly toast flour. Nirbhao.
- Continue stirring flour and butter mixture while sugar boils to make light syrup.
- Butter separates from toasted flour turning a deep golden color with a nutty aroma. Nirvair.
- Pour boiling sugar syrup into toasted flour and butter mixture.
- Mixture will sputter. Take care not to be scalded. Stir rapidly until all water is absorbed.Akal Moorit.
- Keep stirring prashad as it thickens into a firm pudding. Ajoonee.
- Completely cooked prashad slides easily from pan into a steel bowl or iron bowl.Saibhang.
- Bless the prashad with ardas/ Prayer .
- Touch cooled prashad with a kirpan/ short sword. at the appropriate time during ardaas.
- Remove five portions to commemorate five beloved panj pyara and serve to five Sikhs.
- Distribute remaining prashad to sangat, members of the congregation. Gur Prashad.
Mool Mantar - One Gurmukhi Number One in Gurbani Illustrated - Significance of Gurmukhi Numeral One in Sikh Scripture JAP JI SAHIB Ik Onkaar Sat Naam Kartaa Purakh Nirbh-A-O Nirvair Akaal Moorat Ajoonee Saibhn Gur Parsaad Jap. Aad Sach Jugaad Sach. Hai Bhee Sach Naanak Hosee Bhee Sach. Sochai Soch Naa Hov-A-Ee Jay Sochee Lakh Vaar. Chupai Chup Naa Hov-A-Ee Jay Laa-I Rahaa Liv Taar. Bhukhi-Aa Bhukh Naa Utree Jay Bannaa Puree-Aa Bhaar. Sehas Si-Aanpaa Lakh Hoh Taa Ik Naa Chalai Naal. Kiv Sachi-Aaraa Ho-Ee-Ai Kiv Koorhai Tutai Paal. Hukam Rajaa-Ee Chalna Naanak Likhi-Aa Naal There is one God who is the Creator of the Universe. The Word of God is as true as God himself. The Creator God is present in His creation. He is without fear. He knows no fear. He carries no hatred. His form has no end like death. He is here forever. He does not take birth in any form. He came into existence by Himself. God can be realized through Guru's grace. is the name of this song (gurbani). God has been there from the beginning of time. God has been there from the beginning of ages (yugs). God exists now even in the present time. Oh Nanak, you will always be there in the future. Cleansing the body cannot make the mind clean. The mind cannot be silenced by remaining silence continuously. . Greed cannot be ended by being given an abundance of wealth. Even if ones cleverness was to become infinite, this intelligence and shrewdness is not the way to God. How can one be true and pure enough to be on the path to God? By leading life according to God's will. | Gurmanter- Waheguroo
The word Ardas means to petition Too thakur tum peh ardaas|| "You are Lord Master; to You, I offer this prayer jeeo pi(n)dd sabh thaeree raas || This body and soul are all Your property. thum maath pithaa ham baarik thaerae || You are our mother and father; we are Your children. thumaree kirapaa mehi sookh ghanaerae || In Your Grace, there are so many joys! koe n jaanai thumaraa a(n)th || No one knows Your limits. oochae thae oochaa bhagava(n)th || O Highest of the High, Most Generous God, sagal samagree thumarai soothr dhhaaree || the whole creation is strung on Your thread. thum thae hoe s aagiaakaaree || That which has come from You is under Your Command. thumaree gath mith thum hee jaanee || You alone know Your state and extent. naanak dhaas sadhaa kurabaanee || Nanak, Your slave, is forever a sacrifice. || |