Nitnem



Nitnem (ਨਿਤਨੇਮ) is a collection of Sikh hymns (Gurbani) to be read minimally 3 different times of the day. These are mandatory and to be read by every Amritdhari Sikh as expressed in the Sikh Rehat Maryada. Optionally additional prayers may be added to a Sikh's nitnem. There are five hymns (Five Banis) to be done during Amrit Vela (early morning), the Rehras Sahib hymn for the evening and Kirtan Sohila for the night. The morning and evening prayers should be followed by an Ardaas.

Five Banis
The initiated Sikh is asked by the Panj Piare during the Amrit Sanchar ceremony to recite the following five banis (ਪੰਜ ਬਾਣੀਆਂ) as a commitment to the Sikh Gurus and Waheguru. The banis are also recited daily, starting in the early morning (Amrit Vela). Through time, the "five banis" has come to mean different things to different groups of Sikhs.

Morning prayers

 * Japji Sahib
 * Jaap Sahib
 * Tav-Prasad Savaiye
 * Chaupai Sahib
 * Anand Sahib

As per the Sikh Code of Conduct, Sikhs are only required to recite Japji Sahib, Jaap Sahib, & the Ten Sawayyas in the morning. Many Sikhs, including those who follow the lifestyle of the Damdami Taksal & AKJ, believe that Chaupai Sahib & Anand Sahib are also required in the morning prayers. Sometimes this is referred to as the Five Banis. These prayers are recited between 2 - 6 AM. These morning prayers are required to be followed by the Ardas.

Daytime prayers
Five Banis can also refer to Japji Sahib, Jaap Sahib, & the Ten Sawayyas in the morning, along with Rehras Sahib and Kirtan Sohila in the evening, which are the five minimum prayers to be recited daily by any amritdhari Khalsa Sikh, as per the Sikh Code of Conduct.

Evening prayer
This prayer is recited after sunset and takes about 8–12 minutes to recite. This evening prayer is required to be followed by the Ardas.
 * Rehras Sahib
 * Ardas

Night prayer
Some Sikh schools of thought also recite Rakhiya De Shabad before Kirtan Sohila. This prayer is recited before going to bed and takes about 5–12 minutes to recite. This night prayer is not required to be followed by the Ardas.
 * Kirtan Sohila Sahib

Other prayers
Nitnem is typically read from a gutka (Sikh Prayer book) or pothi (wider rectangular book), of which the main forms are the Panj Granthi (5 main scriptures from Guru Granth Sahib) and the Das Granthi (main scriptures from Dasam Granth). The Sundar Gutka (A larger gutka containing a mix of many compositions, lit. Beautiful Gutka) is also common in Sikh households. Other prayers commonly read are:
 * Sukhmani Sahib
 * Asa di Vaar
 * Aarti
 * Sidh Gosti
 * Uggardanti
 * Shabad Hazare Patshahi 10