Gutka

GUTKA, a smallsized missal or breviary containing chosen hymns or barns from Sikh Scriptures. The etymology of the term gutka may be traced back to Sanskrit gud (to guard, preserve) or gunth (to enclose, envelop, surround, cover) through Pali gutii (keeping, guarding). A lateeighteenthcentury scholar of UdasI sect spelt the word as gudhkd. It is obligatory for Sikhs to recite certain texts and prayers as part of their daily devotions. This led to the practice of writing them down in gutkds or pothis (larger in size than gutkds). Keeping or carrying of gutkds must have gained greater vogue among the Sikhs during the early eighteenth century when disturbed conditions forced them to be ever on the move. They kept them sheathed with their gdtrds or crossbelts as they rode out from place to place. Gutkds became really popular with the advent of the printing press and the rise of the Singh Sabha movement during the last quarter of the nineteenth century. Various types of gutkds made their appearance. The most common were Nitnem gutkds, which contained bdms meant to be recited daily, namely Japu, Jdpu, Savaiyye, Anandu for the morning, Rahrdsi and Benali Chaupdi for the evening and Sohild at bedtime. Some also contained Shabad Hazdre, Asd ki Vdr and Sukhmam, although the last two bdms were also available in separate volumes. Another gutkd which has gained currency under the title is Sundar Gutkd containing besides all the above banis, compositions for occassional recitation such as Barah Maha (Twelve Months) and hymns appropriate to birth, marriage and funeral ceremonies and rites. The commonest script is Gurmukhi, although gutkds published in Devanagan and Persian scripts are also available.