There are many Jathas (groups) which claim our way is the only way. Where should I take Amrit?

Amrit does not belong to any person or group. Amrit is Divine and is only given by Guru Ji Himself. So it’s not a question of “my Amrit” and “your Amrit.”

ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਪੀਆ ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਦੀਆ ॥ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਜਾਣਾ ਦੂਆ ਤੀਆ ॥
“I drink in the Amrit (Divine Immortal Nectar) given by the True Guru. I do not know any other second or third.”
(SGGS – Ang 1034)

Guru Ji, clearly states that there is one Amrit:
ਨਾਨਕ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਏਕੁ ਹੈ ਦੂਜਾ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਨਾਹਿ ॥
“O Nanak! There is only One Amrit (Divine Immortal Nectar); there is no other nectar at all.”
(SGGS – Ang 1238)

Any debate or vichaar should be about asools (principles) and not about organizations or groups. Whether Jatha Bhindran, Nihang Singhs, Nanaksar, Akhand Kirtani Jatha or some other Jatha, the Amrit organized by them would be judged by maryada (code of conduct) they keep and not by the organization that organizes it and does the sewa. Amrit is not Amrit just because a certain group or organization of Gursikhs organizes the Amrit Sanchaar. Amrit is Amrit if it is prepared with full maryada.

If there is an Amrit Sanchaar organized by any group, organization, or Gurdwara, and they don’t keep the most basic Amrit maryada, then such Amrit can be classified Amrit.

1) There must be a Saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
2) There must be Panj Pyaare who are tyaar-bar-tyaar (always prepared) Gursikhs, strive to keep full rehat (discipline), physical fit & healthy, and having appealing Gurmukh personalities.
3) The sewadars should follow at least the basic maryada of Amrit.

Here are some points to ponder upon:

1) If the saroop of Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is not there, can an Amrit Sanchaar be done? No.
2) If there are only 4 Gursikhs and not 5 Gursikhs to do sewa in Panj Pyaare can such an Amrit Sanchaar be valid? No.
3) If Sarblohi Baata (iron bowl) and Sarblohi Khanda (iron double-edged sword) is not there can such an Amrit Sanchaar be valid? No.
4) If the Abhilaakhis (those prepared for Amrit) are not wearing the 5 Ks and dastaar (turban), can their heads be accepted? No. To offer your head bare-headed without a dastaar is not acceptable to Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
5) If Panj Pyaare just give you Naam but don’t implant it inside you or don’t teach you how to japp Naam, how would you japp it? Without method, how do you japp Naam? Where do you focus your concentration? So it’s best if Panj Pyaray teach how to japp Naam.
6) Panj Pyaare (five beloved ones) should give Amrit and not “Ikk Pyaara” (one beloved one). The puraaatan RehitName (old code of disciplines) state:

ਪਾਂਚ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੋ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਦੇਵੈ | ਤਾ ਕੋ ਸਿਰ ਧਰਿ ਛਕਿ ਪੁਨਲੇਵੈ |
“It is by the offering of your head that the five Singhs administer Amrit..”
(Rehatnama Bhai Desa Singh Jee)

Nowadays in most Amrit Sanchaarss, the Panj Pyaare prepare Amrit but in most cases, one of the Pyaare imparts Amrit to the seekers. This is not correct maryada, however this practise may have been adopted by some groups or Gurdwaras as a practice to save time in administrating Amrit when there is large Sangat at the Amrit Sanchaar. The whole purpose of receive Amrit 5 times in your mouth, 5 times in your eyes and 5 times in your hair is to enable each one of the Panj Pyaare to do so. In modern times, there are still a few groups that maintain the maryada of Panj giving Amrit.

If there are small differences in maryada we should ignore them but if a person receives Amrit with totally non-maryada then it is an issue. Such statements like “Amrit prepared by all organizations is same” are nonsense statements. How can Amrit prepared by a fraudster “holy men” be Amrit? How can Amrit prepared by adulterous Saadhs be Amrit? Some off-shoot Nanaksar groups have began to give ready-made Amrit (which they claim they prepare before the Amrit Sanchaar) and express a relax attitude towards wearing the Kirpaan. This is totally wrong and in violation to basic maryada.

Statements like “the whole Panth does this and majority does that” are naive statements. Are we to keep maryada according to what the majority position is? Majority of the so called Sikh diaspora is patit i.e. they cut their hair. Are we to say that cutting hair is okay? As the matter of fact, it has already been accepted by most people now.

I am sure Guru Sahib does Kirpaa on those people who go to an Amrit Sanchaar with full shardaa (faith) but are not administered Amrit with full maryada. But if this can be prevented, why should someone got to an Amrit Sanchaar where maryada is not observed and the Panj Pyaaray are not Rehitvaan? “An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.”