One key aspect of the Sikh way of life is daily prayer, completed through daily recitation of a minimum of seven specific Banis.
Gutka is the name given to a small collection of Banis, contained within, which are recited by Sikhs on a regular basis.
“Gutka” can be defined as the stopping of the lever on a Persian wheel, and Bani is actually Gutka itself, as it stops the negative cycle of the mind. To each negative thought, Bani brings a positive thought, and inner balance can be achieved. It stops the mind and reverses negative thought forms.
“Gutka will immediately take you out of any urge of the hidden self. Whatever frequency you will apply to yourself, the world will apply to you.” (Victory & Virtue).
The word Nitnem can be literally translated as “daily routine.” The most popular Gutkas are generally Nitnem gutkas, which contain the seven banis meant to be recited by Sikhs daily—namely Japji Sahib, Jaap Sahib, Tav Prasad Svaiye, Anand Sahib, Rehras Sahib, Benti Chaupai Sahib and Kirtan Sohila.
However, there are a number of other important Gutkas containing other banis, including Asa Ki Var, Sukhmani Sahib, the Bara Maha, and many others.
~Resource: this information was originally shared in the book Victory & Virtue: Ceremonies & Code of Conduct of Sikh Dharma (2001) by the Office of the Bhai Sahiba of Sikh Dharma of the Western Hemisphere and “What is Nitnem?” (Basics of Sikhi).
Note: For those who would like to begin a personal practice of Sikh banis and prayers, our marketplace has a Gurmukhi-Roman Nitnem available that contains Sikh banis for daily recitation, as well as the Peace Lagoon with English translation of Sikh prayers and banis.