Well, from a few videos (and books too) that I have gone through, what I discovered is that ,anyone who wishes to take amrit, must do that as early as possible. The issue is that individuals view it, or it is presented in a manner, that taken amrit denotes that you are going to start a very quiet, strict life, which involves adherence to hard rules tough to follow, etc.
For one who is keen to take amrit , it must be clear that he is not going into a strict space of life, but that he is making a commitment to its Guru.
Yes, it is appreciable for him to understand the Guru at least before making a commitment. ‘Knowing’ here means understanding and reading Gurbani.
One must understand what type of life is going to start, which could only be clear through understanding at least the five banis Gurbani.
Jap, Jaap, Sudha Savaiye, Chaupai and Anand.
A sikh is ready to take the Amrit Ceremony when he/ she understands that they could stand up on the guru’s words. They could fulfill all the requirements. They understand it when they are ready to leave all the devoted earthly pleasures all their timeline to Almighty (though that is not compulsory stuff) you are always having a personal life.
You become a Sikh by following Sikhi (Gurbani Shabd/Truth enshrine in Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji).
• There is nothing to convert to externally, no ritual or procedure to follow, except internal change of perspective and heart.
• A person who upholds the Truth and is always Truthful is a Sikh.
• A Sikh is not a sectarian, cultural, or racial identifier. Sikh is a concept, a living reality — dogma/not blind belief.
Taking Amrit is becoming a Khalsa Sikh, joining the Khalsa Paanth (Khalsa = pure/Truth; Paanth = way/path). It is not accurately Sikh-ism, but Sikhi. There is no “-ism” in Sikhi, its just the Truth.
Thus, a Khalsa is the protector of Truth, not just upholding Truth! A commitment to sacrificing everything for Truth. To be fearless, unbeatable against injustices with no private agenda beyond being Truthful.
Amrit Sanskar/ceremony is one of the four ceremonies/sanskars in Sikhism .Where a Sikh after coming of age making commitment to follow its religious duties.
In broader terms it includes commitment to do following things :
1. Reciting certain particular hymns daily
2. Wearing 5 articles of faith at all times : Kesh: uncut hair, Kangha: a wooden comb for the hair, Kara: a metal bracelet, Kirpaan: a strapped straight sword, Kachhera: a particular style of cotton undergarments
3. And follow up the Sikh gurus teachings as worshipped in Guru Granth Sahib
and a promise to avoid following stuff ( denoted as kurehats or cardinal sin)
1. trimming or Cutting of hair or Kesh,
2. adultery or Fornication,
3. Kuthha meat Or Halal meat
4. Use of intoxicating and tobacco drug
( And doing awesome things and ignore rough things is common to all religions of the planet)
No , not all individuals born in Sikhism families these days taking Amrit.
Certain English writers loose manner translating the Amrit ceremony to Sikhism Baptism.
Analogy is not the great way but let me try.
Scenario : person is born in religiously oriented Sikhism family
1: Parents who themselves are amritdhari certains that their kids do some paath (recitation of gurbani) regularly. They begin by doing 1 stanza of the daily prayer of JAPJI sahib which they increased as the child progress up.
2 : Kids (girls and boys) born in moderately religious Sikh families too do not cut their use intoxicant or hairs.
3 : Parents who are keen interested in Sikhism sharing tales and history of Sikh ancestors and gurus with their kids .
The combined influence of the above three points is that by the time the kid becoming a teenager ( 12-13 years ) he/she is able to do complete Japji Sahib and understand about Sikh history and also about the significance of taken Amrit.
So at this stage she/he decided to taking Amrit.
Now the above summary was in a case where both the parents are amritdhari and they deliberately trying to inculcate Sikh history and values in the kids.
Not all of us born in Sikh families are quite fortunate to have this interest in Sikh manner of life and hence most of the Sikh youths of today are not taking amrit.
Basic requirement to taking amrit is one must be mentally strong to ignore the below mentioned for Kurehats (cardinal sins)
1. Cutting of hairs
2. Adultery
3. Use of tobacco and other intoxicants
4. Halal or kutha meat
And should be familiar with teachings of Sikh gurus and be ready to devote certain time daily ( 20 minutes in morning and 30 minutes in evening) to complete the daily prayers as needed after taking amrit .
