Editing Prayer (section)

===Sikhism===
[[File:BhaiSahibJiArdas.jpg|thumb|A [[Sikh]] holy man, doing Sikh prayer ([[Ardās]])]]
The ''[[Ardās]]'' (Punjabi: ਅਰਦਾਸ) is a [[Sikh]] prayer that is done before performing or after undertaking any significant task; after reciting the daily ''[[Banis]]'' (prayers); or completion of a service like the ''[[Paath]]'' (scripture reading/recitation), ''[[kirtan]]'' (hymn-singing) program or any other religious program. In Sikhism, these prayers are also said before and after eating. The prayer is a plea to God to support and help the devotee with whatever he or she is about to undertake or has done.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pall |first=S. J. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cSmLZwEACAAJ |title=Sikh Ardaas |date=2005 |publisher=B.Chattar Singh Jiwan Singh |isbn=978-81-7601-690-2 |language=pa}}</ref>

The ''Ardas'' is usually always done standing up with folded hands. The beginning of the ''Ardas'' is strictly set by the tenth Sikh Guru, [[Guru Gobind Singh]]. When it comes to conclusion of this prayer, the devotee uses words like "[[Waheguru]] please bless me in the task that I am about to undertake" when starting a new task or "[[Akal Purakh]], having completed the hymn-singing, we ask for your continued blessings so that we can continue with your memory and remember you at all times", etc. The word "Ardās" is derived from Persian word 'Arazdashat', meaning a request, supplication, prayer, petition or an address to a superior authority.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Neki |first=Jaswant Singh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H9mRMQEACAAJ |title=Ardas of the Sikhs: A Distinctive Prayer |date=2012-09-23 |publisher=Printx Office |isbn=978-0-9882688-0-7 |language=en}}</ref>

Ardās is a unique prayer based on the fact that it is one of the few well-known prayers in the Sikh religion that was not written in its entirety by the Gurus. The Ardās cannot be found within the pages of the [[Guru Granth Sahib]] because it is a continually changing devotional text that has evolved over time in order for it to encompass the feats, accomplishments, and feelings of all generations of Sikhs within its lines. Taking the various derivation of the word Ardās into account, the basic purpose of this prayer is an appeal to Waheguru for his protection and care, as well as being a plea for the welfare and prosperity of all mankind, and a means for the Sikhs to thank Waheguru for all that he has done.<ref>{{citation |url= http://www.sgpc.net/ardas/index.asp |title= Ardas |work= sgpc.net |publisher= [[Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee]] |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060806235347/http://www.sgpc.net/ardas/index.asp |archive-date= 2006-08-06 }}</ref><ref>{{citation |url= http://new.sgpc.net/ardas/ |title= Learn and recite the Holy Ardas |work= sgpc.net |publisher= [[Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee]] |access-date= 2014-11-04 |archive-date= 2014-11-05 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141105003933/http://new.sgpc.net/ardas/ |url-status= live }}</ref>