Within Gurbani, many rules are written in a very clear and beautiful way. By understanding them properly, they can be followed easily.

Examples from Gurbani:

1. ਰਾਗੁ ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ ਮਹਲਾ ਪਹਿਲਾ ੧ ਘਰੁ ੧॥
   Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang: 14

2. ਗੂਜਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੩ ਤੀਜਾ॥
   Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang: 492

3. ਵਡਹੰਸੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੩ ਮਹਲਾ ਤੀਜਾ
   Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang: 582

4. ਸੋਰਠਿ ਮਹਲਾ ੪ ਚਉਥਾ॥
   Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang: 604

5. ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ਘਰੁ ਦੂਜਾ ੨॥
   Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang: 23

6. ਸ੍ਰੀ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀਉ ਕਾ ਚਉਪਦਾ ਘਰੁ ੨ ਦੂਜਾ॥
   Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang: 528

7. ਧਨਾਸਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ਘਰੁ ਦੂਜਾ॥
   Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang: 661

Explanation

From examples (1) to (4), we see that after writing Mahalla, a number is given, and then the same number is again written in words like ਪਹਿਲਾ (first), ਤੀਜਾ (third), ਚਉਥਾ (fourth).

Similarly, in examples (5) to (7), the number ੨ is written, and then again written in words as ਦੂਜਾ (second).

This style of writing clearly shows that these lines are written as examples.

When counting numbers are written again in words, it becomes clear that these numbers are not to be read as ਇਕ, ਤਿੰਨ, ਚਾਰ, but rather as ਪਹਿਲਾ, ਤੀਜਾ, ਚਉਥਾ, depending on the context.

The same rule is used for Ghar.

In examples (5) to (7), writing ਘਰੁ ਦੂਜਾ ੨ or ਘਰ ੨ ਦੂਜਾ proves that this principle is intentional.

According to this rule, everywhere in Gurbani where Mahalla or Ghar is written along with a number, it should be pronounced as:

• ਮਹਲਾ ਪਹਿਲਾ (Mahalla Pehla)

• ਮਹਲਾ ਦੂਜਾ (Mahalla Dooja)

• ਮਹਲਾ ਤੀਜਾ (Mahalla Teeja)

• ਮਹਲਾ ਚਉਥਾ (Mahalla Chautha)

• ਮਹਲਾ ਪੰਜਵਾਂ (Mahalla Panjvaan)

• ਮਹਲਾ ਨੌਂਵਾਂ (Mahalla Nauvaan)

Similarly:

• ਘਰ ਪਹਿਲਾ (Ghar Pehla)

• ਘਰ ਦੂਜਾ (Ghar Dooja)

• ਘਰ ਤੀਜਾ (Ghar Teeja)

Pronouncing them as Mahalla ik, Mahalla do, Mahalla tin, etc. is incorrect.

More Examples:

1. ਸਤ ਚਉਪਦੇ ਪਹਲੇ ਚਉਥੇ ਕੇ॥
   Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang: 96

2. ਬਾਈਸ ਚਉਪਦੇ ਤਥਾ ਪੰਚਪਦੇ॥
   Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang: 481

3. ਆਸਾ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀਉ ਕੇ ਤਿਪਦੇ ੮ ਦੁਤੁਕੇ ੭ ਇਕਤੁਕਾ ੧
   Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang: 481

4. ਆਸਾ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀਉ ਕੇ ਪੰਚਪਦੇ ੯ ਦੁਤੁਕੇ ੫
   Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang: 479

5. ਮਹਲੇ ਪਹਿਲੇ ਸਤਾਰਹ ਅਸਟਪਦੀਆ॥
   Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang: 64

6. ਛਕਾ ੧ … ਛਕੇ ੨॥
   Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang: 528 and Ang: 530

Explanation

In line (1), ਸਤ ਚਉਪਦੇ (Sat Chaupadey), in line (2), ਬਾਈਸ ਚਉਪਦੇ (Baais Chaupadey), and in line (5), ਸਤਾਰਹ ਅਸਟਪਦੀਆ (Satrah Ashtpadiaan) make it clear that wherever Panchpadey, Chaupadey, Tipde, Dupde, or Ik Tuka are written with numbers, those numbers should be read as counts.

So they should be read as:

• ਪੰਚਪਦੇ ਨੌਂ (Panchpadey nau)

• ਤਿਪਦੇ ਅੱਠ (Tipde atth)

• ਦੁਪਦੇ ਸੱਤ (Dupde satt)

• ਦੁਤੁਕੇ ਪੰਜ (Dutuke panj)

• ਇਕ ਤੁਕਾ ਇਕ (Ik Tuka ik)

They should not be read as:

• ਨੌਂਵਾਂ (nauva)

• ਅੱਠਵਾਂ (aithva)

• ਸੱਤਵਾਂ (sattva)

• ਪੰਜਵਾਂ (panjva)

• ਪਹਿਲਾ (pehla)

That pronunciation is incorrect.

Similarly, Chhaka 1, Chhake 2, Chhake 3 should be read as numbers, not as pehla, duja, or teeja.

॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ॥

In many places in Gurbani, ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ॥ is written.

Reading this as ik rahao is incorrect, because ॥੧॥ is written only to show counting, since some Shabads have more than one Rahao.

While doing Paath, counting numbers are not to be read.
Therefore, ॥੧॥ should not be pronounced.
Only ਰਹਾਉ (Rahao) should be spoken.

However, where it is written in words as ਰਹਾਉ ਦੂਜਾ॥, those words should be read.

Abbreviation of Mahalla

In some places in Gurbani, ਮ: ੩, ਮ: ੪, ਮ: ੫ is written.

Here, ਮ: is the short form of Mahalla.

In such places, it should be read as:

• ਮਹਲਾ ਤੀਜਾ (Mahalla Teeja)

• ਮਹਲਾ ਚਉਥਾ (Mahalla Chautha)

• ਮਹਲਾ ਪੰਜਵਾਂ (Mahalla Panjvaan)