The reason this time of the day is known ‘Amrit-vela’, is because this is when the Amrit (Divine-Nectar) showers as one lovingly repeats Naam. We should remember and meditate upon Vaheguru all day, however the early morning hours is the time for the soul-gym, where the mind and spirit practice Naam to be prepared and equipped for the day. The spiritual exercise and practice in the early morning hours has greater blessings and gives us a spiritual boost for the rest of the day:
เจซเจฐเฉเจฆเจพ เจฐเจพเจคเจฟ เจเจฅเฉเจฐเฉ เจตเฉฐเจกเฉเจ เจธเฉเจคเจฟเจ เจฎเจฟเจฒเฉ เจจ เจญเจพเจ เฅฅ
เจเจฟเฉฐเจจเฉเจพ เจจเฉเจฃ เจจเฉเจฆเฉเจฐเจพเจตเจฒเฉ เจคเจฟเฉฐเจจเฉเจพ เจฎเจฟเจฒเจฃเฉ เจเฉเจเจ เฅฅเฉฎเฉฆเฅฅ
“Fareed, musk is released at night. Those who are sleeping do not receive their share. Those whose eyes are heavy with sleep – how can they receive it? ||80||”
(Salok Fareed Ji, 1382)
โYou can remember and repeat Vaheguruโs Name whenever you want in the twenty-four hours of the day. But why has importance been given to Amrit-vela? It is because there is a time to do everything and correct method. For example, when wheat is grown, it is grown in a particular month, not the whole year. It also ripens and grows ready for harvest in a particular month, not all the time. Similarly, Guru Ji says that humans too shall meditate upon Vaheguru at a particular time. What should that time be? That time should be that time when it is neither night nor day, neither full sun nor full moon. For this reason Guru Ji has blessed us with two sets of time for Bhagti (devotional worship). One is early morning of Amrit-vela, at which time there is neither full night nor full morning. The other is evening time for Rehraas. At this time too, neither is the sun (fully) nor the moon. So in other words, any time is a good time for devotional worship and praise of the Guru, but the importance of Amrit-vela is some folds greater.โ
โAmritvela is the last pehar (3 hours or so) of the night, which is highly productive time for Naam Japna. The whole world is sleeping and Gursikhs find this time very peaceful to concentrate on Naam and contempla te on the qualities of Vaheguru listed in Gurbani. Gurmukhs who have reached high spiritual states say th at at this time there is a shower or rainfall of Amrit. For this reason, one can effortlessly concentrate on Naam and achieve the spiritual aim much faster.โ
Some of the students at Taksal sometimes got lazy and would miss Amritvela. Sant Baba Thakur Singh Ji Khalsa knew about this and he would lovingly tell the Singhs about the importance of Amritvela and he would beg them never to miss it. If the Singhs Baba Ji had spoken to missed Amritvela again, Baba Ji would go to their rooms. Once Baba Ji was there he would start massaging their legs and feet. When the Singhs who were asleep felt the touch of a Puran Brahmgyani’s hands they felt a bolt of lightning of naam energy pass through them and they immediately jumped out of bed. They saw Baba Ji standing with his hands clasped together begging them to get up and do their nitnem and naam abiyaas. Baba Ji would literally stand there and ask the Singhs, “what else could an ‘old man’ do to get you Singhs up for Amritvela?”
References: Bhai Manvir Singh Ji UK’s Blog
