Diet in Sikhism - Sarbloh Bibek

Sarbloh Bibek

Many Sikhs keep Sarbloh Bibek. Sarbloh meaning All-Iron and Bibek meaning conscious principles. Sikhs thus eat strictly in Iron bowls and Iron plates. According to Sarbloh Bibek food must be cooked in Iron cauldrons or other Iron utensils while reciting Gurbani or Simran (meditating). Sikhs traditionally use sand to clean the Iron utensils, but they may speed up the process using a mixture of dishwashing soap, sand, water and a steel wool soap pad.

Another key aspect to maintaining Sarbloh Bibek is that Sikhs must only eat food prepared by other Amritdhari (Baptized) Sikhs. Amritdhari Sikhs are also issued to not eat Jootha food (previously eaten food) from non-Amritdhari’s.

Sarbloh was used by Guru Gobind Singh Ji to prepare Amrit during the Khalsa initiation ceremony in 1699. The Khanda (a double edged knife or sword) was also made of Sarbloh. To this day all Amrit Sanchaars are conducted using a bata (bowl) and Khanda (sword) made of sarbloh.