Within the Sikh tradition, discipline for violating the Rehat Maryada is framed not as mere punishment but as a path of spiritual correction and reintegration into the Panth. The central mechanism is the declaration of a person as *tankhaia*—one who has incurred religious penalty and stands in need of rectification. Such a person is expected to make an open confession of the transgression before the sangat or before the Panj Piare, accompanied by sincere repentance and a resolve not to repeat the offense. This public acknowledgment is itself a profound spiritual act, restoring transparency between the individual, the community, and the Guru’s path.

The primary disciplinary measure is *tankhah*, a form of religious penance determined by the Panj Piare or other authorized Sikh authority. Tankhah may include recitation of specific banis and additional prayers, extended engagement with Gurbani, and seva such as cleaning, serving langar, or other humble tasks in the gurdwara and community. In some cases, it can also involve making donations to the gurdwara, always with the intent of cultivating humility and renewed commitment rather than exacting retribution. The severity and form of tankhah are proportionate to the gravity of the violation, and completion of this discipline ordinarily leads to the individual’s re-acceptance in good standing within the Khalsa Panth.

For grave transgressions, especially the major prohibitions such as cutting hair, adultery, use of tobacco or intoxicants, and eating halal or *kuttha* meat, the consequences are more serious. The offender may be treated as having forfeited full Khalsa status until undergoing a process of repentance and rectification. After fulfilling the prescribed tankhah and demonstrating sincere contrition, such an individual may be required to present again before the Panj Piare and participate in the Amrit Sanchar ceremony, thereby renewing the vows of the Khalsa discipline. In this way, even the most serious lapses are met with a structured opportunity for spiritual rebirth rather than a closed door.

In particularly serious or persistent cases, the Rehat Maryada also envisages restrictions on participation in communal leadership and decision-making. Individuals may be temporarily barred from holding religious or management offices in a gurdwara, from representing the Panth in official capacities, or from taking part in certain panthic decisions. Matters of wide public impact or repeated defiance can be referred to higher Sikh authorities such as the Akal Takht, whose decisions may include formal declaration as *tankhaia*, public censure, and conditions for rehabilitation. Throughout, the guiding principle remains that discipline should be administered without personal malice, with the ultimate aim of spiritual purification, communal harmony, and the offender’s eventual reintegration into the Guru’s path.