| Adi
Granth |
Adi
Granth was complied by Sri Guru Arjan Dev
Ji (The Fifth Guru). Adi Granth is the name
of the holy scripture of the Sikhs. The prefix
Adi means first and Granth means the scripture. |
| Ajuni |
Not
subject to Birth or Death |
| Akal
Purkh |
Akal
Purkh is the name of God. This term is applied
to God in Sikhism. |
| Akhand
Path |
Akhand
Path means uninterrupted, unbroken and continuous
reading of the entire Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
This generally takes 48 hours. Akhand Path
can be solemnized on any occasion, May that
is of birth or death, joy or sorrow. |
| Amrit |
Amrit
means Immortal or God. Amrit is nectar or
holy water used to initiate the Sikhs into
the Khalsa brotherhood. |
| Amrit
Dhari |
He
is a Sikh who has taken Amrit and became Khalsa. |
| Amrit
Vela |
Amrit
vela is the time before sunrise. In this period
of calm and peace, one can easily mediate
on God and receive the divine blessing. |
| Anand
Karaj |
A
Sikh marriage is called an Anand Karaj. |
| Antarjami |
Controller
of the inner faculties, an attribute of the
Supreme Being, God who knows everything, checking
or regulating the internal feeling of the
soul. |
| Antim
Ardas |
The
prayer at the time of last rites of a deceased
is called Antim Ardas. |
| Ardas |
Ardas
is the general prayer or supplication of the
Sikhs. Guru Gobind Singh Ji originally composed
Ardas with some additions made by Bhai Mani
Singh. |
| Asa
Di War |
Famous
Composition of Guru Nanak Dev Ji enshrined
in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Asa Di War, which
literally means a “ballad of hope”.
It is sung in the Sikh congregation as a morning
prayer. |
| Aurangzeb |
Aurangzeb Aurangzeb, born in 1618, became
the emperor of India after killing his brother
in 1658. He was a fanatic and cruel ruler. |
| Baisakhi |
It
is celebrated by the Sikhs as the birth anniversary
of the Khalsa. Baisakhi falls on or about
13 April. |
| Bani |
The
saying of the Gurus and bhagats included in
the Adi Granth/Guru Granth Sahib. Guru-Bani
means the utterances of the Sikh Gurus recorded
in the Guru Granth Sahib. It is also included
in the compilations in the Dasam Granth. Every
Sikh should recite the following five banis
everyday-Japji-Jap-Swayas-Rahiras-Kirtan Sohala.
|
| Bhagat
|
Bhagat
means a Saint. A person who devotes himself
to spiritual pursuits and is devoted to God
is called bhagat. |
| Bhog |
Bhog is a ceremony making the conclusion of
path of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. |
| Chanani
|
Chanani
hangs over Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji to cover
that area respectfully. Sri Guru Granth Sahib
Ji should not be opened without a Chanani
hanging over it. |
| Chela
|
A
disciple or devotee of a Guru is called his
Chela. |
| Daan
|
Daan
is giving in Charity to the deserving and
needy persons. |
| Darbar
Sahib |
the common appellation of the great Sikh temple
at Amritsar. |
| Dasam
Granth |
The
Holy Book of the Tenth Master. The Dasam Granth
formed a quarto volume of 1066 pages, each
page consisting of 23 lines, and each line
of 38 to 41 letters. |
| Daswand
|
Daswand
means one-tenth indicating the command of
the Guru to the Sikhs to contribute one-tenth
of their income to organized Sikh Charities
for religious purpose. |
| Dera
Sahib |
This
is a Gurdwara built on the spot where Guru
Arjan Dev Ji was martyred in 1606. |
| Dharamshala |
Rest-houses
and inns established or the temporary stay
of travellers and pilgrims were known as Dharamshala. |
| Diwali
|
It
is held in October/November. Also called the
festival of lights. Guru Hargobind (sixth
Guru) was released from prison along with
the 52 Rajas of Punjab. People lit lamps to
welcome the Guru Sahib Ji home. |
| Ek |
One; God is one and second is none. |
| Ek-Onkar
|
God
is one. The one God. |
| Fakir |
A
saint or devotee or a religious minded person
who is devoted to meditation. |
| Fateh
|
Fateh
means victory. |
| Gaatra |
belt for the sword. |
| Gaddi |
Throne of Gurus. An elevated seat or office
of spiritual leaders. |
| Gatka
|
Swordsmanship-It
is a sword practice with wooden swords or
sticks. |
| Giani
|
One
possessed of knowledge, especially one well-versed
in the traditional interpretation of the Sikh
Granth. |
| Golden
Temple |
Golden
Temple/Hari Mandar ‘Hari’ means
God and ‘Mandar’ means temple. It
means temple of God. |
| Golak |
The box or container in which charity-money
is kept is called Golak. |
| Granthi |
Reciter or reader of Sri Guru Granthy Sahib. |
| Gurdwara
|
A
Sikh temple or shrine is called a Gurdwara,
the House of God, and the House of Guru. |
| Gurmata
|
Literally
Gurmata means the Guru’s decision. |
| Gurmukh
|
The
word Gurmukh denotes a person whose way of
life is according to the Guru’s teaching
or instructions and is attuned to the Will
of God. |
| Gurmukhi
|
Gurmukhi
is script which is used for writing Punjabi
language. |
| Gurpurab
|
It
is the religious festival of the Sikhs. In
order to commemorate the Gurus, Gurpurabs
(fairs in the memory of Gurus) are held. |
| Harmonium
|
The
harmonium is a popular wind instrument used
for producing musical Sounds. Alexandra Debain
produced the firs harmonium in Paris. |
| Hazare-Shabad |
The
word ‘hazare’ means important or
selected; ‘shabad’ means hymn. This
heading applies to seven selected hymns in
the Sikh liturgy, six of Guru Nanak and one
of Guru Arjan. |
| Hola
Mahalla |
Annual
spring festival of the Sikhs. |
| Hukam |
Hukam
means command, order, but in Sikhism it means
the Divine Ordinance or will. |
| Hukam
Nama |
Hukam
Nama denotes injunction or order passed by
the Sikh Gurus or the Jathedars of the five
Takhts. Guru Hargobind Singh Ji issued first
Hukam Nama from Sri Akal Takht. |
| Ik |
Ik
means One; it stands for the One Supreme Reality;
God is all-in-all, unique and has no second. |
| Ik-Onkar
|
Ik-Onkar is the first word in the Guru Granth
Sahib. It means God is one, One Supreme Reality,
the Unique Being. |
| Janamsakhis |
Janamsakhis
(biographies of Guru Nanak) were written at
different times after the death of Guru Nanak. |
| Jap |
Silent
repetition of the name of God. |
| Japji |
Japji
is the morning prayer of the Sikhs. It is
the first composition in the Guru Granth Sahib
Ji. It contains the basic teaching of Guru
Nanak Dev Ji. |
| Jatha |
It
is sub-group or a band of Gurdwaras within
the community headed by Jathedar i.e., in
charge of the Jatha. |
| k’
Five k’s |
Kesh-Uncut
hair, Kanga-Comb, Kara-Iron/Steel bangle,
Kirpan(steel sword);Kachha-under shorts/short
pants |
| Karseva |
It
is voluntary and selfless service. |
| Karah
Parsad |
It
is a sacred pudding (sacred food) to be distributed
among the congregation after offering to God
at the end of the Sikh religious service. |
| Katha
|
Katha
means a narrative, parable, tale, fable, legend
or story. |
| Khalsa |
Khalsa
means the pure, unadulterated. |
| Khalsa
Diwans |
The
word-Khalsa Diwan-literally means a group
or association of baptised Sikhs. In 1886,
the first Khalsa Diwan was formed in Lahore. |
| Khanda |
Khanda
is the supreme insignia of the Khalsa. |
| Kirpa
|
Kirpa
(Grace) in Sikhism is sought for and earned
through prayer and devotion. |
| Kirtan |
It
is the singing of hymns in praise of God.
It is devotional music. |
| Kirtan
Sohela |
This
is the bed-time prayer of the Sikhs. |
| Kirt
Kama |
Living
by one’s honest labours is the basic
belief of a Sikh. |
| Langar |
Langar
or Free Kitchen is the Guru’s way of
combining worship with food. Free community
kitchen started by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. |
| Lavan |
Lavan
is the name of a composition of four verse
in Guru Granth Sahib of Guru Ramdas in Rag
Suhi, it was composed as a wedding song for
the Sikhs. |
| Lohri |
Lohri,
like Basant and Baisakhi, is a seasonal festival
observed chiefly in the Punjab. Young boys
and girls go from house to house asking for
money, sweets and firewood. While going from
house to house, the boys and girls sing doggerels. |
| Maghi |
It
is an important festival celebrated by the
Sikhs on the first day of month ‘Maghi’
the Bikrami calendar. It falls on 14th January,
a day after the Lohri festival. |
| Mala |
It
means garland or string of beads. |
| Mul
Mantar |
Literally,
it means basic or fundamental formula. It
is the basic formula of Sikhism, Sri Guru
Granth Sahib Ji starts with Mul Mantar: there
is one Supreme God, the Eternal Reality. He
is the creator, without fear and devoid of
enmity. He is immortal, never incarnated,
self-existent, known by grace through the
Guru. |
| Nagar-Kirtan |
Nagar-Kirtan
means singing Gurbani shabads in city streets.
This procession spreads the message of universal
brotherhood, peace and prosperity. |
| Naam
Simran |
It
means remembering the name of the God. |
| Nankana |
A
town where Guru Nanak was born. |
| Nishan
Sahib |
Sikh
flag is called Nishan Sahib. It has Khanda
at the top and it is of rectangular shape
and of saffron colour. |
| Nitnem |
It
means recitation of certain Banis (hymns)
every day by Sikhs and by the Khalsa. It is
necessary for every Sikh to read at least
five Banis every morning. |
| Pangat |
Pangat
means a group of people sitting in a row. |
| Panj
Payaras |
The
first five who were initiated into the Khalsa
Holy order on 30th March 1699 by Guru Gobind
Singh Ji. |
| Pathi
|
It
refers to the person who reads Sri Guru Granth
Sahib Ji. |
| Pauri/Paudi |
Pauri
literally means a ladder. In Punjabi poetry,
it means a stanza but the number of lines
may vary. |
| Pingalwara
|
means
a home for the crippled. |
| Ragi |
A
Sikh title of a musician. The singers who
sing the hymns of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in
Ragas. |
| Rahras |
Rahras
is the evening prayer of the Sikhs. Literally
Rahras means the Panth of Truth. |
| Rakhi |
Rakhi
means protection. A coloured thread is tied
by sisters on the wrists of their brother
for seeking protection from them. |
| Reht
Maryada |
It
is a code of conduct for the Sikhs-certain
do’s and don’ts. |
| Sach |
Truth
(sach) is the basic concept in Sikhism. |
| Sach
Khand |
literally
means the Abode of Truth. God pervades everywhere
and at all times |
| Sadh
Sangat |
As
a group engaged in remembering the Holy Name
or doing meditation on God. The Gurdwara is
the place where sadh-sangat assembles. |
| Sangrand |
The
first day of the Bikrami era months. |
| Satnam |
Sat
means true, everlasting, permanent. Nam means
Name. Sat-Nam stands for God. God is truth.
His Name is ever lasting and ever true in
the past, the present and the future. |
| Sat
Sri Akal |
Truth
is timeless or immortal. This is the Sikh
greeting. |
| Satguru |
Literally
the True Guide, a Sant (holy man, saint) commissioned
to teach the inner path to the seekers. In
Sikhism, the word “Satguru” is also
used for God. |
| Seva |
It
means selfless and voluntary service for the
benefit of humanity without any personal gain. |
| Shabad |
It’s
literal meaning is sound, word, talk or expression.
In Sikhism it is the revealed word of God
through the Gurus. |
| Sikh |
Sikh
is a person who believes in One God and follows
the teachings of the ten Gurus and of Sri
Guru Granth Sahib Ji. |
| Sikh
Salutation |
Waheguru
Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh. The greetings
show respect and belief in God. |
| Singh |
Singh
means a lion. |
| Singh
Sabha |
Literally,
it means an organisation of Singhs of Khalsa
for religious purposes, also the assembly
or society of Sikh for prayer or worship. |
| Sri
Guru Granth Sahib Ji |
It
is the Eternal Guru of the Sikhs. Guru Gobind
Singh Ji ordained that, after him, Sri Guru
Granth Sahib shall be the Guru for the Sikhs
forever |
| Turban |
Turban
is inseparable part of Sikh dress and is mandatory
for a Sikh to tie turban according to Sri
Guru Granth Sahib and the Sikh ‘code
of Conduct’. |
| Waheguru
|
Wonderful
Lord |
| Zafarnama |
It
is the letter of victory. It is in the form
of a victory letter written by Guru Gobind
Singh Ji at Dina to Emperor Aurangzeb in Persian
in the form of poetry in 1705. |
