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Sikh Glossary |
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| Sikh
terms are drawn from the Punjabi language, and the versions below
are based on that language. Many of these terms will also be found
in books on Hinduism and Buddhism but with somewhat different meanings.
As with all transliterations, there are problems which are difficult
to resolve. This is particularly true when moving from the Gurmukhi
script which has an alphabet of 35 letters, to the Roman alphabet
of 26 letters. Names of persons and places are only included in
variant forms are commonly used. |
| Pronunciation
note: The main form in this glossary is in green.
Main variants appear in red.
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A
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| Adi
Granth |
Guru
Granth Sahib |
Primal
collection of Sikh scriptures, compiled by Guru
Ajran and given its final form by Guru
Gobind Singh. |
| Akal
Purkah |
|
The
Eternal One, A designation frequently used on God
by Guru Nanak. |
| Akal
Takht |
Akal
Takhat |
Throne
of the Eternal; throne of the timeless One, Building
facing the Golden Temple in Amritsar, where Skihs gather for
political purposes. |
| Akhand
Path |
|
Continuous
reading of the Guru Granth Sahib from beginning to end. |
| Amrit |
|
Nectar.
Sanctified liquid made of sugar and water, used in initiation
ceremonies. |
| Amrit
ceremony |
Amrit
Sanskar, Amrit Pahul, Amrit, Khande di Pahul. |
The
Sikh rite of initiation into the Khalsa
'Baptism' should not be used. |
| Amrit-dhari |
|
A
Sikh who has taken part in the initiation ceremony and is
a member of the Khalsa |
| Anand
karaj |
Anand
Sanskar |
Ceremony
of bliss. Wedding ceremony. |
| Anand
Sahib |
|
Prayer
of bliss complied by Guru Amar Das and said near the end of
diwan. |
| Ardas |
|
Prayer.
The formal prayer offered at most religious acts. |
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| B |
| Baisakhi |
Vaisakhi |
A
major Sikh festival celebrating the formation of the Khalsa,
1699 CE. |
| Bangla
Sahib |
|
The
site of the martyrdom of Guru Har Krishan
(Delhi). |
| Bani |
|
Speech,
Hymn, used to describe the compositions of the Gurus in the
Guru Granth Sahib. |
| Bhai
Khanaya |
|
A
Sikh commended by Guru Gobind Singh
for serving water to the enemy wounded. |
| Bhai
Lalo |
|
A
humble carpenter who opened his house to Guru Nanak. The Guru preferred
Bhai Lalo's simple food to the offerings of a local rich merchant. |
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| C |
| Chanani |
Chandni |
Canopy
over the scriptures, used as a mark of respect. |
| Chauri |
Chaur |
Symbol
of the authority of the Guru Granth Sahib
. Fan waved over the scriptures, made of yak hairs or
nylon. It should not be called a fly whisk. |
| Chela |
|
Guru's
disciple (not commonly used by the Sikhs). |
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| D |
| Dasam
Granth |
|
Collection
of compositions, some of which are attributed to the tenth
Sikh Guru, compiled some years after
his death. |
| Diwan |
|
Main
service at a gurdwara. |
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| E |
| No
entries |
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| F |
| No
entries |
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| G |
| Giani |
|
A
person learned in the Sikh scriptures. |
| Granthi |
|
Reader
of the Guru Granth Sahib, who officiates
at ceremonies. |
| Gurbani |
Bani,
Vani |
Divine
word revealed by the Gurus. The Shabads contained in
the Guru Granth Sahib. |
| Gurdwara |
Gurdwara |
Sikh
place of worship. Literally the 'doorway to the Guru'. |
| Gurmat |
|
The
Guru's guidance. |
| Gurmukh |
|
One
who lives by the Guru's teaching. |
| Gurmukhi |
|
From
the Guru's mouth. Name given to the
script in which the scriptures and the Punjabi language are
written. |
| Gurpurb |
Gurpurab |
A
Guru's anniversary (birth or death).
Also used for other anniversaries, e.g. of the installation
of the Adi Granth 1604 CD. |
| Guru |
|
Teacher.
In Sikhism, the title of Guru is reserved for the ten human
Gurus and the Guru Granth Sahib. |
| Guru
Gobind Singh |
- Guru
Govind Singh
- (Guru
Gobind Rai)
|
Tenth
Sikh Guru. It is important to note that the title 'Guru"
must be used with all the Guru'\s names. Skihs usually use
further terms of respect, e.g. Guru Gobins Singh Ji
or Guru Nanak Dev Ji. |
| Guru
Granth Sahib |
- Adi
Granth
- (not
just Granth)
|
Primal
collection of Sikh scriptures, compiled by Guru
Ajran and given its final form by Guru
Gobind Singh. |
| Guru
Har Gobind |
- Guru
Hargobind
- Guru
Hargovind
|
Sixth
Sikh Guru. |
- Guru
Har Krishan
- Guru
Harkishan
|
Guru
Harkrishan |
Eight
Sikh Guru. |
| Guru
Nanak |
|
The
first Guru and the founder of the
Sikh faith (1496-1539 CE) |
| Guru
Tegh Bahadur |
|
The
ninth Guru who was martyred for the
principle of religious tolerance (1622 - 1675 CE). |
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| H |
| Haumai |
|
Egotism.
The major spiritual defect. |
| Hola
Mohalla |
|
Spring
festival using using contests of skill and strength, which
are military in the background. |
| Hukam |
|
God's
Will |
| Hukam |
Vak |
Random
reading taken for guidance from the Guru Granth Sahib. |
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| I |
| Ik
Onkar |
|
There
is only one God. The first phrase of the Mool
Mantar. It is also used as a symbol to decorate Sikh
objects. |
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| J |
| Janam
Sakhi |
Janam
Sakhi |
'Birth
Stories'. life stories of a Guru,
especially Guru Nanak. |
| Janansakhi |
|
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| Japji
Sahib |
|
A
morning prayer, composed by Guru Nanak,
which forms the first chapter of the Guru
Granth Sahib. |
| Jat |
|
A
caste group in Punjab, traditionally
land-owning farmers. |
| Jati |
|
Occupational
sub-group. |
| Jivan
Mukt |
Jivan
Mukht |
Enlightened
while in the material body; a spiritually enlightened person,
freed from worldly binds. |
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| K |
| Kachera |
Kach |
Traditional
underwear / shorts. One of the five Ks. (see panj
kakke). |
| Kakka |
singular
of the Punjabi letter K |
See
panj kakke |
| Kameeze |
kameez |
Tunic
worn by women. |
| Kangha |
Kanga |
Comb
worn in the hair. One of the five Ks. (see panj
kakke). |
| Kara |
|
Steel
band worn on the right wrist. One of the five Ks. (see panj
kakke). |
| Karah
parshad |
Karah
Prasad |
Sanctified
food distributed at Sikh ceremonies. |
| Kaur |
|
Princess.
Name given to all Sikh females by Guru Gobind
Singh (see Singh). |
| Kesh |
Kes |
Uncut
hair. One of the five Ks. (see panj kakke). |
| Kesh-dhari |
|
A
Sikh who does not cut his / her hair. |
| Khalsa |
|
The
community of the pure. The Sikh community. |
| Khanda |
|
Double
edged sword used in the initiation ceremony. Also used as
the emblem on the Sikh flag. |
| Kirat
karna |
|
Earningone's
livelihood by one's own efforts. |
| Kirpan |
|
Sword.
One of the five Ks. (see panj kakke).
'Dagger' should be avoided. |
| Kirtan |
|
Devotional
singing of the compositions found in the Guru
Granth Sahib. |
| Kirtan
Sohila |
|
A
prayer said before retiring to sleep. It is also used at the
cremation ceremony and when the Guru Granth
Sahib is laid to rest. |
| Kurahit |
|
Prohibitions,
e.g. intoxicants (alcohol, drugs) |
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| L |
| Langar |
Guru
ka Langar |
Guru's
kitchen. The gurdwara dining hall and the food served in it. |
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| M |
| Mela |
|
Fair.
Used of Sikh festivals which are not gurpurbs. |
| Manji |
Manji
Sahib |
Small
platform on which the scripture is placed. |
| Manmukh |
Munmukh |
Self-orientated
(as opposed to to gurmukh). |
| Mela |
|
Fair.
Used of Sikh festivals which are not gurpurbs. |
| Mool
Mantar |
Mul
Mantar |
Basic
teaching; essential teaching. The basic statement
of belief at the beginning of the Guru Granth Sahib. |
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| N |
| Nam |
|
Name |
| Nam
Simran |
Nam
Simaran, Naam Simran |
Meditation
on the divine name, using passages of scripture. |
| Nankana
Sahib |
|
Birthplace
of the Guru Nanak. Now in Pakistan. |
| Nihang |
|
A
distinct group within the Khalsa who
encourage defense and military discipline. They usually wear
a military style uniform with a high blue turban. |
| Nishan
Sahib |
|
Sikh
flag flown at gurdwara. |
| Nit
nem |
|
The
recitation of specified daily prayers. |
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| O |
| No
entries |
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| P |
| Panj
kakke |
|
The
five ks. The symbols of Sikhism worn by Sikhs. |
| Palki |
|
The
canopy placed about the takht to show
respect for the Guru Granth Sahib. |
| Panj
piare |
Panj
Pyare |
The
five beloved ones. Those first initiated into the
Khalsa; those who perform the ceremony
today. |
| Panth |
|
The
Sikh community. |
| Patases |
Patashas |
Sugar
bubbles or crystals used to prepare Amrit. |
| Punjab |
Panjab |
Land
of five rivers. The area (now in India and Pakistan)
in which Sikhism originated. |
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| Q |
| No
entries |
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| R |
| Raga |
Rag |
One
of the classical tunes to which the words of the scriptures
are set for use in gurdwara. |
| Ragi |
|
Sikh
musician who sings compositions from the Guru
Granth Sahib. |
| Raheguru |
|
Wonderful
Lord. A Sikh name for God. |
| Rahit |
|
Sikh
obligations e.g. to meditate on God. |
| Rahit
Maryada |
Rehat
Maryada |
Sikh
code of Discipline. |
| Rehiras |
|
Evening
prayers. |
| Romala |
|
Decorative
cover placed over the Guru Granth Sahib
when it is not is use. |
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| S |
| Sadhsangat |
Sangat |
Congregation
or assembly of Sikhs. |
| Sat
Guru |
|
The
True Guru; Sikh name for God |
| Sewa |
Seva |
Service
directed at the sadhsangat and gurdwara, but also to
humanity in general. |
| Shabad |
Sabad,
Shabd |
Word.
Hymn from the Guru Granth Sahib; the
divine word. |
| Shalwah |
|
Loose
or baggy trousers worn by women. |
| Sikh |
|
Learner;
disciple. A person who believes in the ten Gurus and
the Guru Granth Sahib, and who has
no other religion. |
| Singh |
|
Lion.
Name given to all Sikh males (see also kaur). |
| Sis
Ganj Sahib |
|
The
site of the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur (Delhi in India). |
| Sishya |
|
Disciple;
believed to be the derivative for the term Sikh. |
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| T |
| Takht |
|
A
throne where the Guru Granth Sahib is placed. Also
the title given to a seat of religious authority. |
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| U |
| No
entries |
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| V |
| Vak |
Vaak |
A
random reading taken for guidance from the Guru
Granth Sahib. |
| Vand
chhkna |
|
Sharing
one's time, talents and earnings with the less fortunate. |
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| W |
| No
entries |
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| XYZ |
| No
entries |
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