Glossary of Sikhism

The following list consists of concepts that are derived from both Sikh and Indian tradition. The main purpose of this list is to disambiguate multiple spellings, to make note of spellings no longer in use for these concepts, to define the concept in one or two lines, to make it easy for one to find and pin down specific concepts, and to provide a guide to unique concepts of Sikhism all in one place.

A

 * Amrit: elixir of immortality - the sanctified nectar or sugar water substitute used in ceremonies. It is prepared by stirring it in an iron bowl with the double-edged sword and continuous recitation of five banis by the five selected members of the Khalsa.


 * Amritdhari: baptized Sikh who has undergone the Khalsa ceremony. According to Sikh Reht Maryada, any person who is initiated into the Khalsa is called Amrit Dhari.
 * Amrit Sanchar, Amrit Sanskar: Baptism (sanchar means ceremony)
 * Akal Purakh: Timeless Being - The name of God
 * Akal Sena: Military established by Guru Hargobind.
 * Akali Nihang: Sikh warrior order.

B

 * Bani: verses. An abbreviation of Gurbani, applied to any of the writings which appear in the Guru Granth Sahib.
 * Bhagat: A holy person or a member of a community whose objectives involve leading humanity towards God and highlighting injustices in the world.
 * Bhagat Bani: Any of the writings which appear in the Guru Granth Sahib which were not written by the Gurus.
 * Beadbi: Blasphemy, Sacrilege, Desecration or disrespect.

C

 * Chola: Robe - Unisex Sikh attire.

D

 * Daan: Charity.  One of the 3 petitions - Naam, Daan, Ishnan.
 * Darbar Sahib: Imperial Court - the main hall of a Gurdwara.
 * Dasband, daswand, dasvand: 10% of earnings donated to the less advantaged.
 * Dastar: Turban (Pugree). It is an inseparable part of Sikh dress and is mandatory for a Sikh to tie his turban according to Sri Guru Granth Sahib and the Sikh 'Code of Conduct'.
 * Deg Tegh Fateh: Victory to Charity and Arms - slogan and the title of an anthem in the Punjabi language that signifies the dual obligations of the Khalsa: The responsibility to provide food, and to provide protection, for the needy and oppressed.
 * Dharam di Kirat: To earn an honest living.
 * Dharamyudh: Term which means just war, a concept of war against tyranny.

G

 * Gatka: Sikh martial art
 * Gurdwara, gurudwara: Place of worship, meaning "Guru's door", or Guru's place
 * Gurbani: Collective writings of the Sikh Gurus. (See bani.)
 * Gurmukh: Person who is spiritually centered. (See manmukh.) A person who lives within the will of God and accepts all good and bad that happens to oneself without question or annoyance.
 * Gurmukhi: The written form of Punjabi used in the Sikh scriptures propagated by Guru Nanak and Guru Angad. Gurmukhi script is also called 'Paintis Akhri' because it contains thirty-five letters.
 * Gutka Sahib: Prayerbook containing daily prayers.

H

 * Hankaar: Pride, one of the five vices.

I

 * Ik Onkar: Phrase that denotes the One Universal Creater.
 * Ishnan: Purity of mind and body.  One of the three petitions - Naam, Daan, Ishnan.

J

 * Japu, Japō: Recitation (from Jap: Recite).
 * Japji Sahib: The first 8 pages of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh holy scripture), consisting of hymns composed by Guru Nanak.
 * Jatha: A group of Sikhs.
 * Jathedar: The leader of a Jatha.
 * Jhatka: Meat of an animal which is slaughtered without any rituals by severing its head instantly in one blow of an axe or sword to cause as less pain as possible.

K

 * Kakke: Panj (5) K's that must be worn by Sikhs.
 * Kachha/kachchhera: Short undergarments – one of the Five Ks that a Khalsa Sikh must wear. It is a symbol of self-control.
 * Kaam: Lust, one of the 5 vices.
 * Kanga: Wooden comb – one of the Five Ks that a Khalsa Sikh must west. It is a symbol of discipline.
 * Kara: A loose steel bracelet – one of the Five Ks that Sikhs must wear. It is a symbol of restraint. Variations include Jangi Kara for combat.
 * Kaur: Princess. Female Sikh middle name or surname.
 * Kesh: Unshorn hair – one of the Five Ks that Sikhs must wear.
 * Khanda: Emblem of Sikh faith that symbolizes the four pillars of Sikh belief. It consists of four symbolic weapons.
 * Khalsa: Pure – must carry panj kakkar.
 * Khalsa Fauj: The military stablished by Guru Gobind Singh.
 * Kirpan: Short sword – one of the Five Ks that a Khalsa Sikh must wear. It is a symbol of the fight against injustice and religious oppression.
 * Kirat karō (kirat karni) : One of the three primary pillars of Sikhism, the others being Naam Japo and Wand kay Shako. The term means to earn an honest, pure and dedicated living.
 * Krodh: Anger. One of the 5 vices.
 * Kutha: The meat of an animal which is ritualistically and slowly slaughtered. Prohibited.
 * Kurahit: kurahat: The cardinal sins for the Sikhs. These are cutting, trimming, shaving or removing hairs from one’s body, eating kutha meat, using tobacco, or any other intoxicant in any form or committing adultery.

L

 * Lobh : Greed, one of the 5 vices.
 * Langar : Community kitchen of a gurdwara, which serves lacto-vegetarian meals to all free of charge, regardless of religion, caste, creed, gender, economic status, or ethnicity.

M

 * Manmukh: A self-centered person, contrast gurmukh. A person who lives within the will of the Mind as opposed to the will of God.
 * Miri Piri: Concept of having both temporal power and spiritual authority.
 * Moh: Attachment. One of the 5 vices.
 * Mul Mantar: Basic statement of creed.

N

 * Naam: Name. Remembrance of the divine name.
 * Nām Japō, Naam japna: Recitation and meditation on the Naam of the Lord.
 * Nitnem: Daily prayers which begin with Japji Sahib and are written in a Gutka (prayerbook).

P

 * Panj: The number 5
 * Panj dokh: The 5 thieves/betrayers. Ahankar (pride), Kam (lust), Krodh (anger), Lobh (greed) and Moh (worldly attachment)
 * Panj weapons: Chardi Kala (positive energy), Daan (charity), Dayan (kindness) Nimarta (humility), Santokh (contentment)
 * Panj virtues: Daya (compassion), Nimrata (humility), Pyare (love), Santokh (contentment) and Sat (truth).
 * Panj Kakke: The Five Ks; the five external symbols worn by both male and female Sikhs. The name of each symbol starts with the letter k (kakka); kaccha, kanga, kara, kesh and kirpan.
 * Panj Pyare: Five Beloved Ones - refers to a gathered ad hoc quintet of five baptized (Amritdhari) Khalsa Sikhs who act as institutionalized leaders for the wider Sikh community.
 * Panth: Means path.
 * Patit: Apostate.
 * Sache Patishah: True Emperor - the name of God and title of all Gurus.
 * Panth Patishah

S

 * Sangat: Society (congregation). Compare Panth.
 * Sarbat da Bhalla: Welfare of humankind
 * Satguru: True Guru - The name of God.
 * Seva: Service. One of the 2 foundations of Sikhism. Three varieties of seva are sanctioned in the Sikh lore: that rendered through the corporal instrument (tan), that through the mental apparatus (man) and that through the material wherewithal (dhan). There are 4 types of Seva:
 * 1) Dhan di Seva – the one people are most familiar with. Doing seva by performing deeds of service and virtue.
 * 2) Mann Di Seva – done by doing Simran. Cleansing the Soul of polluted thoughts and Maya.
 * 3) Guru di Seva – by having your Mann attuned to his Naam.
 * 4) Satgur ki Seva.
 * Shabad, Śábda: The hymns contained in Sikh scriptures.
 * Shaheed: Title used before the name of a person who has died as a Sikh martyr.
 * Simran: The remembrance of Waheguru. Guru Nanak formed a new type of Bakti beginning with Simran and Jap of Waheguru Gurmantar.
 * Singh: Lion. Male Sikh middle or surname title.
 * Sloka: Stanza. The Sanskrit epic metre formed of thirty-two syllables: verses of two lines (distich) of sixteen syllables each or in four half-lines (hemistich) of each syllables each. Japu (recitation) comprises an introductory sloka, 38 stanzas traditionally called pauris and a concluding sloka attributed by some to Guru Angad.
 * Sukhmani: the Psalm of Peace.

T

 * Tankhah : Salary, payment also social offense – He is not to commit any of the social offences (Tankhah), such as giving dowry, using liquors and intoxicants, raising monuments over graves and associating with apostates.
 * Turban : Dastar (Pugree).  It is an inseparable part of Sikh dress and is mandatory for a Sikh to tie his turban according to Guru Granth Sahib and the Sikh 'Code of Conduct'.

W

 * Waheguru (ਵਾਹਗੁਰੂ) : Wonderous Guru - A term used in Sikhism to refer to God as described in Guru Granth Sahib.
 * Wand Shakna : To share one's bounty with others (See daan.)