Glossary of Sikhism

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)

B

Bani

verses. An abbreviation of Gurbani, applied to any of the writings which appear in the Guru Granth Sahib.

Bhagat Bani

Any of the writings which appear in the Guru Granth Sahib which were not written by the Gurus.

D

Daan

Charity. One of the 3 petitions - Naam, Daan, Ishnan.

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'.

Dharam di Kirat

To earn an honest living.

G

Gatka

Sikh martial art

Gurdwara, gurudwara

Place of worship, meaning "God's door", or God'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

Prayerbook containing daily prayers.

H

Hankar

Pride, one of the five vices.

I

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.

Jhatka Meat

Meat of an animal which has been killed quickly with one stroke. Sikhs eat jhatka meat of any animal but cannot eat halal (kuttha) meat, where the animal has been slowly bled to death. This would also apply to kosher meat or any other animal sacrificed in the name of God.

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.

Kam

Lust, one of the 5 vices.

Kanga

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.

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.

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.

Kurahit kurahat

The cardinal sins for the Sikhs. These are cutting, trimming, shaving or removing hairs from one’s body, eating kuttha meat, using tobacco or any other intoxicant in any form or committing adultery.

Kuttha 

Meat killed in a sacrificial manner, such as Halal or Kosher.

L

Lobh 

Greed, one of the 5 vices.

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.

Moh

Attachment. One of the 5 vices.

Mul Mantra

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.

Patit

Apostate.

S

Sangat

Society (congregation). Compare Panth.

Sarbat da Bhalla

Welfare of mankind (sarbat = mankind, bhalla = welfare)

Seva

Service. One of the 2 foundations of Sikhism. (see simran). 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

Simran is 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 Sri Guru Granth Sahib and the Sikh 'Code of Conduct'.

W

Waheguru (ਵਾਹਗੁਰੂ) 

Wonderful is the Lord.

Wand Shakna 

To share one's bounty with others (See daan.)