Sat Shri Akal (Punjabi: ਸਤਿ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ; pronunciation: sət sriː əkɑːl listen ) is a greeting in the Punjabi language used mostly by the followers of the Sikh religion. Sat means "truth", shri is an honorific word and Akaal (or Akal) means "the timeless being, God"; thus the phrase can roughly be translated as "Truth is the Ultimate God", or "God is the Ultimate Truth".
Sat Shri Akaal is exclusively used by Sikhs to greet each other, as their tenth master gave them the jaikara, "Bole So Nihal, Sat Shri Akaal". The saying implies that the one will be blessed eternally who says that God is the ultimate truth. In contrast, Punjabi Muslims living in the Western Punjab (Pakistani Punjab) use the Muslim greeting "As-salamu alaykum", and Punjabi Hindus use "Namaskar" or "Namaste". Punjabi Hindus also use "Sat Shri Akaal" to reply to a Sikh's "Sat Shri Akaal".
"Sat Shri Akal" is used by Sikhs throughout the world when greeting other Sikhs, regardless of their native language. For instance, two members of the Punjabi Diaspora who exclusively speak English may still greet each other with this blessing, although this is not universal. The saying is also the only formal greeting in the Punjabi language.
The usage of Sat Shri Akal as a greeting, although used by the majority of people who identify themselves as being Punjabi Sikh, is regarded as incorrect usage by Amritdhari (Baptized) Sikhs, as the term is historically the second half of the Sikh war cry, "Bolay So Nihal, Sat Shri Akal", and is still used in the same way. As per the Sikh Rehat Maryada, or Code of Conduct, Amritdhari Sikhs greet each other with "Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh", meaning "The Khalsa belongs to the Lord God! so the victory belongs to God!".
Defence battle cry
Three regiments of the Indian Army – the Punjab Regiment, Sikh Regiment, and Sikh Light Infantry – use it as their battle cry.
Their origin is Punjabi and Sikh in character, and the battle cry is often portrayed in Bollywood films. By far Sat Shri Akal remains one of the most portrayed battle cry of the Indian army.