Adi
Granth:
Literally “the first book.” The early compilation
of the Sikh scriptures by Guru Arjan, the fith
Sikh Guru, in 1604.
Akal Purakh: Literally
“a timeless being that never dies.” A Sikh name
for God.
Akal Takhat: Literally
“eternal throne.” The pre-eminent of the five
seats of Sikh temporal authority, In that the
power exercised by its Jathedar is not shared
by those of the other four Takhats. The actual
building is located in the Harimandir Sahib (Golden
Temple) complex of Amritsar, facing the Harimandir
Sahib, and was constructed under the direction
of Guru Hargobind.
Akali Dal: Literally “eternal
army.” The main political party of Sikhs in Punjab.
Akhand Path: A continuous
recitation of the Guru Granth Sahib, lasting about
48 hours, by a team of readers.
Amrit: Literally “nectar.”
It is composed of water and sugar and is stirred
with a double-edged sword while prayers are spoken.
Initiation into Sikhism involves drinking Amrit.
Can also refer, more generally, to the ambrosia
of God's name.
Amritdhari: A Sikh who
has taken part in the ceremonial initiation into
the Khalsa.
Amritsar: Literally “pool
of nectar.” City located in the northern Indian
state of Punjab, where the Harimandir Sahib complex
is located.
Anand Karaj: Literally
“blissful event.” The Sikh wedding ceremony, literally
translated as “blissful occasion.” The lavan,
or four stanzas, are sung to formalize Sikh marriages.
Anandpur: The city in India
where the Khalsa was created in 1699.
Ardas: The Sikh congregational
prayer, anonymously written during the 18th century.
Although it is not in the Guru Granth Sahib, it
occupies a prominent place in Sikh religious functions.
It is said with the daily prayers, and often used
to initiate or conclude any significant endeavor
(i.e. child going away to school, starting a business
venture).
Bhangra: A Punjabi folk
dance.
Bhindranwale, Jarnail Singh:
A charismatic preacher and leader of a group of
militants who were killed in the Indian army attack
on the Harimandir Sahib complex in 1984.
Caste: A ranked, birth-ascribed
group which determines social standing and occupation,
based on the tenets of Hindu philosophy. For Sikhs,
caste has no religious or social significance.
Chandigarh: The capital
of the modern-day Indian state of Punjab.
Dasam Granth: A sacred
book of writings attributed by some Sikhs to Guru
Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs.
Dasvandh: One-tenth of
personal income, which a Sikh is religiously obligated
to donate to charity.
Gatka: The Sikh martial
art form.
Golden Temple: A gurdwara
of historical, spiritual, and emotional significance
to Sikhs, called Harimandir Sahib in Punjabi.
It was first conceived of by Guru Amar Das, although
construction did not begin until Guru Ram Das
became the Guru. Maharaja Ranjit Singh had the
structure plated with gold in the early 19th century.
In 1604, the recently compiled Adi Granth was
housed here. It was attacked by the Indian army
in June 1984.
Giani: Someone learned
in the Sikh religion. Often leads the congregation
in prayers, such as Ardas, or in singing kirtan.
Granthi: A ceremonial reader
of the Guru Granth Sahib. Duties include arranging
daily religious services, reading from the Sikh
scripture, maintaining the gurdwara premises,
and teaching and advising community members. A
granthi is not equivalent to a minister as there
are no such religious intermediaries in the Sikh
religious tradition.
Gurbani: The revealed wisdom
of the Sikh Gurus in their own words, found in
the Guru Granth Sahib.
Gurdwara: A Sikh place
of worship, open to anyone. Provides food and
shelter to travelers, and the needy.
Gurmukhi: Literally “from
the mouth of the Guru.” The written form of Punjabi,
used in the Sikh scripture and in contemporary
India.
Gurpurab: A Sikh holiday
to commemorate the birth or death of a Sikh Guru.
Gursikh: A Sikh devoted
to Waheguru.
Guru: Literally “teacher.”
One of the most important words in Sikhism, it
has a number of related meanings. It can refer,
depending on context of usage, to one of the ten
Sikh prophets, the Sikh scripture, the Sikh community
(Guru Panth), or God. The Sikhs had ten living
Gurus, and the 10th Guru transferred the Guruship
to the holy scripture, Guru Granth Sahib.
Guru Arjan Dev: The fifth
Guru of the Sikhs and their first martyr. He compiled
the Guru Granth Sahib. It was on his martyrdom
day in June 1984 that the Indian army attacked
the Golden Temple.
Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708):
The tenth and last living prophet of the Sikhs,
he passed the guruship onto the Sikh scripture,
the Guru Granth Sahib, and the Sikh community
(Guru Panth). Guru Gobind Singh Ji founded the
order of the Khalsa during Vaisakhi 1699.
Guru Granth Sahib: The
Sikh scripture, written in poetry organized in
31 sections, with each section corresponding to
a particular melodic scale, or raag. It includes
the poetry of six Sikh Gurus, and 36 other saints,
including Muslims and Hindus. It is 1430 pages
long and is the embodiment of the spiritual knowledge
and authority of all of the Gurus. The words from
the Guru Granth Sahib are the central focus at
all Sikh Gurdwaras. It is used by Sikhs for meditation,
guidance, comfort, and inspiration.
Guru Hargobind: The 6th
Guru of the Sikhs. Following the martyrdom of
his father, Guru Arjan Dev Ji, he was the first
Guru to maintain a standing army and symbolically
wear two swords, representing spiritual and temporal
power. Responsible for the construction of the
Akal Takht.
Guru Har Krishan: The
8th Guru of the Sikhs, who was only 5 years old
when he became Guru in 1661. He died three years
later.
Guru Nanak: The founder
of the Sikh faith. Born in 1469, he began his
mission by proclaiming that there is “neither
Hindu nor Muslim,” stressing common truths fundamental
to diverse faiths. He preached against caste and
advocated the equality of women.
Guru Panth: Literally
“Guru’s path.” The name used by Sikhs to describe
the worldwide Sikh community.
Guru Teg Bahadur: The
9th Guru of the Sikhs, who was killed by Mughal
rulers in 1675 for defending Hindus facing forcible
conversion to Islam.
Harimandir Sahib: Literally
“Temple of God.” The Punjabi name for the Golden
Temple.
Haumai: The self-centeredness
(ego) of a human, which can only be overcome through
mediatation on God’s name (naam).
Hukam: Literally “divine
will.” A decree by a high authority. Can also
refer to a passage from the Guru Granth Sahib,
selected by randomly opening the Sikh scripture
during a daily ceremony. The passage is considered
by Sikhs as the divine “command of the Guru” for
the day.
Jathedar: A leader of Sikh
volunteers. Also refers to the appointed leader
of one of the five Sikh takhats.
Kacha: Undershorts. One
of the five Sikh articles of faith, given as gifts
of love by Guru Gobind Singh, worn by a baptized
Sikh.
Kanga: Comb. One of the
five Sikh articles of faith, given as gifts of
love by Guru Gobind Singh, worn by a baptized
Sikh.
Kara: Steel bracelet. One
of the five Sikh articles of faith, given as gifts
of love by Guru Gobind Singh, worn by a baptized
Sikh.
Kaum: A term used by many
Sikhs to refer to corporate the Sikh nation or
Panth.
Kaur: Literally “princess.”
The name given to all female Sikhs.
Kesh: Uncut hair. One of
the five Sikh articles of faith, given as gifts
of love by Guru Gobind Singh, worn by a baptized
Sikh.
Khalistan: The proposed
name for a sovereign Sikh state in Punjab, that
is independent from India.
Khalsa: Literally “belonging
only to the divine;” The collective body of all
initiated Sikhs, who drink the amrit instituted
by Guru Gobind Singh, and agree to live by the
highest ideals of Sikh principles.
Khanda: Double-edged sword.
When surrounded by a kirpan on each side and a
quoit, a symbol of the Khalsa.
Kirpan: Miniature ceremonial
sword. One of the five Sikh articles of faith,
given as gifts of love by Guru Gobind Singh, worn
by a baptized Sikh.
Kirtan: The devotional
singing of sacred hymns, or shabads, from the
Guru Granth Sahib, usually accompanied by instruments.
Langar: Free community
kitchen. The devotional meal eaten by the congregation,
as part of the religious service. Langar is free
and open to all, regardless of religious background.
It is an illustration of putting into practice
the Sikh belief in the equality of all humanity,
and the rejection of the Hindu caste system, which
forbade people of different castes from eating
together.
Matha taykna: Bowing down
and touching the floor with one’s forehead in
front of the Guru Granth Sahib. Sikhs do not bow
before the book as some type of idol worship.
By bowing, Sikhs are submitting themselves to
the scripture, and the knowledge and true words
of God contained therein. Sikhs perform matha
taykna as they enter the main hall. Most worshippers
opt to place a donation in front of the scripture
before bowing, which is used for the management
of the gurdwara.
Maya: Literally “delusion.”
Sikh theology explains that everything in this
world is an illusion, and that the only true reality
is Waheguru. A person affected by maya is described,
in the Sikh scripture, as suffering from the delusion
of believing that those things which are fleeting
and impermanent are worth pursuing. A person attached
to maya cannot escape the cycle of life, death,
and rebirth, which is the goal of every Sikh.
A Sikh strives to avoid rebirth through living
a meritous life of honest work, service to others,
and remembrance of God’s name.
Naam: Name. The divine
name of God.
Naam Simran: Remembering
God's name through meditation. This is a seminal
form of worship for Sikhs.
Nitnem: The daily Sikh
prayers. Sikhs recite prayers three times a day.
Operation Blue Star: The
Indian army attack on the Golden Temple in Amritsar
and other gurdwaras in Punjab, Haryana and Himachel
Pradesh in June 1984.
Panj Piare: “Five beloved
ones;” Five Amritdhari Sikhs. Often refers to
the first five initiated Sikhs, during the Vaisakhi
celebrations of 1699, who volunteered to give
up their lives as a sign of their faith and love
for their Guru. Currently, panj piare are necessary
to perform baptisms, make important corporate
decisions, and officiate over special occasions.
Panth: The Sikh community.
Patit: A lapsed Sikh who
has been initiated into the Khalsa, but failed
to observe the Khalsa code of conduct.
Prakash: A short ceremony
performed when the Guru Granth Sahib is formally
opened everyday.
Punjab: Literally “five
rivers.” Fertile, agriculturally productive region
in South Asia which today is divided between India
and Pakistan. Birthplace of the Sikh religious
tradition. Name of state in both India and Pakistan.
Raag: A term used in Indian
classical music to refer to a series of five or
more notes upon which a melody is based. The poetic
works in the Guru Granth Sahib are categorized
according to the raag in which they are sung.
Ragi: A musician who is
trained in performing kirtan.
Rehat Maryada: A formalized
code of conduct for the Khalsa way of life.
Sangat: A Sikh congregation.
Sant Sipahi: Literally
“saint-soldiers.” Guru Hargobind decreed that
Sikhs should be both devout followers of the teachings
of the Gurus, while being prepared to take up
arms for self-defense and defense of the oppressed.
Sat Sri Akal: A common
Sikh greeting, meaning “God is True and Timeless.”
Seva: Community service.
A central aspect of Sikh theology.
Shabad: Literally “word.”
A sacred Sikh hymn.
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak
Committee (S.G.P.C.): Established in 1920,
this elected governance committee, located in
Amritsar, is responsible for the administration
of gurdwaras in India.
Sikh: Literally “student,
disciple.” According to the Sikh Rehat Maryada,
a Sikh is someone who believes in God, the ten
Sikh Gurus, in the Guru Granth Sahib, in the importance
of the Khalsa initiation, and in no other religion.
Singh: Literally means
lion. The name given to all male Sikhs.
Sukhasan: A short ceremony
performed when the Guru Granth Sahib is formally
closed everyday.
Takhat: Literally “throne.”
One of five centers of Sikh secular authority.
Vaisakhi: A spring harvest
festival in Punjab, usually held around April
13. It holds special significance for Sikhs, as
it serves as a time to commemorate the founding
of the Khalsa in 1699. Considered the beginning
of the Sikh new year, it is a time of religious
observances and festive celebration.
Waheguru: Literally “the
wonderful Lord”; the most popular Sikh name for
God.
|
