# 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.
* Top
* 0–9
* A
* B
* C
* D
* E
* F
* G
* H
* I
* J
* K
* L
* M
* N
* O
* P
* Q
* R
* S
* T
* U
* V
* W
* X
* Y
* Z

## 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
### Kakar

    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:
* Dhan di Seva – the one people are most familiar with. Doing seva by performing deeds of service and virtue.
* Mann Di Seva – done by doing Simran. Cleansing the Soul of polluted thoughts and Maya.
* Guru di Seva – by having your Mann attuned to his Naam.
* 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.)