| Adi
Granth |
- a
collection of the hymns of the first four Gurus and some of those of
Guru Arjan Dev Ji |
|
Akal
Takht |
-
'Throne of the Eternal' - the building facing the Golden Temple in Amritsar |
| Akhand
Path |
- a
continuous reading of the Guru Granth Sahib Ji from beginning to end |
| Amrit |
-
'nectar' - sanctified liquid made of sugar and water used in
initiation ceremonies |
|
Amritsar |
- a
city in the Punjab and the location of the Golden Temple |
| Amritvela |
-
early morning prayer and meditation |
| Anand
karaj |
-
'Ceremony of bliss' - the wedding ceremony |
|
Anand
Sahib |
-
'Hymn of bliss' |
|
Anandpur
Sahib |
- a
town in a valley at the foot of the Himalayas. The ashes of
the head of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji are buried there |
| Ardas |
- the
prayer offered during most religious acts |
|
Asa
di var |
-
the immortal battle of hope |
| Baisakhi |
- a
major Sikh festival celebrating the formation of the Khalsa, 1699CE |
| Bhakti |
-
devotion to God, worship |
| Caste |
- the
Hindu belief that people are born into different social groups |
| Chanani |
- a
canopy over the scriptures, used as a mark of respect |
| Chauri |
- a
symbol of the authority of the Guru Granth Sahib Ji |
| Dasam
Granth |
- a
collection of compositions |
| Daswandh |
-
giving a tenth of surplus money to the community |
| Dhan |
-
material service to other people |
| Divali
Mela |
- a
festival which marks the end of the rainy season and the escape and
return to Amritsar of Guru Har Gobind Ji |
| Diwan |
-
congregational worship |
| Goindwal |
-
location of a deep well built by Guru Amar Das Ji |
| Golak |
- a
long box in which worshippers place their offering of money |
| Granthi |
- a
reader of the Guru Granth Sahib Ji who officiates at ceremonies |
| Gurbani |
- the
word of God revealed by the Gurus |
|
Gurdwara |
-
Sikh place of worship |
| Gurmukh |
-
someone who lives by the Guru's teaching |
| Gurmukhi |
-
'from the Guru's mouth' - the name given to the script in which the
scriptures and the Punjabi language are written |
| Gurpurbs |
- a
Guru's anniversary (birth or death) |
|
Guru |
- a
teacher. In Sikhism the title of Guru is used for the ten
human Gurus and the Guru Granth Sahib Ji |
| Guru
Granth Sahib Ji |
- the
Sikh scriptures |
| Guru
Nanak Dev Ji |
-
(1469-1539) - the first Guru and the founder of the Sikh faith |
| Gutka |
- a
collection of Sikh hymns |
|
Harmandir
Sahib |
- the
Golden Temple in Amritsar |
| Hola
Mohalla Mela |
-
festival which celebrates Guru Gobind Singh Ji holding a three-day
festival at Anandpur |
| Hukam |
-
'God's will' |
| Ik
Onkar |
-
'There is only One God' - the first phrase of the Mool Mantar - it
is also used as a symbol to decorate Sikh objects |
|
Japji
Sahib |
- a
morning prayer |
| Kachera |
-
traditional underwear, shorts (one of the five Ks) |
|
Kangha |
- a
comb worn in the hair (one of the five Ks) |
|
Kara |
- a
steel band, worn on the right wrist (one of the five Ks) |
| Karah
parshad |
-
sanctified food distributed at Sikh ceremonies |
| Karma |
-
actions and their consequences |
| Kaur |
-
'Princess' - name given to all Sikh females |
|
Kesh |
-
uncut hair (one of the five Ks) |
|
Khalsa |
-
'the community of the pure' - the Sikh community |
| Khanda |
-
double-edged sword used in the initiation ceremony (also used as the
emblem on the Sikh flag) |
| Kirat
karna |
-
earning one's livelihood by one's own efforts |
|
Kirpan |
-
sword (one of the five Ks) |
|
Kirtan |
-
devotional singing of the compositions found in the Guru Granth
Sahib Ji |
|
Kirtan
Sohila |
- a
prayer said before going to sleep |
| Langar |
-
'Guru's kitchen' - the gurdwara dining hall and the food served in
it |
| Lavan |
-
four verses which are sung at wedding ceremonies |
| Mala |
-
prayer beads |
| Manji |
-
small platform on which the scripture is placed |
| Manmukh |
-
thinking about oneself first |
| Mela |
-
'fair' - used of Sikh festivals which are not gurpurbs |
| Milna |
- a
ceremony which takes place before the wedding service |
| Mool
Mantar |
-
'basic teaching' - the basic statement of belief at the beginning of
the Guru Granth Sahib Ji |
| Mukti |
-
escape from rebirth |
| Nam
Japna |
-
remembering the name of God |
| Nam
Simran |
-
meditation on the divine name, using passages of scripture |
| Nishan
Sahib |
- the
Sikh flag which is flown at gurdwaras |
| Nit
nem |
-
saying the specified daily prayers |
|
Paath |
-
Sikh Prayers and Hymns |
| Pakha |
- a
fan used by Sikhs walking with the Gurus |
| Palanquin |
- a
special carriage |
| Panj
kakke |
-
'the five Ks' - the symbols of Sikhism worn by Sikhs |
| Panj
piare |
-
'the five beloved ones' - those first initiated into the Khalsa.
Those who perform the rite today |
| Ragi |
- a
Sikh musician who sings compositions from the Guru Granth Sahib Ji |
| Reincarnation |
- the
belief that people are reborn after death |
| Romalla |
- a
cloth on which the Guru Granth Sahib Ji is placed |
| Sadhsangat |
-
congregation or assembly of Sikhs |
| Sahaj-dhari |
-
'seekers after God' - Sikhs who are not members of the Khalsa |
| Serovar |
- the
pool around the Golden Temple in Amritsar |
| Sewa |
-
service directed at the sadhsangat and gurdwara, but also to
humanity in general |
|
Shabads |
-
hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib Ji |
|
Sikh |
-
'learner, disciple' - a person who believes in the ten Gurus and the
Guru Granth Sahib Ji and who has no other religion |
| Singh |
-
'lion' - name adopted by Sikh males |
| Sodar
Rahiras |
- the
prayer said before the evening meal |
|
Sukhmani |
- the
Psalm of Serenity - Hymn of Peace |
| Tan |
-
physical service |
| Turban |
-
head covering worn by many Sikhs |
| Vand
chhakna |
-
sharing one's time, talents and earnings with the less fortunate |
| Waheguru |
-
'Wonderful Lord' - a Sikh name for God |
| Yatras |
-
visits to places associated with the Gurus and Sikhism |