Poems::Silklink.com

Akal Purakh- God

Akhal Takht- 'The throne of the timeless one' built facing the Harimandir Sahib in Amritsar representing temporal power in the Panth

Akhand path- Unbroken reading of the Guru Granth Sahib

Amrit- 'Nectar of immortality'.Holy liquid consisting of water and sugar

Amrit-Dhari- 'Those who have taken amrit' and are members of the khalsa

Amrit Sanskar-Khalsa initiation

Ardas- Set prayer at the end of worship

Arora- A trade caste of the Punjab, small scale in comparison with Khatris

Baisakhi- (or Vaisakhi) April 13th, the start of the new year. It is the only fixed festival in Sikhism

Bichola- Matchmaker. A relative who makes inquiries concerning possible spouses for a marriageable daughter or son

Chakra- Circle found on the Sikh emblem meaning 'God is one' and that Sikhs are inseparably united with Him through the faith. It represents the infiniteness of God because there is no beginning or end

Chamar- Leather-worker caste

Chauri- Fan waved over the scriptures, it is made of yak hairs or nylon

Chuhra- Sweeper caste

Dasam Granth- 'The book of the tenth', collection of works many by Guru Gobind Singh

Dharam Khand- Religious duty

Divali- Festival of light

Gian Khand- Knowledge

Got- Sub-caste with Zat being caste

Gurbani- Word of God through the scriptures

Gurdwara- Meaning 'The Guru's door' or 'God's house' it is a temple and place of worship

Gurmukhi- Literally meaning 'From the Guru's mouth' it is written Punjabi

Guru- 'The venerable one'. Holy man, spiritual instructor

Guru Granth Sahib- See 'Adi Granth'

Harimandir Sahib- Meaning the 'House of the Lord' it is The Golden Temple located in Amritsar

Hola Mohalla- meaning 'Attack' and 'Place of attack'. First celebrated in 1700 when armies engaged in mock battles

Ik Onkar- Two Punjabi letters meaning 'God is the one being'. This is a Sikh term with 'Om' being the Hindu equivalent

Janam-Sakhi- 'Birth evidences', source of anecdotes traditionally used to gather information about the Gurus

Jat- Rural caste who are numerically dominant amongst Sikhs (about 60% of the Panth), made of farmers, land workers and peasants. They settled in Northern India in the 11th century. They tend to retain the name 'Singh' or 'Kaur' at the end of a name. They made excellent warriors as they faced harsh conditions on the land and as the Punjab was crossed by invaders many times, they had to learn how to defend themselves

Jiva- Soul

Kach- One of the 5K's. Trousers representing alertness, agility and chastity

Kangha- One of the 5K's.Comb, a symbol of cleanliness and inner purity

Kara- One of the 5K's. Steel bracelet worn on right wrist which shows bondage to God and the Khalsa

Karah Prasad- Sacred food given to everyone in the Gurdwara. It is made of flour, water, sugar and butter

Karam Khand- Grace

Kaur- 'Princess'

Kes- One of the 5K's. Long hair symbolizing strength, virility and saintliness

Kes-Dhari- Sikhs who keep uncut hair but are not initiated in the Khalsa

Khalistan- 'Land of the Pure', the name adopted by supporters of an independent homeland for the Sikhs

Khalsa- 'Pure' or 'Dedicated

Khanda- The name of the Sikh emblem. Double-edged sword found on the Sikh emblem symbolizing that Sikhs are prepared to fight for the truth

Khande di pahul- Khalsa initiation

Khatri- A trade caste of the Punjab, large scale in comparison with Aroras. They form around 2-3% of the Panth but have a large influence

Kirpan- One of the 5K's. Small sword found on the Sikh emblem symbolizing the courage to defend the faith and the poor and the spiritual and earthly powers that the Gurus had. There are two on the Sikh emblem, one represents spirtual power and the other political power

Kirtan- Singing of hymns

Kshatriya- Warrior caste of Hinduism

Kurahit- Four cardinal infringements of the Rahit. They are Cutting one's hair, consuming meat killed in the Muslim style, Extra-marital sexual intercourse and smoking

Langar- 'Free kitchen', it is open to anyone

Mazhabi- The Sikh section of the Chuhra caste, an outcaste Sikh

Miri- Worldly role held by the Gurus (See also Piri)

Misl- Independant Sikh armies of which there were 12, each commanded by a Sardar

Mona- Shaven. Mona Sikh sometimes designates a Sikh who cuts his/her hair

Mughals- Muslim dynasty of India founded in 1526 against whom the Sikhs fought many battles to resist oppression

Nadar- Grace

Nihangs- Great Sikh warriors of the 18th century, set-up by Guru Gobind Singh

Nishan Sahib- The Khalsa flag, saffron in colour

Panj Piare- 'The five beloved ones'. Five companions of Guru Gobind Singh who helped found the Khalsa

Panth- The Sikh community

Patit-Sikhs- 'Fallen Sikhs' who have violated their vows

Path- A reading from the Sikh scriptures

Piri- Spiritual role held by the Gurus (See also Miri)

Punjab- Meaning 'Land of five rivers'. Area of India where Sikhism originated

Purdah- Custom of keeping women and men apart. Opposed by Guru Amar Das

Rahit- The code of belief and conduct of the Khalsa

Raj Karega Khalsa- Battle cry meaning 'The Khalsa shall rule'

Rajput- Warrior caste, close links with Jats

Ramdasia- The Sikh section of the Chamar caste, an outcaste Sikh

Ramgarhia- A Sikh artisan class, predominantly drawn from the tarkhan caste, but also including Sikhs from the blacksmith, mason and barber castes. It is the only totally Sikh caste. They make up less than 10% of the Panth, but are second to jats in size. Its beginnings can be traced to Ram Singh (1816-85) who wanted a purer Khalsa and gained followers from the tarkhan caste and from Jats which grew into the Ramgarhia caste. It was named after a fort called Ram Rauni which defended Amritsar.

Romalla- Silk cloth used to cover the Guru Granth Sahib

Rumal- Handerkerchief used to cover the head at the Gurdwara

Sach Khand- Truth

Sahaj-Dhari- 'Slow adapters' who do not accept the Khalsa. Mainly Aroras and Khatris

Sangat- Congregation

Sardar- Used today as a title for a Sikh who retains uncut hair. It used to mean 'Chieftain'

Sat Sri Akal- Greeting literally meaning 'the truth and God are eternal'

Saram Khand- Effort

Seva- Service

Shabad- Hymn from the Guru Granth Sahib

Shudra- Cultivator caste

Sikh- Literally meaning 'Disciple'

Singh- 'Lion'

Singh Sabha- Reformists who thought that Sikhism was too similar to Hinduism and made changes which exist today

Tarkhan- Carpenter caste

Takht- Throne on which the Guru Granth Sahib rests

Vaisakhi- See Baisakhi

Varna- Classical Hindu caste system, it means 'colour'

Waheguru- Means 'Lord of Wonder'

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ke Fateh- Literally meaning 'The Khalsa belong to God and God's truth will always prevail' or 'Hail to the Guru's Khalsa! Hail the Guru's victory!'

Zat- Caste, with Got being sub-caste