Outline of Sikhism - General Concepts

General Concepts

• Bani – verses. An abbreviation of Gurbani, applied to any of the writings which appear in the Guru Granth Sahib.
• Bhagat Bani – Any of the writings which appear in the Guru Granth Sahib which were not written by the Gurus.
• Daan – Charity. One of the 3 petitions - Naam, Daan, Ishnan.
• Dasband (daswand) – 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'.
• Dharam di Kirat – to earn an honest living.
• Diet in Sikhism
• Diwali –
• Ek Onkar –
• Gatka – Sikh martial art
• Gurbani – Collective writings of the Sikh Gurus. (See bani.)
• Gurdwara, gurudwara – Place of worship, meaning "God's door", or God's place
• 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 ones self 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 – Prayerbook containing daily prayers.
• Harmandir Sahib –
• Hinduism –
• History of the Punjab
• Ik Onkar –
• Ishnan – Purity of mind and body. One of the three petitions - Naam, Daan, Ishnan.
• Islam
• Jap – Recite.
• Japji Sahib – The first 8 pages of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh holy scripture), consisting of hymns composed by Guru Nanak.
• Jayadeva in Sikhism - Wrote two hymns that are in the guru granth.
• Jhatka – Meat of an animal which has been killed quickly with one stroke. Sikhs eat jhatka meat of any animal but cannot eat halal (kuttha) meat, where the animal has been slowly bled to death. This would also apply to kosher meat or any other animal sacrificed in the name of God.
• Kakke – Panj (5) K's that must be worn by Sikhs.
• Kaur – Princess. Female Sikh middle name or surname
• Khalsa – Pure - must carry panj kakkar
• Khalsa Panth –
• Khanda - A symbol of the Sikh faith (as well as being an Indian-double edged sword); also appearing on the Nishan Sahib which flies over gurdwaras.
• 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.
• Kirtan –
• Kurahit kurahat – The cardinal sins for the Sikhs. These are cutting, trimming, shaving or removing hairs from one’s body, eating kuttha meat, using tobacco or any other intoxicant in any form or committing adultery.
• Kuttha – Meat killed in a sacrificial manner, such as Halal or Kosher.
• Laava –
• Manmukh – A self-centered person, contrast gurmukh. A person who lives within the will of the Mind as opposed to the will of god.
• Mela Maghi –
• Mul Mantra – Basic statement of creed.
• Naam – Name. Remembrance of the divine name.
• Nām Japō, Naam japna – Recitation and meditation on the Naam of the Lord.
• Nanakshahi calendar –
• Nirankari –
• Nitnem – Daily prayers which begin with Japji Sahib and are written in a Gutka (prayerbook).
• Panj dokh – The 5 thieves/betrayers. Ahankar (pride), Kam (lust), Krodh (anger), Lobh (greed) and Moh (worldly attachment)
• Panj Kakke – The Five K's; 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 virtues – Daya (compassion), Nimrata (humility), Pyare (love), Santokh (contentment) and Sat (truth).
• Panj weapons – Chardi Kala (positive energy), Daan (charity), Dayan (kindness) Nimarta (humility), Santokh (contentment)
• Panj – The number 5
• Patit – Apostate
• Pugree – Dastar, turban. 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'.
• Sangat – Society (congregation) see Panth.
• Sarbat da Bhalla – Welfare of mankind (sarbat = mankind, bhalla = welfare)
• Sarbloh Warriors - a computer game based around Sikh resistance against Mughal rule
• Sardar –
• Satguru –
• SGPC (Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee) –
• Shabad, Śábda – The hymns contained in Sikh scriptures.
• Shaheed – Title used before the name of a person who has died as a Sikh martyr.
• Sikh –
• Sikh Bhagats –
• Sikh Empire –
• Sikh Light Infantry –
• Sikh Regiment –
• Simran – Simran is the remembrance of Waheguru. Guru Nanak formed a new type of Bakti beginning with Simran and Jap of Waheguru Gurmantar.
• Singh Sabha –
• 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.
• Takht
• Takhat –
• 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 Sri Guru Granth Sahib and the Sikh 'Code of Conduct'.
• Udasis –
• Waheguru (ਵਾਹਗੁਰੂ) – Wonderful is the Lord.