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Philosophy, Spirituality and Ethics/Theology
AKAL, lit. timeless, immortal, non temporal, is a term integral to Sikh tradition and philosophy. It is extensively used in the Dasam Granth hymns by Guru Gobind Singh, who titled one of his poetic compositions Akal Ustati, i.e. In Praise (ustati)...
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Philosophy, Spirituality and Ethics/Theology
GURMAT (gurmat, mat, Sanskrit mati, i.e. counsel or tenets of the Guru, more specifically the religious principles laid down by the Guru) is a term which may in its essential sense be taken to be synonymous with Sikhism itself. It covers doctrinal,...
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Philosophy, Spirituality and Ethics/Theology
GURU, a spiritual guide or preceptor. The term, long used in the Indian religious tradition, has a special connotation in the Sikh system. The Sikh faith itself signifies discipleship, the word sikh (sisya in Sanskrit and sissa or sekha in Pali)...
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Philosophy, Spirituality and Ethics/Theology
HUKAM, Arabic hukm for command, order, decree, law, has acquired in Sikh usage a metaphysical shade connoting the Divine Law or Order, regulating the entire universe. Its importance in Sikh theology is indicated by its occurrence at the very...
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Philosophy, Spirituality and Ethics/Theology
ISHVAR from Sanskrit Isvara isa = ruler, master, ord+vara = environing, enclosing, ie. the allpervasive Lord) is one of the several names used in Indian philosophy for God, the Ultimate Reality, also known as Brahman. There is however a subtle...
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Philosophy, Spirituality and Ethics/Theology
KATHA is the noun form of the Sanskrit word kath, meaning to speak, describe, narrate or interpret. In religious terminology, kathd stands for exposition, analysis and discussion of a passage from a scripture. It involves a full length discourse on...
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Philosophy, Spirituality and Ethics/Theology
MUKTI or Mukti and its synonym mokh (Sanskrit moksa, Pali mo(k)khd)are derived from the root much (to let go, release) and seem to be identical in primary meaning with the English words deliverance, liberation, release, freedom and emancipation....
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Philosophy, Spirituality and Ethics/Theology
NADAR (Arabic nazar: glance, favourable regard, favour), implying Divine grace, is a concept central to Sikh religious tradition affirming its faith in a Transcendental Being responsive to human prayer and appeal for forgiveness and mercy. It...
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Philosophy, Spirituality and Ethics/Theology
NAM (lit. name), a collection of sounds possessing the capacity to signify a person, place, thing or idea, is a key term in Sikh theology, embodying a concept of central importance. It subsumes within it the revelation of God`s being, the only fit...
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Philosophy, Spirituality and Ethics/Theology
ONKAR, generally written down as Oankar in Sikh Scriptural writings, is derived from the Upanisadic word Oankara (om+kara) originally signifying pronouncing or rendering into writing the syllable Om. Known as synonym of Om it has been used in the...
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It includes a total of about 3500 entries on different subject titles relating to Sikh life and letters, history and philosophy, customs and rituals, social and religious movements, art and architecture, locales and shrines. Although it is not an easy task to restate and repack the entire range of information and knowledge of a people yet an attempt has been made here precisely to define the doctrines and terms of Sikhism in a direct, terse and tight writing. It should be of immense use and help in providing the background and facts necessary for the comprehension of Sikh thought and symbolism.
Comprehensive but concise, titanic but torse, exhaustive but elegant,this Encyclopedia covers different aspects of sikh lifeand letters, history and philosophy, customs and rituals, social and religious movements, art and architecture, locates and shrines.