BAANA: Literally: dress. In Sikh cultural terminology it means all the five Kakaars (articles of faith) plus a Chola (a long shirt), a tight fitting trousers, a Kamarkassa (a belt to tighten Gaatra and like a sash around the waist) which make one very active. This was actually a dress

BABA, a Persian word meaning \'father\' or \'grandfather\', is used among Sikhs as a title of affection and reverence. In its original Persian context, Baba is a title used for superiors of the Qalandar order of the Sufis, but as transferred to India its meaning extends to cover the old

BABHIKHAN (VIBHISHANA) (The Gurmukh) Rama killed the egoist Ravana, the knowledge given by the Guru was like the secrets told by Vibhishana. (Ramkali M. l, Siddh Goshta, p. 942) The Lord bestowed kingship on Babhikhan (Vibhishana) for a long time. (Maru Namdev, p.105) Vibhishana was the younger brother of

BADDHIKA The Chandala Valmiki and the poor hunter (Baddhika) attained salvation. (Maru M. 5, p. 999) The actual name of the hunter (Baddhika) is mentioned as Jara (which means allegorically old age). He mistook the foot of Krishna as part of a deer, who was lying down in the

BAIKUNTHA (VAIKUNTHA) Everyone talks of going there, but I do not know the situation of Baikuntha. They do not know their own secrets, they only mention Baikuntha in their talk. As long as the mind hopes to go to Baikuntha, till that time, it cannot abide at the Feet

BALABHADRA (BALARAMA) Hari Himself likes the service of the Guru, Krishna and Balabhadra meditate at the feet of the Guru. (Gauri Guareri M. 4, p. 165) Balabhadra is another name of Balarama, the elder brother or Krishna. He is known as the incarnation of the white hair of Brahma.

BALI The (demon) king Bali was inflated with ego because of his wealth. With great pride, he performed Yajnas (sacrificial feasts). Without getting the advice of the Guru, he was sent to the nether-world. (Gauri M. l, p. 224) (Vishnu as) Vamana had asked for only two and a

BALMIKA (VALMIKI) Balmika, the Iow-caste person (Chandala) attained emancipation..... (Maru M. 5, p. 999) The sage Valmiki was the author of Ramayana. His place of residence was Chitra-kuta, a hill in the district of Banda in Bundelkund. When Sita was about to become a mother, she was left near

BANI, Sanskrit van! (meaning sound, voice, music; speech, language, diction; praise, laudation), refers in the specifically Sikh context to the sacred compositions of the Gurus and of the holy saints and sufis as incorporated in the Scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib. Compositions of Guru Gobind Singh comprising the Dasam

BARANA (VARUNA) There are many Baranas..... (Sarag M. 5, p. 1236) He is the god of ocean and sovereign of waters. He carries a noose called Naga-Pasa for binding offénders. His favourite resort is Pushpa-girl (flower-mountain) and his city is Vasudha-nagara. He is one of the oldest of the

BASAKA (VASUKI) Millions of Vasukis (Basaks) form Thy bed, O Lord! (Bhairo Kabir. p. 1163) In whose house, Basak (Vasuki) of one thousand hoods spreads itself like a bed.... (Malar Namdev, p. 1292) Like father and grandfather, the grandson has the Lord\'s approval making the foundation of spiritual power,

BASISTA (VASISHTHA) The enlightened sage (Gurmukh) Basista, delivered the sermon about God (Hari). (Wadhans Ki Var M. 4, p. 591) Vasishtha is one of the most famous Indian sages. He was the author of several hymns of Rig Veda. In one of the hymns of the Rig Veda, he

BAWANA (VAMANA INCARNATION) Vishnu, who had assumed the form of Bawana (Vamana-dwarf), asked for two and a half steps of earth under some pretext, if (the demon king) Bali had recognised Him, why could he has been deceived for going to the nether-regions (Patala) ? (Prabhati M. l, p.

BEETHALA (VITHUL) Beethala is here and Beethala is there; the whole world is not without Beethala; within all the places, says Nama, O Beethala, Thou art filling all the space. (Asa Namdev, p. 485) O my Beethala, meet me, wrap Thy arms around me. (Sri Raga Trilochan, p. 92)

BENARES (BANARASA, VARANASI) .....They have rosaries around their necks and glittering jugs in their hands—they cannot be called the saints of Hari, they are the Thugs of Benares (Varanasi).(Asa Kabir, pp. 476) He lives on the bank of Asi rivulet in Benares (Varanasi). (Gond Namdev, p. 873) It is

BHAGAT- Bhagat has roots in the word Bhaj or Bhakt, which means divided (into self and the \'other\'; this \'other\' may be a god or the Almighty) or sacrificed (into pieces for some god or for the Almighty); hence, Bhagat is one who is devoted to some god or the

BHAGAUTI or Bhavani (Skt. Bhagavati. consort of Visnu, or the goddess Durga) has had in Sikh usage a chequered semantic history.In early Sikhism, especially in the compositions comprising the Guru Granth Sahib, the word means a bhakta or devotee of God. "So bhagautijo bhagvantai janai; he alone is a true

BHAGIRATHA Jaharnavi (Ganges) was brought by Bhagiratha. (Malar M. 4, p. 1263) He was the son of king Dilipa, and a descendant of king Sagara. The horse of the Aswamedha Yajna of king Sagara had been led astray by Indra to the nether-regions (Patala) at the place of meditation

BHAI: Bhai, literally means brother. In the Sikh culture this term is used to show respect for a person. A saintly person, an intellectual, a humanitarian, a leader may be addressed as Bhai. The British adopted conferring the title of Sardar Bahadur to the persons loyal to their regime.

BHAI, of Indo Aryan origin (Sanskrit bhratr, Pali bhaya), means brother in its literal sense and is employed as an honorific as well as in the dominant familial sense and as a title of affection between equals. It has been used in the Guru Granth Sahib in the latter sense

BHAIRAU (BHAIRAVA) He runs towards Bhairau, Bhuta and Sitala and gets as ass rolling in dust to ride upon. (Gond Namdev, p. 874) Bhairau or Bhairava is another name of Shiva in its terrible aspect. The wife of Shiva in this terrible aspect is called Bhairavi. Bhairava is an

BHAKTI AND SIKHISM. The word bhakti is derived from Skt. bhaj, meaning to serve, honour, revere, love and adore. In the religious idiom, it is attachment or fervent devotion to God and is defined as "that particular affection which is generated by the knowledge of the attributes of the

BHANA, lit. liking, pleasure, will, wish or approval, is one of the key concepts in Sikh thought. In Sikhism, it refers specifically to God`s will and pleasure. Raza , an Arabic term popular in the context of various schools of Sufi thought, also appears frequently in the Sikh texts to

BHANA MANNANA: Bhana Mannana literally means to bow before the Will of God. Anything unpleasant should not make a Sikh despondent or angry. One should try to do one\'s best and leave the rest to God. Sikh is not a fatalist but a Sikh has an obligation not to question

BHANDARA from bhandar (Skt. bhandara = bhanda, vessel, implement, + agara, house, meaning storehouse, depository, treasure house) has been used in this literal sense in Guru Granth Sahib, the Holy Book of the Sikhs. In extended connotation the term stands for a feast given especially for yogis and sannyasins, or

BHANGARNATH, was a Gorakhpanthi yogi whom, according to the BalaJanam Sakhi, Guru Nanak met in one of the mountain resorts of the siddhas or adepts who through austerities and penances had attained occult powers. Bhai Gurdas, Varan, I. 3941, places this meeting in Achal Vatala (Batala), now in Gurdaspur

BHAVANI You are called Bhavani, who was from the very beginning. Where did you go at the time of granting salvation ? (Gond Namdev, p. 874) Bhavani is another name for Parbati and Mahamaya. She is also called Durga and Uma. See : Ad Bhavani , Parbati (Parvati) ,

BHISTA (BAHISHTA) He holds fasts, offers prayers and recites Kalimah, in this way Bhista (Bahishta) or heaven cannot be achieved..... Having comprehended himself, if one tries to know? others, then he can become a resident of Bhista..... (Asa Kabir, p. 480) You are impure and are not conscious about

BHOG (which by literal etymology, from Sanskrit, signifies "pleasure," "delight") is the name used in the Sikh tradition for the group of observances which accompany, the reading of the concluding parts of Scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib. This conclusion may be reached as part of the normal and routine reading

BHOG: Literally: it means pleasure. In the Sikh context Bhog is the conclusion of the recitation of Guru Granth Sahib). It is followed by Ardaas and Vaak (or Hukam i.e. command of the Almighty). Finally, after the distribution of Karaah Parshaad, the \'ceremony\' of Bhog is over. The Sikhs

BIBEKBARDHI, (bibek= discrimination or discipline, bard/if = ocean; by implication, "guide to Sikh religious practice") is a collection of rahit namas or codes of conduct compiled in AD 1877 by Pandit Bhagvan Singh, a Brahman who converted to Sikhism under the influence of Baba Sumer Singh, celebrated high priest

BIHANGAM, from Sanskrit vihang which means a bird, is a term applied to wandering ascetics who lead a life of complete detachment. A Biharigam is a celebate who lives in poverty renouncing all worldly ties and follows the path of holiness. In the Hindu tradition, he, abjuring religious dogma,

BIKRAMI SAMMAT: A Calendar named after a Hindu king Vikramaditya. In Punjabi Vikrami is pronounced as Bikrami. Its abbreviation is Bk. The Hindus calculate their dates as per the Hindu astrology. Some ignorant Sikhs too adhere to this calendar. For a Sikh all the calendars have the same significance.

BINDRABANA (VRINDAVANA) The alluring and bewitching Krishna grazes his cows in Vrindavana. (Gauri Kabir, p. 338) Krishna brought Parijata (wish-fulfilling tree) from heaven for his Gopi and was engaged in love in Vrindavana. (Var Asa M. l, p. 470) Vrindavana is a vana (forest) in the district of Matbura,

BIR, a term used for a recension or copy of the Guru Granth Sahib, is derived from Skt. verb vid meaning "to make strong or firm, strengthen, fasten, or to be strong, firm or hard." The Punjabi verb birana which means "to fix, bind or fasten (something) firmly, or to

BOLE SO NIHAL, SATI SRI ARAL is the Sikh slogan or jaikara (lit. shout of victory.triumph or exultation). It is divided in two parts or phrases. The first, bole so nihal orjo bole so nihal, is a statement meaning "whoever utters (the phrase following) shall be happy, shall be fulfilled,"

BRAHMA Brahma bom in the navel lotus of Vishnu was called the son of Lotus. (Kama M. 4, p. 1309) Brahma manifested the hymns of the Veda but extended the attachment of maya. (Wadhans M. 3, p. 559) Only the maya of three modes came out from the mouth

BRAHMADIKA - The Hindu Triad Brahma etc. and Sanaka etc. want to meet the Lord and also the Yogis, celibates and adepts. (Gauri Bairagan M. 5, p. 203) Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva contemplate about the Lord, but they are bound by three modes and are far from salvation. (Mani

BRAHMGIANI (Skt. brahmajnanin), lit. the knower of Brahman or one possessing the knowledge of Brahman. The knowledge (giana, jnana) of the Universal Spirit (Brahman) consists not in the mere recognition of His existence, but in a continuous consciousness about HimHis realization in the heart or rather the realization of

BUDDHA There are many Siddhas, Buddhas and Nathas..... (Japu, p. 7) The word Buddha seems to have been used for Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.Mythologically, he was accepted in Hinduism as the ninth incarnation of Vishnu. His great success as a religious teacher seerns to have induced the

BUDDHI or buddhi (from Sanskrit budh to wake up, be awake, to perceive, learn) is the intellectual aspect of mind (antahkarana) whose other aspects man and haumai are intertwined with it in close interrelationship. Its nearest English equivalent may be intellect. Man (Sanskrit manas) as the receptacle of sense

BUNGA: A place of residence for the Sikhs or the place for rest for the pilgrims. There were at least 69 Bungas at Amritsar in the nineteenth century, some of them are still in existence. Another term for the resting hostel for the Sikh pilgrims is Saran. At Darbar Sahib,

BYASA (VYASA) The sage Byasa sings the Praises (of Guru Nanak Dev). He reflected on the Vedic Grammar. (Swayye Mahle Pahle Ke, p. 1390) Byasa narrates the sayings of Narada, ask Suka about it. (Maru Kabir, p. l J 03) Brahma, the son of Lotus (who sprang from the