The following outline is provides an overview of Sikhism, or Sikhi (its

endonym An endonym (also known as autonym ) is a common, name for a group of people, individual person, geographical place, language, or dialect, meaning that it is used inside a particular group or linguistic community to identify or designate them ...

Sikhism Sikhism is an Indian religion and Indian philosophy, philosophy that originated in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent around the end of the 15th century CE. It is one of the most recently founded major religious groups, major religio ...

has been described as being either a

panentheistic Panentheism (; "all in God", from the Greek , and ) is the belief that the divine intersects every part of the universe and also extends beyond space and time. The term was coined by the German philosopher Karl Krause in 1828 (after reviewin ...

monotheistic Monotheism is the belief that one God is the only, or at least the dominant deity.F. L. Cross, Cross, F.L.; Livingstone, E.A., eds. (1974). "Monotheism". The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (2 ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. A ...

religion—emphasizing universal selflessness and brotherhood—founded in the 15th century upon the teachings of

Guru Nanak Gurū Nānak (15 April 1469 – 22 September 1539; Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ; pronunciation: , ), also known as ('Father Nanak'), was an Indian spiritual teacher, mystic and poet, who is regarded as the founder of Sikhism and is t ...

and the ten succeeding

Gurus Guru ( ; IAST: ''guru'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan- Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: traditionally, the guru is a reverential figure to the disciple (or '' ...

. It is the fifth-largest

organized religion Organized religion, also known as institutional religion, is religion in which belief systems and rituals are systematically arranged and formally established, typically by an official doctrine (or dogma), a hierarchical or bureaucratic leadership ...

in the world, and one of the fastest-growing. The sacred text and last Guru of Sikhism, ''

Guru Granth Sahib The Guru Granth Sahib (, ) is the central holy religious scripture of Sikhism, regarded by Sikhs as the final, sovereign and eternal Guru following the lineage of the ten human gurus of the religion. The Adi Granth (), its first rendition, w ...

'', teaches humans how to unite with the all cosmic soul; with

God In monotheistic belief systems, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator, and principal object of faith. In polytheistic belief systems, a god is "a spirit or being believed to have created, or for controlling some part of the un ...

, the creator: "Only those who selflessly love everyone, they alone shall find God."

Scripture and literature

Scripture

* ''

'' — the sacred text and last Guru of Sikhism **

Asa Di Var ''Asa di Var'' (Gurmukhi: ਆਸਾ ਦੀ ਵਾਰ) meaning "A ballad of hope", is a collection of 24 stanzas (''pauris'') in the Guru Granth Sahib, from ang 462 to ang 475. Some people argue that the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev, wrote ...

— 24

stanza In poetry, a stanza (; from Italian ''stanza'', ; ) is a group of lines within a poem, usually set off from others by a blank line or indentation. Stanzas can have regular rhyme and metrical schemes, but they are not required to have either. ...

s used as a morning prayer ** Bhattan De Savaiye **

Japji Sahib ''Japji Sahib'' (, pronunciation: ) is the Sikh thesis, that appears at the beginning of the '' Guru Granth Sahib'' – the scripture of the Sikhs. ''Jap'' is the original name of the prayer and to show respect, it is called ''Jap ji Sahib''. I ...

— the first 8 pages of the Guru Granth Sahib, consisting of hymns composed by Guru Nanak. ** Kirtan Sohila ** Laavaan — the four hymns of the

Anand Karaj Anand Karaj () is the Sikh wedding ceremony, meaning "Act towards happiness" or "Act towards happy life", that was introduced by Guru Amar Das. The four ''laavaan'' (hymns which take place during the ceremony) were composed by his successor, Gur ...

(Sikh wedding ceremony) **

Mul Mantar The Mūl Mantar (, ) is the opening verse of the Sikh scripture, the ''Guru Granth Sahib''. It consists of twelve words in the Punjabi language, written in Gurmukhi script, and are the most widely known among the Sikhs. They summarize the essen ...

— the opening words of the Guru Granth Sahib, citing the basic statement of creed in Sikhism. ** Rehras — evening prayer **

Sukhmani Sahib Sukhmani Sahib (), known under the title of Gauri Sukhmani in the scripture (named after the Gauri (raga), Gauri raga musical measure it belongs to), is usually translated to mean ''Prayer of Peace'' is a set of 192 ''Pada (foot), padas'' (stanz ...

('Psalm of Peace') — a popular set of

hymn A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn'' d ...

s in the Guru Granth Sahib, divided into 24 sections ** Ragmala *''

Dasam Granth The ( Gurmukhi: ਦਸਮ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ''dasama gratha'') is a collection of various poetic compositions attributed to Guru Gobind Singh.

'' — the secondary holy book of Sikhism ** 33 Savaiye ** Benti Chaupai ** Chandi di Var ** Jaap Sahib — a morning prayer consisting of an introductory sloka, 38 stanzas (''pauris''), and a concluding sloka attributed by some to

Guru Angad Guru Angad (31 March 1504 – 29 March 1552; , ) was the second of the ten Sikh gurus of Sikhism. After meeting Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, becoming a Sikh, and serving and working with Nanak for many years, Nanak gave Lehna the name A ...

. **

Tav-Prasad Savaiye The (Gurmukhi: ਦਸਮ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ''dasama gratha'') is a collection of various poetic compositions attributed to Guru Gobind Singh.

(or Amrit Savaiye) — short composition of 10 stanzas, as part of ''nitnem'' *''

Sarbloh Granth The Sarbloh Granth or Sarabloh Granth (, ', literally 'Scripture of Pure Iron'), also called Manglacharan Puran or Sri Manglacharan Ji, is a voluminous scripture, composed of more than 6,500 poetic stanzas. It is traditionally attributed as bein ...

'' — a voluminous scripture consisting of more than 6,500 poetic stanzas, considered as amalgamation of the writings of poets including Guru Gobind Singh. *''

Varan Bhai Gurdas Varan Bhai Gurdas (Gurmukhi: ਵਾਰਾਂ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਦਾਸ ''vārāṁ bhā'ī guradāsa''; meaning "ballads of Bhai Gurdas"), also known as Varan Gyan Ratnavali (), is the name given to the 40 Var (poetry), ''vars'' (a form of Pu ...

'' — the name given to the 40 ''

vaar The Vār or Vaar (, ), in Punjabi poetry, is a heroic ode or ballad which generally narrates legend such as stories of Punjabi folk heroes or a historical event.''The Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature (Volume One - A to Devo)''. Amaresh Datta, ...

s'' (a form of Punjabi poetry) wrriten attributed by Bhai Gurdas, providing early concepts of Sikhism and Sikh living.

Sikh literature

* ''

Guru Maneyo Granth ''Guru Maneyo Granth'' (Gurmukhi: ) refers to the historic statement of the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708) shortly before his demise on affirming the sacred scripture Adi Granth as his successor, thereby terminating the line of ...

'' — historic statement of the 10th Guru,

Guru Gobind Singh Guru Gobind Singh (; born Gobind Das; 22 December 1666 – 7 October 1708) was the tenth and last human Sikh gurus, Sikh Guru. He was a warrior, poet, and philosopher. In 1675, at the age of nine he was formally installed as the leader of the ...

* Janamsakhi — non-canonical history of Guru Nanak ** Bala Janamsakhi — a collection of janamsakhis by Bhai Bala (generally accepted as authoritative). ** Mani Singh Janamsakhi or Gyan ratanavali — a collection dating from the time of the last Guru. ** Miharban Janamsakhi — janamsakhis written by the followers of

Prithi Chand Prithi Chand (Gurmukhi: ਪ੍ਰਿਥੀ ਚੰਦ; 1558–April 1618), also spelt as Prithia, was the eldest son of Guru Ram Das – the fourth Guru of Sikhism, and the eldest brother of Guru Arjun, Guru Arjan – the fifth Guru.

. ** Puratan Janamsakhi — an early collection of janamsakhis by an unknown author. * Panth Parkash — non-canonical Sikh history * Suraj Parkash — non-canonical Sikh history * Zafarnama — letter by

Aurangzeb Alamgir I (Muhi al-Din Muhammad; 3 November 1618 – 3 March 1707), commonly known by the title Aurangzeb, also called Aurangzeb the Conqueror, was the sixth Mughal emperors, Mughal emperor, reigning from 1658 until his death in 1707, becomi ...

Associated terms

Ardās The Ardās (, pronunciation: ) is a set prayer in Sikhism. It is a part of worship service in a Gurdwara (Sikh temple), daily rituals such as the opening the ''Guru Granth Sahib'' for ''prakash'' (morning light) or closing it for ''sukhasan'' (n ...

* Bhagat Bani — any of the writings that appear in the Guru Granth Sahib which were not written by the Gurus. *

Gurbani Gurbani (, pronunciation: , lit. the Guru's words) is a Sikh term, very commonly used by Sikhs to refer to various compositions by the Sikh Gurus and other writers of Guru Granth Sahib. In general, hymns in the central text of the Sikhs, the Gu ...

(abbreviated as ''bani'') — general term for Gurus' writings * Gutka — a small sized

breviary A breviary () is a liturgical book used in Christianity for praying the canonical hours, usually recited at seven fixed prayer times. Historically, different breviaries were used in the various parts of Christendom, such as Aberdeen Breviar ...

prayer book A prayer book is a book containing prayers and perhaps devotional readings, for private or communal use, or in some cases, outlining the liturgy of religious services. Books containing mainly orders of religious services, or readings for them are ...

containing chosen hymns (banis) from Sikh scriptures * Nitnem — daily recitations *

Paath Paath or Path ( Punjabi: ਪਾਠ ), from the Sanskrit patha which means reading or recitation, is, in the religious context, reading or recitation of the holy texts. In Sikhism, comprehension of what is being read is considered more important ...

Savaiya Sawaiya is a form of poetry which is written in praise of someone in which every verse is a quarter times the length of common verse. The plural of Savaiya is Savaiye (Punjabi: ਸ੍ਵਯੇ ). Famous among them are Tav-Prasad Savaiye The ...

— a form of poetry written in praise of someone, in which every verse is 1/4 times the length of a common verse. *

Shabda ''Shabda'' (, ) is the Sanskrit word for "speech sound". In Sanskrit grammar, the term refers to an utterance in the sense of linguistic performance. History In classical Indian philosophy of language, the grammarian Katyayana stated that ''s ...

— the hymns contained in Sikh scriptures. * Sloka — 'stanza'; the Sanskrit epic metre formed of 32 syllables: verses of 2 lines (''

distich In poetry, a couplet ( ) or distich ( ) is a pair of successive Line (poetry), lines that rhyme and have the same Metre (poetry), metre. A couplet may be formal (closed) or run-on (open). In a formal (closed) couplet, each of the two lines is en ...

'') of 16 syllables each or in 4 half-lines (''

hemistich A hemistich (; via Latin from Greek , from "half" and "verse") is a half-line of verse, followed and preceded by a caesura, that makes up a single overall prosodic or verse unit. In Latin and Greek poetry, the hemistich is generally confined ...

'') of 8 syllables each.

Philosophy and beliefs

Waheguru ''Waheguru'' (, pronunciation: , literally meaning "Wow Guru", figuratively translated to mean "Wonderful God" or "Wonderful Lord") is a term used in Sikhism to refer to God as described in ''Guru Granth Sahib''. It is the most common term to re ...

— God **Akal **

Akal Purakh () is an interchangeable Sikh name used to denote God, or the omnipresent divine. Meaning It literally means "without-death being". The first word ''Akal'', literally "timeless, immortal, non-temporal," is a term integral to Sikh tradition an ...

Ik Onkar Ik Onkar, also spelled Ek Onkar or Ik Oankaar ( Gurmukhi: or ; ); literally, "one ''God''", hence interpreted as "There is only one God or one Creator") is a phrase in Sikhism that denotes the one supreme reality. It is a central tenet of Sikh r ...

(or Ek Onkar) ** Monoism ** Nirguna **Nirbau, Nirvair — Without fear and Without hate **

Sarav viāpak In Sikhism, ''Sarav viāpak'' (literally "all-prevading god") is the omnipresence of God; since Sikhs hold God to be without form, shape, colour, gender, etc., they see God as present in every living being in the Universe. Sikhism holds that crea ...

** Sarguna ** Satguru — 'true God' ** Satnam — ' od'sname is true' * 3 pillars of Sikhism **

Naam Japo In Sikhism, Nām Japō (, pronunciation: ), also known as Naam Japna or Naam Simran, is the remembrance of God or the Akal Purakh, Akal Purkh, the supreme formless power that is timeless and immortal, through the meditation or contemplation of ...

—

meditation Meditation is a practice in which an individual uses a technique to train attention and awareness and detach from reflexive, "discursive thinking", achieving a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state, while not judging the meditat ...

on the name of God **

Kirat Karo Kirat Karō (Gurmukhi: ਕਿਰਤ ਕਰੋ) is one of the three pillars of Sikhism, the others being Naam Japo and Vaṇḍ chakkō. The term means to earn an honest, pure and dedicated living by exercising one's God-given skills, abilities, ...

— earning a living honestly, without exploitation or fraud ** Vand Chhako — sharing with others; helping those with less or those who are in need * 5 Virtues **

Sat The SAT ( ) is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States. Since its debut in 1926, its name and Test score, scoring have changed several times. For much of its history, it was called the Scholastic Aptitude Test ...

— 'truth' ** Santokh — 'contentment, satisfaction' ** Daya — 'compassion, kindness' ** Nimrata — 'humility, benevolence' ** Pyaar — 'love' * Bole So Nihal * Charhdi Kala — the aspiration to maintain a mental state of eternal optimism and joy. * Five Thieves **

Kaam Kaam ( Punjabi: ਕਾਮ; ''Kāma'') is one of the five thieves in Sikhism, described as excessive lust or desire. A devout Sikh is expected to be in control of ''Kaam'' at all times. Translation The term has been rendered as translating to ...

— 'lust' ** Krodh — 'anger, wrath' ** Lobh — 'greed' ** Moh — ' attachment' ** Hankaar — 'ego, pride' * Gurmat *

Hukam Hukam () is a Punjabi word derived from the Arabic ''ḥukm'', meaning 'command' or 'divine order'. In Sikhism, Hukam represents the goal of becoming in harmony with the will of God and thus attaining inner peace. It also designates the practic ...

* Idolatry in Sikhism *

Khalsa The term ''Khalsa'' refers to both a community that follows Sikhism as its religion,Khalsa: Sikhism< ...

— 'pure' * Nirguni bhakti * Raj Karega Khalsa * Sarbat da bhalla — welfare (''bhalla'') of mankind (''sarbat'') * Seva — selfless service *

Shakti Shakti (Devanagari: शक्ति, IAST: Śakti; 'energy, ability, strength, effort, power, might, capability') in Hinduism, is the "Universal Power" that underlies and sustains all existence. Conceived as feminine in essence, Shakti refer ...

Sikh Rehat Maryada Rehat ( Punjabi: ਰਹਿਤ, alternatively transliterated as Rehit, Rahit, or Rahat) refers to the rules and traditions which govern the unique Sikh lifestyle and determines correct Sikh orthodoxy and orthopraxy. The Sikh Rehit Maryada( Punjabi ...

– code of conduct * Simran — the remembrance of

Relation to other religions

* Hinduism and Sikhism *

Islam and Sikhism Islam is an Abrahamic religion founded in the Arabian Peninsula, while Sikhism is an Indian religion founded in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent. Islam means 'submission to god'. The word Sikh is derived from a word meaning 'disciple ...

* Jainism and Sikhism

Practices and culture

Amrit Amrit (), the classical antiquity, classical Marathus (, ''Marathos''), was a Phoenicians, Phoenician port located near present-day Tartus in Syria. Founded in the third millenniumBC, Marat (, ) was the northernmost important city of ancient Ph ...

— elixir of immortality; the sanctified nectar or sugar water substitute used in ceremonies. It is prepared by stirring it in an iron bowl with the double-edged sword and continuous recitation of five ''banis'' by the five selected members of the

Khalsa The term ''Khalsa'' refers to both a community that follows Sikhism as its religion,Khalsa: Sikhism< ...

. * Dasvand — a kind of Sikh

tithe A tithe (; from Old English: ''teogoþa'' "tenth") is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to government. Modern tithes are normally voluntary and paid in money, cash, cheques or v ...

; the act of donating 10% of one's harvest, both financially and in the form of time and service (i.e., seva) to the Gurdwara and community. *

Five Ks In Sikhism, the Five Ks (, , ) are five items that Guru Gobind Singh, in 1699, commanded Khalsa Sikhs to wear at all times. They are: Kesh (Sikhism), ''kesh'' (, , unshorn hair and beard since the Sikh decided to keep it), ''kangha ('', , a comb ...

— five articles of faith worn by baptised, or ''

khalsa The term ''Khalsa'' refers to both a community that follows Sikhism as its religion,Khalsa: Sikhism< ...

'', Sikhs: ** Kesh — uncut hair ** Kangha — a comb **

Kara Kara or KARA may refer to: Geography Localities * Kara, Chad, a sub-prefecture * Kára, Hungary, a village * Kara, Uttar Pradesh, India, a township * Kara, Iran, a village in Lorestan Province * Kara, Republic of Dagestan, a rural locality in ...

— a circular iron bracelet **

Kirpan The kirpan (; pronunciation: Help:IPA/Punjabi, ɪɾpaːn is a blade that Khalsa Sikhs are required to wear as part of their religious uniform, as prescribed by the Rehat, Sikh Code of Conduct. Traditionally, the kirpan was a full-sized '' ...

— a small dagger **

Kachera Kacchera or Kachera () or Kaccha () are an undergarment for the lower body that is specially tailored for shalwar with a tie-knot ''naala'' or ''naada'' drawstring worn by fully initiated Sikhs. They are similar to European boxer shorts in a ...

— special underwear short *

Kirtan Sikh ''kirta''n with Indian harmoniums and '' Kenya.html" ;"title="tabla'' drums (a common and popular pairing), in Kenya">tabla'' drums (a common and popular pairing), in Kenya (1960s) ''Kirtana'' (; ), also rendered as ''Kiirtan'', ''Kirt ...

— musical recitation *

Langar Langar may refer to: Community eating *Langar (Sikhism) *Langar (Sufism) Places Afghanistan *Langar, Badakhshan, Afghanistan *Langar, Bamyan, Afghanistan *Langar, Faryab, Afghanistan *Langar, Herat, Afghanistan *Langar, Wardak, Afghanistan ...

— communal kitchen where free food is distributed to all comers ** Pangat *

—

on the

name A name is a term used for identification by an external observer. They can identify a class or category of things, or a single thing, either uniquely, or within a given context. The entity identified by a name is called its referent. A person ...

of God ** Jaap — 'recitation' * Prohibitions (''kurahit kurahat''), including: **Cutting, trimming, shaving or removing hairs from one's body — Sikhs practice ''kesh'', allowing their hair to grow out naturally in respect to God's creation ** Intoxication ** Castism **

Kutha meat Kutha, Cuthah, Cuth or Cutha (, Sumerian: Gû.du8.aki, Akkadian: Kûtu), modern Tell Ibrahim (also Tell Habl Ibrahlm) (), is an archaeological site in Babil Governorate, Iraq. The site of Tell Uqair Tell Uqair (Tell 'Uquair, Tell Aqair) is a ...

— eating meat killed in a ritualistic manner (particularly

halal ''Halal'' (; ) is an Arabic word that translates to in English. Although the term ''halal'' is often associated with Islamic dietary laws, particularly meat that is slaughtered according to Islamic guidelines, it also governs ethical practices ...

kosher (also or , ) is a set of dietary laws dealing with the foods that Jewish people are permitted to eat and how those foods must be prepared according to Jewish law. Food that may be consumed is deemed kosher ( in English, ), from the Ashke ...

meat), or any meat where

langar Langar may refer to: Community eating *Langar (Sikhism) *Langar (Sufism) Places Afghanistan *Langar, Badakhshan, Afghanistan *Langar, Bamyan, Afghanistan *Langar, Faryab, Afghanistan *Langar, Herat, Afghanistan *Langar, Wardak, Afghanistan ...

is served (except ''jatkha'' meat). * Seva — selfless service ** Sevadar — one who volunteers ** Kar seva ** Kar sevak *

— code of conduct

Sikh ceremonies

('blissful union, joyful union') — the Sikh marriage ceremony, first introduced by

Guru Amar Das Guru Amar Das (Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰੂ ਅਮਰ ਦਾਸ, pronunciation: ; 5 May 1479 – 1 September 1574), sometimes spelled as Guru Amardas, was the third of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism and became Sikh Guru on 26 March 1552 at age 73. Befor ...

. *

Akhand Path An Akhand Path (, ) is the continuous and uninterrupted recitation of the Guru Granth Sahib, also known as ''Akhand Path Sahib''. Purpose The recital - (Path) is undertaken for various reasons. It can be in honour of a particular occasion; to ...

— continuous reading of ''

Sri Guru Granth Sahib The Guru Granth Sahib (, ) is the central holy religious scripture of Sikhism, regarded by Sikhs as the final, sovereign and eternal Guru following the lineage of the ten human gurus of the religion. The Adi Granth (), its first rendition, w ...

'', either in honour of a particular occasion or simply to increase one's feeling of connection to God. Akhand Paths can be held, for example, in honour of a birth/birthday, wedding/anniversary, recovery from a medical operation, death, or a historic occasion; to celebrate the achievement of a goal such as a graduation or passing the driving test; or in chasing away evil spirits and curses, etc. * Amrit Sanchar — baptism into the

Khalsa The term ''Khalsa'' refers to both a community that follows Sikhism as its religion,Khalsa: Sikhism< ...

tradition *

Antam Sanskar Antam Sanskar (Gurmukhi: ਅੰਤਮ ਸੰਸਕਾਰ ''atama sasakāra'') refers to the funeral rites in Sikhism. ''Antam'' (or ''Antim'') means "final", while '' sanskar'' means "rite". There are three major components of a Sikh funeral: ...

— funeral rites *

Naam Karan Naam Karan () refers to the Sikh ceremony of naming a child, typically conducted at a Gurdwara, a Sikh place of worship. The timing of the ceremony is flexible and not bound by a strict schedule. The well-being of both the mother and child is ...

— child's naming ceremony * Sadharan Paath

Sikh festivals

Bandi Chhor Divas Bandi Chhor Divas ( Punjabi: ਬੰਦੀ ਛੋੜ ਦਿਵਸ ; meaning ), also known as Bandi Chhor Dihara, is a Sikh celebration commemorating the day when the sixth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Hargobind, and 52 Hindu kings were released from G ...

— a celebration during

Diwali Diwali (), also called Deepavali (IAST: ''Dīpāvalī'') or Deepawali (IAST: ''Dīpāwalī''), is the Hindu festival of lights, with variations celebrated in other Indian religions such as Jainism and Sikhism. It symbolises the spiritual v ...

* Gurpurab — the celebration of an anniversary of a Guru's birth, particularly that of

. * Guru Ladho Re Diwas * Mela Maghi * Nagar Kirtan *

Vasakhi Vaisakhi, also known as Baisakhi or Mesadi, marks the first day of the month of Vaisakh and is traditionally celebrated annually on 13 April or sometimes 14 April. It is seen as a spring harvest celebration primarily in Punjab and Northern Ind ...

— a festival during late Spring

General Sikh culture

Dastar A dastār is an item of headwear associated with Sikhism and Sikh culture. The word is loaned from Persian through Punjabi. In Persian, the word ''dastār'' can refer to any kind of turban and replaced the original word for turban, ''dolband'' ...

— turban (''

pagri Phari or Pagri (; ) is a town in Yadong County in the Tibet Autonomous Region, China near the border with Bhutan. The border can be accessed through a secret road/trail connecting Tsento Gewog in Bhutan () known as Tremo La. the town had a popu ...

''); an inseparable part of Sikh dress that is mandatory for Sikh males according to

and the ''

''. * Diet in Sikhism *

Gatka Gatka (; ; ; ) is a form of martial art associated primarily with the Sikhs of the Punjab and other related ethnic groups, such as Hindkowans and Pahari-Pothwari. It is a style of stick-fighting, with wooden sticks intended to simulate sw ...

— Sikh martial art * Idolatry in Sikhism * Karah Parshad *

Khanda Khanda may refer to: Places * Khanda, Sonipat, a large historical village in Sonipat district of Haryana, India * Khanda, Jind, a village in Jind district of Haryana, India * Khanda Kheri, a village in Hansi Tehsil of Hisar district of Haryana, ...

— an Indian-double edged sword that is used as the primary symbol of the Sikh faith. It appears on the

Nishan Sahib The Nishan Sahib (), also known as the Sikh flag, is used to represent the Sikh people worldwide. In 1936, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee ratified the Rehat, Sikh Rehet Maryada, which states its colour as either basanti (xanthic) ...

that flies over gurdwaras. *

— musical recitation *

Nanakshahi calendar The Nanakshahi calendar () is a tropical solar calendar used in Sikhism. It is based on the " Barah Maha" (Twelve Months), a composition composed by the Sikh gurus reflecting the changes in nature conveyed in the twelve-month cycle of the year. T ...

— the calendar used in Sikhism *# Chet *#

Vaisakh Vaisakh (Shahmukhi: ; Gurmukhi: , ) is the second month in the Nanakshahi calendar and the Punjabi calendar. This month coincides with April and May in the Gregorian calendar and to Vaisakha in the Hindu calendar and the Indian national calend ...

*# Jeth *# Harh *#

Sawan Sāwaṇ or Sāuṇ (Shahmukhi: ; Gurmukhi: , ) is the fifth month in the Punjabi calendar and the Nanakshahi calendar. Many Indian calendars started in different eras such as Shaka Calendar (national calendar of India) traditional Vikrama a ...

Bhadon Bhādõ (Shahmukhi: ; Gurmukhi: , ) is the sixth month of the Nanakshahi calendar and Punjabi calendar. This month coincides with Bhadra in the Hindu calendar and the Indian national calendar, and August and September in the Gregorian and ...

*# Assu *# Katak *# Maghar *# Poh *# Magh *# Phagun *

Punjabi language Punjabi, sometimes spelled Panjabi, is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language native to the Punjab region of Pakistan and India. It is one of the most widely spoken native languages in the world, with approximately 150 million native sp ...

Gurmukhi Gurmukhī ( , Shahmukhi: ) is an abugida developed from the Laṇḍā scripts, standardized and used by the second Sikh guru, Guru Angad (1504–1552). Commonly regarded as a Sikh script, Gurmukhi is used in Punjab, India as the official scrip ...

— the written form of Punjabi used in the Sikh scriptures (and in

Punjab, India Punjab () is a States and union territories of India, state in northwestern India. Forming part of the larger Punjab, Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, the state is bordered by the States and union territories of India, Indian states ...

, more generally) propagated by

and

. It is contrast to ''shahmukhi'', which is the Islamic script for Punjabi (used in

Punjab, Pakistan Punjab (, ) is a Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Pakistan. With a population of over 127 million, it is the Demographics of Pakistan, most populous province in Pakistan and the List of first-level administrative divisions by popu ...

). ** Sant Bhasha * Ragi — Sikh musician who performs hymns *

Sikhism and sexual orientation Sikhism has no specific teachings about homosexuality and the Sikh holy scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib, does not explicitly mention heterosexuality, homosexuality or bisexuality. The universal goal of a Sikh is to have no hate or animosity to an ...

Sikh geography

* Akal Takhat ('Eternal Throne') — nominal seat of Sikh temporal/political authority. *

Amritsar Amritsar, also known as Ambarsar, is the second-List of cities in Punjab, India by population, largest city in the India, Indian state of Punjab, India, Punjab, after Ludhiana. Located in the Majha region, it is a major cultural, transportatio ...

— the holy city of Sikhism, home to 1.5 million in the northwestern part of India. **

Harmandir Sahib The Golden Temple is a gurdwara located in Amritsar, Punjab, India. It is the pre-eminent spiritual site of Sikhism. It is one of the Holy place, holiest sites in Sikhism, alongside the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Kartarpur, Pakistan, ...

(or Golden Temple) — the holy shrine of Sikhs; the spiritual and cultural center of the Sikh religion, found in Amritsar. *

Anandpur Sahib Anandpur Sahib, also referred simply as Anandpur (), is a city in Rupnagar district (Ropar), on the edge of Shivalik Hills, in the Indian state of Punjab. Located near the Sutlej River, the city is one of the most sacred religious places in Si ...

— the birthplace of the

Khalsa The term ''Khalsa'' refers to both a community that follows Sikhism as its religion,Khalsa: Sikhism< ...

** Virasat-e-Khalsa — a Sikh museum in Anandpur * Goindval Sahib * Kartarpur — seat of

's first school. *

Nankana Sahib Nankana Sahib (; ) is a city and capital of Nankana Sahib District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is named after the first Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Nanak, who was born in the city and first began preaching here. Nankana Sahib is among ...

— birthplace of Guru Nanak * Patna Sahib * Samadhi of Ranjit Singh — a building in

Lahore, Pakistan Lahore ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Pakistani province of Punjab. It is the second-largest city in Pakistan, after Karachi, and 27th largest in the world, with a population of over 14 million. Lahore is one of Pakistan ...

that houses the funerary urns of Sikh ruler

Ranjit Singh Ranjit Singh (13 November 1780 – 27 June 1839) was the founder and first maharaja of the Sikh Empire, in the northwest Indian subcontinent, ruling from 1801 until his death in 1839. Born to Maha Singh, the leader of the Sukerchakia M ...

Takht Takht may refer to: Places Iran * Takht-e Olya, a village in East Azerbaijan Province, Iran * Takht-e Sofla, a village in East Azerbaijan Province, Iran * Takht, Golestan, a village in Mindasht County, Golestan Province, Iran * Takht, Hamadan, a v ...

Sikhism by country

* Sikhism in Australia *

Sikhism in Afghanistan Sikhism in Afghanistan in the contemporary era is limited to small populations, primarily in major cities, with the largest numbers of Afghan Sikhs living in Jalalabad, Ghazni, Kabul, and to a lesser extent in Kandahar and Khost. Sikhs have b ...

* Sikhs in Belgium *

Sikhism in Canada Sikhism is the fourth-largest religion in Canada, with nearly 800,000 adherents, or 2.1% of Canada's population, as of 2021. The largest Sikh populations in Canada are found in Ontario, followed by British Columbia and Alberta. As of the 2021 ...

* Sikhs in Fiji *

Sikhism in India Indian Sikhs number approximately 21 million people and account for 1.7% of India's population as of 2011, forming the country's fourth-largest religious group. The majority of the nation's Sikhs live in the northern state of Punjab, which is ...

Sikhism in New Zealand New Zealander Sikhs number over 53,000 people and account for 1.1% of New Zealand's population 2023 New Zealand census, as of 2023, forming the country's fastest-growing and Religion in New Zealand, fifth-largest religious group. New Zealand has ...

Sikhism in Pakistan Sikhism is an Indian religion and philosophy that originated in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent around the end of the 15th century CE. It is one of the most recently founded major religions and among the largest in the world with ...

Sikhism in Thailand Sikhism is a recognised minority religion in Thailand, with about 70,000–100,000 adherents. The religion was brought by migrants from India who began to arrive in the late 19th century. There are about twenty Sikh temples or Gurdwaras in the ...

* Sikhism in Trinidad and Tobago * Sikhism in the United Arab Emirates *

Sikhism in the United Kingdom British Sikhs number over 535,000 people and account for 0.8% of the British population as of 2021, forming the United Kingdom's Religion in the United Kingdom, fourth-largest religious group. According to the 2021 United Kingdom census, British ...

Sikhism in the United States American Sikhs form the country's Religion in the United States, sixth-largest religious group. While the U.S. Census does not ask about religion, 70,697 Americans (or of the total population) declared Sikh as their ethnicity in the 2020 U.S. cen ...

Gurdwaras

In India

The

(or Golden Temple) is the holy shrine of Sikhs; the spiritual and cultural center of the Sikh religion, found in Amritsar. The Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) is the organization responsible for the management of gurdwaras in the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh, and the union territory of Chandigarh Other gurdwaras in India include: * Gurdwara Bangla Sahib * Gurdwara Sri Tarn Taran Sahib * Goindwal Sahib

In the United States

* Gurdwara Sahib Fremont * Sikh Gurdwara - San Jose * Sikh Religious Society of Chicago

Gurdwaras in Pakistan

* Kartarpur — seat of Guru Nanak's first school. *

— birthplace of Guru Nanak.

Other gurdwaras

* Gurdwaras in Canada * Khalsa Diwan Sikh Temple (Hong Kong) * Gurdwara Sahib Klang (Malaysia) * Central Sikh Temple — the first gurdwara in Singapore * Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall (London)

Other Sikh institutions

Damdami Taksal The Damdamī Ṭaksāl, Jatha Bhindra(n), or Sects of Sikhism, Sampardai Bhindra(n) is an orthodoxy, orthodox Khalsa Sikhism, Sikh cultural and educational organization, based in India. They are known for their teachings of ''Vidya (philosophy ...

Guru Nanak Dev University Guru Nanak Dev University is a Public State University in Amritsar, India. It also offers many higher studies degree courses online. The university's campus is spread over . Campus Guru Nanak Dev University campus is spread over 500 acres (2 ...

* Guru Nanak Khalsa College of Arts, Science & Commerce *

Khalsa College, Amritsar Khalsa College ( ''khālsā kālaj'') is a historic educational institution in the northern Indian city of Amritsar in the state of Punjab (India), Punjab, India. Founded in 1892, the sprawling campus is located about eight kilometers from the ...

* Pingalwara * Satnam Trust *

Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund Sikhs (singular Sikh: or ; , ) are an ethnoreligious group who adhere to Sikhism, a religion that originated in the late 15th century in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, based on the revelation of Guru Nanak. The term ''Si ...

* Sikh Phulwari *

Sikh Reference Library The Sikh Reference Library was a repository of an estimated 20,000 literary works located in the Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) at Amritsar, Punjab which was destroyed during Operation Blue Star.Kaur, Jaskaran; Crossette, Barbara (2006)., http: ...

* Thai Sikh International School

Sikh politics, military, and administration

Organizations

* All India Sikh Students Federation * British Sikh Student Federation * Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee *

Ghadar Party The Ghadar Movement or Ghadar Party was an early 20th-century, international political movement founded by expatriate Panjabi s to overthrow British rule in India. Many of the Ghadar Party founders and leaders, including Sohan Singh Bhakna, ...

* Haryana State Akali Dal * Punjab Janata Morcha *

Shiromani Akali Dal The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) (translation: ''Supreme Eternal Party'') is a centre-right Sikh-centric state political party in Punjab, India. The party is the second-oldest in India, after Congress, being founded in 1920. Although there are ma ...

Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal The Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD) was a Sikh political party in India, formed after a split in the Shiromani Akali Dal. The party was led by Gurcharan Singh Tohra. SHSAD was founded by Tohra after he was expelled by the SAD Political A ...

** Shiromani Akali Dal (Amristsar) **

Shiromani Akali Dal Delhi Shiromani Akali Dal Delhi is a splinter group of the Shiromani Akali Dal. SADD emerged as a separate party on 22 February 1999 when a section of the Delhi unit of the Badal-led SAD revolted against the suspension of Ranjit Singh as the Akal Takh ...

** Shiromani Akali Dal (Democratic) ** Shiromani Akali Dal (Longowal) ** Shiromani Akali Dal (Panthik) * Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) — the organization responsible for the management of gurdwaras in the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh, and the union territory of Chandigarh * Sikh Manji — Sikh administrative unit *

United Sikhs UNITED SIKHS is a civil and human rights, humanitarian aid non profit organization and disaster relief non-governmental organization which is also a United Nations The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization ...

* World Sikh Organization

Military

Misl Major Indoor Soccer League has been the name of three different American professional indoor soccer leagues: *Major Indoor Soccer League (1978–1992), known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League *Major Indoor Soccer League (2001–2 ...

* Piri System * Sant Sipahi *

Sikh Empire The Sikh Empire was a regional power based in the Punjab, Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent. It existed from 1799, when Maharaja Ranjit Singh captured Lahore, to 1849, when it was defeated and conquered by the East India Company, Br ...

* Sikh Khalsa Army *

Sikh Light Infantry The Sikh Light Infantry is a light infantry regiment of the Indian Army.Sikh Regiment The Sikh Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army. It is the most highly decorated regiment of the Indian Army and in 1979, the 1st battalion was the Commonwealth's most decorated battalion, with 245 pre-independence and 82 post-i ...

Movements

Akali movement The Akali movement (IPA: ; known in Punjabi as the Akali Morcha), also called the Gurdwara Reform Movement, was a campaign to bring reform in the gurdwaras (the Sikhism, Sikh places of worship) in India during the early 1920s. The movement led to ...

* Babbar Akali movement *

Ghadar movement The Ghadar Movement or Ghadar Party was an early 20th-century, international political movement founded by expatriate Panjabi s to overthrow British rule in India. Many of the Ghadar Party founders and leaders, including Sohan Singh Bhakna, wen ...

Khalistan movement The Khalistan movement is a separatist movement seeking to create a homeland for Sikhs by establishing an ethno-religious sovereign state called Khalistan () in the Punjab region. The proposed boundaries of Khalistan vary between different gr ...

— a separatist movement to create a

Sikh Sikhs (singular Sikh: or ; , ) are an ethnoreligious group who adhere to Sikhism, a religion that originated in the late 15th century in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, based on the revelation of Guru Nanak. The term ''Si ...

homeland, often named ''Khālistān'' (, , 'Land of the

Khalsa The term ''Khalsa'' refers to both a community that follows Sikhism as its religion,Khalsa: Sikhism< ...

'), composed of the

Punjab region Punjab (; ; also romanised as Panjāb or Panj-Āb) is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia. It is located in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising areas of modern-day eastern Pakistan and no ...

of modern-day

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

and

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

. * Singh Sabha Movement

History of Sikhism

* 1469–1539 — Time of Guru Nanak *1606 —

Guru Arjan Guru Arjan (Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰੂ ਅਰਜਨ, pronunciation: ; 15 April 1563 – 30 May 1606) was the fifth of the ten total Sikh Gurus. He compiled the first official edition of the Sikh scripture called the Adi Granth, which later expande ...

executed succeeded bu Guru Hargobind who start the Sikh martial tradition. *1675 — Guru Tegh Bahadur executed for protesting for religious freedom *1699 — Khalsa Sajana Divas *1708 —

becomes eternal Guru *1710–1715 — Banda Singh's Raj *1716–1799 —

Sikh Confederacy The Sikh Confederacy was a confederation of twelve sovereign Sikh states (each known as a Misl, derived from the Arabic word مِثْل meaning 'equal'; sometimes spelt as Misal) which rose during the 18th century in the Punjab region in the n ...

**1752–1801 — Sukerchakia *1746 — Chhota Ghallughara ('small massacre') — a massacre of a significant proportion of the Sikh population by the

Mughal Empire The Mughal Empire was an Early modern period, early modern empire in South Asia. At its peak, the empire stretched from the outer fringes of the Indus River Basin in the west, northern Afghanistan in the northwest, and Kashmir in the north, to ...

, in which Jaspat Rai's brother Lakhpat Rai with the Mughal army killed an estimated 7,000 Sikhs died. *1762 — Vadda Ghalughara ('large massacre') — a mass-murder of unarmed Sikhs by the Afghan forces of the

Durrani Empire The Durrani Empire, colloquially known as the Afghan Empire, or the Saddozai Kingdom, was an Afghanistan, Afghan empire founded by the Durrani tribe of Pashtuns under Ahmad Shah Durrani in 1747, which spanned parts of Central Asia, the Iranian ...

, during the years of Afghan influence in the Punjab region. *1799–1849 —

**1845–46 —

First Anglo-Sikh War The First Anglo-Sikh War was fought between the Sikh Empire and the British East India Company in 1845 and 1846 around the Firozpur district of Punjab. It resulted in the defeat and partial subjugation of the Sikh empire and cession of Jammu ...

**1848–49 —

Second Anglo-Sikh War The Second Anglo-Sikh War was a military conflict between the Sikh Empire and the East India Company which took place from 1848 to 1849. It resulted in the fall of the Sikh Empire, and the annexation of the Punjab region, Punjab and what sub ...

*1897 —

Battle of Saragarhi The Battle of Saragarhi was a Last stand, last-stand battle fought before the Tirah Campaign between the British Raj, British Indian Empire and Afghans, Afghan tribesmen. On 12 September 1897, an estimated 12,000–24,000 Orakzai and Afridi trib ...

— a last-stand battle during the

British Raj The British Raj ( ; from Hindustani language, Hindustani , 'reign', 'rule' or 'government') was the colonial rule of the British The Crown, Crown on the Indian subcontinent, * * lasting from 1858 to 1947. * * It is also called Crown rule ...

*1919 April 13 — Jallianwalla Bagh Massacre (or Amritsar Massacre) *1920–25 —

*1984 June 1–8 —

Operation Blue Star Operation Blue Star was a military operation by the Indian Armed Forces conducted between 1 and 10 June 1984 to remove Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and other Sikh militants from the Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib), a holy site of Sikhism, and i ...

— a military operation inside the Harmandar Sahib *1984 November —

1984 anti-Sikh riots The 1984 anti-Sikh riots, also known as the 1984 Sikh massacre, was a series of organised pogroms against Sikhs in India following the assassination of Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards. Government estimates project that about 2,800 Sikhs w ...

*2012 August 5 —

Wisconsin Sikh temple shooting The Wisconsin Sikh temple shooting was a mass shooting that took place at the gurdwara (Sikh temple) in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, on August 5, 2012, when 40-year-old Wade Michael Page fatally shot six people and wounded four others. A seventh vi ...

Battles

* 1621 — Battle of Rohilla * 1634 — Battle of Lahira * 1634 —

Battle of Amritsar (1634) The Battle of Amritsar was fought during Mukhlis Khan's campaign against Guru Hargobind and the Sikhs on 14 April 1634. The battle took place over two days and was a result of increasing tensions between the Mughal Empire, Mughal government and ...

* 1635 — Battle of Kartarpur * 1686 September — Battle of Bhangani * 1691 —

Battle of Nadaun The Battle of Nadaun, alternatively known as the Hussaini Yudh'','' was fought at Nadaun, between Raja Bhim Chand of Bilaspur (Kahlur) and the Mughals under Alif Khan. Bhim Chand was supported by Guru Gobind Singh (the tenth Sikh Guru) and t ...

* 1696 — Battle of Guler * 1700 — Battle of Anandpur (1700) * 1700 — Second Battle of Anandpur * 1701 — Battle of Anandpur (1701) * 1702 — Battle of Basoli * 1702 — First Battle of Chamkaur. * 1704 — First Battle of Anandpur (1704) * 1704 December — Battle of Sarsa * 1704 December 6 — Second Battle of Chamkaur. * 1705 December 29 — Battle of Muktsar * 1709 — Battle of Sonepat * 1709 — Battle of Samana * 1710 —

Battle of Sadhaura The Battle of Sadhaura was fought between Sikhs and the Mughal, Sayyid, and Shaykh forces in Sadhaura in 1710. The imperial forces were defeated and took refuge behind the city's walls. Banda's forces captured the fort and levelled it to the gro ...

* 1710 —

Battle of Rahon The Battle of Rahon was fought between Sikhs and the Mughal Empire on 11 October 1710. Background Banda Singh Bahadur captured almost half of Punjab, east of Lahore and became the ruler of a region in eastern Punjab from river Indus to Satluj. ...

* 1710 — Battle of Jalalabad * 1710 May — Battle of Chappar Chiri * 1710 December —

Battle of Lohgarh The Battle of Lohgarh was fought between the Sikhs, and the Mughal Empire in 1710. The Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah's army moved towards Lohgarh, Bilaspur where they engaged with the Sikhs to capture the fort on 16 December 1710. The battle is ...

* 1712 — Battle of Jammu * 1715 —

Siege of Gurdaspur The Battle of Gurdas Nangal took place in April 1715 between the Sikhs, led by Banda Singh Bahadur, and the Mughal Army, led by Abd al-Samad Khan. Background Reports about the Sikhs reappearing and winning battles in Panjab kept arriving at ...

*1715 April —

Battle of Gurdas Nangal The Battle of Gurdas Nangal took place in April 1715 between the Sikhs, led by Banda Singh Bahadur, and the Mughal Army, led by Abd al-Samad Khan. Background Reports about the Sikhs reappearing and winning battles in Panjab kept arriving a ...

* 1757 — Battle of Amritsar (1757) * 1761 —

Battle of Sialkot (1761) The Battle of Sialkot was fought between Durrani Empire and Sukerchakia Misl of Dal Khalsa in 1761. Background Ahmad Shah Durrani raided India and defeated the Marathas in the Third Battle of Panipat like he defeated them at Bararighat and Si ...

* 1761 — Battle of Gujranwala * 1761 — Sikh Occupation of Lahore *1762 — Battle of Harnaulgarh *1762 February 5 —

Battle of Kup The Battle of Kup (part of the Vadda Ghalughara, meaning "greater massacre") was fought on 5 February 1762, between the Afghan forces of Ahmad Shah Durrani and the Sikhs, under the command of Jassa Singh Ahluwalia and Charat Singh. Ahmad Shah ...

* 1763 — Battle of Sialkot (1763) * 1764 — Battle of Sirhind * 1783 — Capture of Delhi and Red Fort *1809 March–August — Gurkha-Sikh War * 1813 July 13 — Battle of Attock *1818 March–June — Battle of Multan *1819 July 3 — Battle of Shopian * 1834 — Battle of Peshawar * 1837 —

Battle of Jamrud The Battle of Jamrud was fought between the forces of the Emirate of Afghanistan under Wazir Akbar Khan, and the Sikh Empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh on 30 April 1837. The Afghans confronted the Sikh forces at Jamrud. The garrisoned army was ...

*1841–42 — Sino-Sikh War *1845 December — Battle of Mudki *1845 December — Battle of Ferozeshah * 1846 — Battle of BaddowalJacques, p. 93 * 1846 January — Battle of Aliwal * 1846 February —

Battle of Sobraon The Battle of Sobraon was fought on 10 February 1847, between the forces of the East India Company and the Sikh Khalsa Army, the army of the declining Sikh Empire of the Punjab region, Punjab. The Sikhs were completely defeated, making this the ...

*1848 November —

Battle of Ramnagar The Battle of Ramnagar (sometimes referred to as the Battle of Rumnuggur) was fought on 22 November 1848 between British East India Company and Sikh Empire forces during the Second Anglo-Sikh War. The British were led by Sir Hugh Gough, while ...

*1848 April–1849 January — Siege of Multan *1849 January —

Battle of Chillianwala The Battle of Chillianwala (also spelled Chillianwallah) was fought in January 1849 during the Second Anglo-Sikh war in the Chillianwala region ( Mandi Bahauddin) of Punjab, now part of Pakistan. The battle was one of the bloodiest fought by t ...

* 1849 —

Battle of Gujrat The Battle of Gujrat was a decisive battle in the Second Anglo-Sikh War, fought on 21 February 1849, between the forces of the East India Company, and a Sikh army in rebellion against the company's control of the Sikh Empire, represented by ...

*1897 —

People

Sikhs Sikhs (singular Sikh: or ; , ) are an ethnoreligious group who adhere to Sikhism, a religion that originated in the late 15th century in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, based on the revelation of Guru Nanak. The term ''Sikh'' ...

are members of the Sikh religion. A sangat is a society or congregation of Sikhs.

Titles and labels

* Amritdhari — baptized Sikh; anyone who has been initiated into the

Khalsa The term ''Khalsa'' refers to both a community that follows Sikhism as its religion,Khalsa: Sikhism< ...

, according to '' Sikh Reht Maryada''. * Brahmgiani — highly enlightened individual who has obtained the ultimate blessings of

. *

Granthi A Granthi (, ) is a person, female or male, of the Sikh religion who is a ceremonial reader of the Guru Granth Sahib, which is the holy book in Sikhism, often read to worshipers at Sikh temples called a Gurdwara. The name Granthi comes from the ...

— the Sikh that reads

* Gurmukh — a person who is spiritually centered. A person who lives within the will of God and accepts all good and bad that happens to one's self without question or annoyance. A gurmukh stands in contrast to a '' manmukh''. * Gursikh *

Gyani A gyani or giani ( Punjabi: ਗਿਆਨੀ ) is an honorific Sikh title used by someone learned in Sikhism and who often leads the congregation in prayers, such as Ardas, or in singing (kirtan). The word means "knowledge" in Punjabi, being ...

Jathedar A jathedar () is a leader of high regard chosen to head and ensure discipline within a jatha, a troop of Sikhs. In modern-times, the term is used to in-reference to leaders of Sikh spiritual organizations, such as any of the Panj Takhts. Hist ...

** Jathedar of Akal Takht * Kar sevak * Manmukh — a self-centered person, contrast to '' gurmukh''. A person who lives within the will of the Mind as opposed to the will of god. *

Nihang The Nihang (also spelt as Nihung lit. "Crocodiles") or Akali (lit. "Immortals"), also known as '' Dal Khalsa'', is an armed Sikh warrior order originating in the Indian subcontinent. Nihangs are believed to have originated either from Fateh Sin ...

— a warrior Sikh *

Nirankari Nirankari (, ''lit.'' "formless one") is a Sects of Sikhism, sect of Sikhism.Harbans Singh, Editor-in-Chief (201Nirankaris Encyclopedia of Sikhism Volume III, Punjabi University, Patiala, pages 234–235 It was a reform movement founded by Bab ...

— an offshoot of Sikhism *

Patit Patit ( Punjabi: ਪਤਿਤ ) is a term which refers to a person who has been initiated into the Sikh religion, but violates the religion's precepts and leaves it. The term is sometimes translated as apostate. Description Its legal definition a ...

— apostate *

Sahajdhari A sahajdhari (Punjabi language, Punjabi: ਸਹਜਧਾਰੀ ; Meaning "spiritual state of equilibrium adopter"; alternatively spelt as sehajdhari) Sikh is a person who believes in Sikhism but is not an Amritdhari. A Sahajdhari adheres to th ...

— unbaptized Sikh. * Sant Sipahi *

Sardar Sardar, also spelled as Sardaar (, , 'commander', literally 'headmaster'), is a title of royal family, royalty and nobility that was originally used to denote princes, noblemen, chiefs, kings and other Aristocracy (class), aristocrats. It ha ...

— a word contemporarily used to address or denote a turban-wearing Sikh male. The term initially used by Sikh leaders and generals who held important positions in various

Sikh Misls The Sikh Confederacy was a confederation of twelve sovereign Sikh states (each known as a Misl, derived from the Arabic word مِثْل meaning 'equal'; sometimes spelt as Misal) which rose during the 18th century in the Punjab region in the n ...

of the

. * Sevadar — one who volunteers for seva *

Shaheed ''Shahid'' ( , , ) denotes a martyr in Islam. The word is used frequently in the Quran in the generic sense of "witness" but only once in the sense of "martyr" (i.e. one who dies for his faith); the latter sense acqui ...

— title used before the name of a person who has died as a Sikh martyr. ** Saka Sirhind *

Sikh names Sikh names are the names used by Sikhs. The basis of Sikh personal-names are selected through the Naam Karan, naam karan ceremony. Nearly all Sikh personal-names carry religious meanings. The usage of Singh or Kaur in a Sikh name is mandated after ...

Kaur Kaur ( urmukhi/ hahmukhi ), sometimes spelled as Kour, is a surname or a part of a personal name primarily used by the Sikhism, Sikh and some Hindu women of the Punjab region. It is also sometimes translated as 'lioness', not because ...

('princess') — the middle name or surname given to Sikh females **

Singh Singh ( IPA: ) is a title, middle name, or surname that means "lion" in various South Asian and Southeast Asian communities. Traditionally used by the Hindu Kshatriya community, it was later mandated in the late 17th century by Guru Gobind Si ...

('lion') — the middle name or surname given to Sikh males *

Udasi Udasis ( Gurmukhi: ਉਦਾਸੀ ਸੰਪਰਦਾ; ''udāsī saparadā'') (Devanagari: उदासी संप्रदाय), also spelt as Udasins, also known as Nanak Putras (meaning "sons of Nanak"), are a religious sect of ascetic ' ...

— a religious sect of ascetic ''

sadhu ''Sadhu'' (, IAST: ' (male), ''sādhvī'' or ''sādhvīne'' (female), also spelled ''saddhu'') is a religious ascetic, mendicant or any holy person in Hinduism and Jainism who has renounced the worldly life. They are sometimes alternatively ...

s'' who were key interpreters of the Sikh philosophy and the custodians of important Sikh shrines until the

. Modern-day udasis consider themselves more to be Hindu rather than Sikhs.

Sikh Gurus

* Guru Nanak Dev — According to the traditional historical Sikh sources Guru Nanak Dev appeared on earth in the month of Katak Oct/November 1469 which is celebrated every year in the month of October/November. The SGPC which was founded in 1925, states the avtar date as 15 April 1469. The Sikhs believe that all subsequent Gurus possessed Guru Nanak's divinity and the one spirit of Akaal Purakh Waheguru. * Guru Angad Dev (1504–52) — disciple of Guru Nanak Dev and second of the ten Sikh Gurus. *

(1479–1574) — third of the ten Sikh Gurus. *

Guru Ram Das Guru Ram Das (Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰੂ ਰਾਮ ਦਾਸ, pronunciation: ; 24 September 1534 – 1 September 1581), sometimes spelled as Guru Ramdas, was the fourth of the ten Sikh gurus. He was born to a family based in Lahore, who ...

( 1534–81) — fourth of the ten Sikh Gurus. * Guru Arjan Dev (1563–1605) — fifth of the ten Sikh Gurus. He was arrested and executed by

Jahangir Nur-ud-din Muhammad Salim (31 August 1569 – 28 October 1627), known by his imperial name Jahangir (; ), was List of emperors of the Mughal Empire, Emperor of Hindustan from 1605 until his death in 1627, and the fourth Mughal emperors, Mughal ...

in 1605. *

Guru Har Gobind Guru Hargobind (Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿਗੋਬਿੰਦ, pronunciation: l 19 June 1595 – 28 February 1644) was the sixth of ten Gurus of the Sikh religion. He had become Guru at the young age of eleven, after the execution of his ...

(1596–1638) — son of Guru Arjan Dev and the sixth of the ten Sikh Gurus. * Guru Har Rai (1630–61) — grandson of Guru Har Gobind and seventh of the ten Sikh Gurus. *

Guru Har Krishan Guru Har Krishan ( Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਕ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਨ, pronunciation: ; 7 July 1656–30 March 1664) also known as Bal Guru (Child Guru),HS Singha (2009), The Encyclopedia of Sikhism, Hemkunt Press, , pp. 96–97 or Hari Krish ...

(1656–64) — son of Guru Har Rai and eighth of the ten Sikh Gurus. * Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621–75) — grand uncle of Guru Har Krishan and ninth of the ten Sikh Gurus. He was executed on the orders of Mughal Emperor

Delhi Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, but spread chiefly to the west, or beyond its Bank (geography ...

. *

(1666–1708) — son of Guru Tegh Bahadur and tenth of the ten Sikh Gurus. He named the holy scripture, as his successor *

— the spiritual religious text of

, said to be the sole and final successor of the line of gurus. It is the eternal living Guru. the final and eternal

guru Guru ( ; International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: ''guru'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian religions, Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: tr ...

of the

Notable people

* Pre-1400 **

Jayadeva Jayadeva (; born ), also spelt Jaideva, was a Sanskrit poet during the 12th century. He is most known for his epic poem ''Gita Govinda'' which concentrates on Krishna's love with the ''gopi'', Radha, in a rite of spring. This poem, which presen ...

— a Sanskrit poet who is the earliest-dated author of two hymns in the Guru Granth Sahib. *1400–1499 ** Bhagat Beni **

Bhai Mardana Bhai Mardana (; 1459 — 1534) was one of the first Sikhs and longtime companion of Guru Nanak Dev, first in the line of gurus noted in Sikhism. Bhai Mardana was a Muslim by-birth who would accompany Guru Nanak Dev on his journeys and became on ...

— Guru Nanak's constant Muslim companion, musician, and composer of Sikh hymns. ** Bhai Lalo ** Bibi Nanki — Guru Nanak's sister and often considered his first disciple. ** Sri Chand — Guru Nanak's son and founder of an early Sikh sect. * 1500–1599 **

Baba Buddha Baba Buddha (Gurmukhi: ਬਾਬਾ ਬੁੱਢਾ; ''bābā buḍhā''; lit. meaning "wise old man"; 6 October 1506 – 8 September 1631) was a prime figure in early Sikhism. Early life He was born to a Jat family in 1506 in the village of ...

— one of the most revered Sikh saints and anointer of several of the early Sikh Gurus. ** Bhai Gurdas — one of the most revered Sikh saints and writer of the Vars. ** Bhai Bala ** Mian Mir * 1600–1699 **

Panj Pyare Panj Pyare (, ', the five beloved ones) refers to a gathered ad hoc quintet of five baptised (''Amritdhari'') Khalsa Sikhs who act as institutionalized leaders for the wider Sikh community. Function The Panj Pyare are convened for pressing ma ...

(or Panj Piare; literally 'five beloved ones') — the title given to five Sikhs by

at the historic divan at

on 30 March 1699, forming the nucleus of the

Khalsa The term ''Khalsa'' refers to both a community that follows Sikhism as its religion,Khalsa: Sikhism< ...

as the first batch to receive at his hands '' Khanda di Pahul'' (i.e. rites of the two-edged sword). These five Sikhs were: *** Bhai Daya Singh *** Bhai Dharam Singh *** Bhai Himmat Singh *** Bhai Mohkam Singh ***

Bhai Sahib Singh Sahib Singh ( ; 17 June 1663 – 7 December 1704 or 1705) was one of the Panj Pyare (or the Five beloved ones). He was formerly known as Sahib Chand and was born into the Nai (caste), Nai caste (also transliterated as Naee) before being baptize ...

** Moti Ram Mehra ** Bhai Mani Singh ** Pir Budhan Shah ** Baba Bidhi Chand ** Bhai Kanhaiya ** Chhotte Sahibzade * 1700–1799 **

Banda Singh Bahadur Banda Singh Bahadur, born Lachman Dev (27 October 1670 – 9 June 1716), was a Sikh warrior and a Jathedar, general of the Khalsa Fauj, Khalsa Army. At age 15, he left home to become an Sannyasa, ascetic, and was given the name Madho Das Baira ...

** Baba Deep Singh ** Bhai Taru Singh ** Tara Singh Wan **

Jassa Singh Ahluwalia Jassa Singh Ahluwalia (3 May 1718 – 23 October 1783) was a Sikh leader during the period of the Sikh Confederacy, being the supreme leader of the Dal Khalsa (Sikh Army), Dal Khalsa. He was also Misldar of the Ahluwalia (misl), Ahluwalia Mi ...

Jassa Singh Ramgarhia Jassa Singh Ramgarhia (1723–1803) was a prominent Sikh leader during the period of the Sikh Confederacy. He was the founder of the Ramgarhia Misl. Early life Jassa Singh Ramgarhia was born into a Sikh family in 1723. According to W. H. McLe ...

* 1800–1899 ** Akali Phula Singh ** Baba Nand Singh ji ** Maharajah Ranjit Singh ** Nawab Kapur Singh ** Baba Ram Singh ** Pundit Tara Singh * 1900–1999 ** Bhagat Puran Singh ** G. B. Singh **

Baba Gurdit Singh Baba Gurdit Singh (25 August 1860 – 24 July 1954) was the central figure in the Komagata Maru incident of 1914, one of several incidents in the history of the early 20th century involving exclusion laws in both Canada and the United States d ...

** Giani Gurdit Singh ** H. S. Phoolka **Sant Baba Harnam Singh ** Ishar Singh **Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha **Bhai Randhir Singh **Giani Sant Singh Maskeen **Bhai Vir Singh

General concepts

* Brahmavidya — knowledge of the Divine * Vand Chhako — charity (or ''daan''); one of the three petitions, alongside ''naam'' and ''ishnan''. * Dasvand — 10% of earnings donated to the less advantaged. *

(abbreviated as ''bani'') — verses; applied to any of the collective writings of the Sikh Gurus that appear in the

. *

Gurdwara A gurdwara or gurudwara () is a place of assembly and place of worship, worship in Sikhism, but its normal meaning is "place of guru" or "home of guru". Sikhism, Sikhs also refer to gurdwaras as ''Gurdwara Sahib''. People from all faiths and rel ...

(or gurudwara; literally 'God's door, God's place') — Sikh place of worship *

(or Ek Onkar) — One formless, genderless universal Lord called Wahguru * Ishnan — , purification of body and mind; one of the three petitions, alongside ''naam'' and ''

daan Daan or Da'an may refer to: People * Daan (given name), Dutch short form for Daniel * Saumya Daan (born 1982), Indian voice actor * Serge Daan (1940–2018), Dutch zoologist Places Mainland China * Da'an, Hengyang (), a township in Hengyang ...

''. * Jaap — recite. *

— earning a living honestly, without exploitation or fraud * Laavaan * Naam — remembrance of the Divine name **

—

on the name of God * Takhat * Tankhah — social offense, such as giving dowry, using liquors and intoxicants, raising monuments over graves, and associating with apostates.

Pop culture

* '' Chaar Sahibzaade: Rise of Banda Singh Bahadur'' * '' Sarbloh Warriors'' — a computer game based around Sikh resistance against Mughal rule * '' Singh Is Kinng'' (2008)

References

External links

Sikh Philosophy Network
An Online Sikh Discussion Forum
Sikh-heritage.co.uk
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sikhism 1 Outlines of religions Outlines

Scripture and literature

Scripture

Sikh literature

Associated terms

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Relation to other religions

Practices and culture

Sikh ceremonies

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General Sikh culture

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Gurdwaras

In India

In the United States

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Sikh politics, military, and administration

Organizations

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History of Sikhism

Battles

People

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See also

References

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