World Religions: Sikhism

Adi Granth

Sikhism’s most important sacred text

Amrit

A special drink made from water and sugar crystals, used in the Khalsa initiation ceremony.

Gurdwara

A building for Sikh worship that houses a copy of the Adi Granth; the central structure of any Sikh community

Guru

A spiritual teacher and revealer of truth, common to Hinduism, Sikhism, and some forms of Buddhism

Haumai

The human inclination toward being self-centered rather than God-centered, which increases the distance between the individual and God

Hukam

the divine order of the universe.

Khalsa

An order within Sikhism to which the majority of Sikhs belong, founded by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.

Langar

A gurdwara’s community kitchen that is used for the preparation of meals for anyone who visits, regardless of religious or caste identity

Mukti

Spiritual liberation bringing on the eternal and infinitely blissful state of being in the presence of God

Mul Mantra

The summary of Sikh doctrine that comprises the opening lines of the Japji, Guru Nanak’s composition that in turn comprises the opening section of the Adi Granth

Panth

A term applied to any number of Indian (primarily Hindu) religious traditions.

Rahit

A collection of scripture that specifies ideals of belief and conduct for members of the Khalsa and, by extension, for Sikhism generally.