The Glossary is continually being updated to include
new terms. If there are any terms that should be included here and
are not, please email info@sarbloh.info.
Adi Guru Durbar/Granth –
Is the fore most Sikh scripture which is said to enshrine the spirit
of peace. Also refered to as 'Aad Guru Durbar', 'Sri Guru Granth
Sahib Ji', 'Guru Granth Sahib'
Abbeck – Ignorance. The dark side of the
mind.
Akand Kirtani Jatha (A.K.J.) - A personality cult
started by the followers of Bhai Randhir Singh. Also known as the
'Bhai Randhir Singh Jatha'.
Akal – Immortal Nirankar God.
Akal Bunga/Takht – The highest seat of Sikh
temporal authority declared so by the 6th Guru, Akali Guru Hargobind
Sahib in 1609. Traditionally only the Budha Dal Jathedar (leader)
was also leader of Akal Takht.
Akali – Worshiper of Akal. A high ranking
Nihang. See Akali Nihang.
Akali Nihang – Traditional warrior guardians
of Sanatan Sikhism.
Allah – Islamic name of the one true God.
Amrit (Amrit Sanchar) - Initiation ceremony new
warriors have to undergo to enter the Akali Nihang Singh Khalsa.
Babbar Khalsa International (B.K.I.) - The politically
active wing of the Akhand Kirtani Jatha, now on the terrorist list
since Al'Queda attack in New York.
Bbeck – Wisdom. The light side of man.
Bhagt/Bhagat – Devotee of Nirankar God.
Bhang – Cannabis. Employed by Akali Nihangs
as a pain represent drug on the battle field.
Bhujangi - Nihang warrior.
Bir Ras - warrior essence
Brahm – Highest Nirankar God.
Brahmin – Member of highest Indian cast.
Hindu priest. In Sanatan Sikh thinking irrespective of caste a person
who knows of Brahm.
Budha Dal - The 5th Takht and the superior of the
2 orders of Akali Nihang Singh Khalsa. The Jathedar (head) of the
Budha Dal is traditionally seen as the head of the entire Sikh Nation
and commander-in-chief of the Sikh army.
Chaktha/Jhatkha - "To kill with one blow".
Traditional method employed by the Akali Nihang Singh Khalsa to
kill enemies and also used to kill animals for food. Killing is
done using a variety of methods, from guns to swords.
Dasam Guru Durbar/Granth – First of the martial
texts of the tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh. Though it is respected
by the none-martial Sanatan Sikh orders Udasis, Nirmala and Seva
Panthis as scripture. It is only worshiped as equal to Adi Guru
Granth by the Akali Nihangs.
Deg/Degh – The cauldron of Sukha. See Sukha.
Dharma/Dharam – Universal divine law. The
true spiritual path.
Dumala - Conical turban worn by the Akali Nihangs
and the Nihang Singhs. The Akali Nihang Singhs in addition possess
a "Farla" (see below) at the top to distinguish them above
the Nihang Singhs.
Ferengi/Farengi - "Foriegner". Traditionally
referring to those of Europeans descent.
Har – Eternal God
Harimandir– The house of eternal God. The
Golden temple in Amritsar the most sacred Sikh shrine.
Faquir – Muslim holy man.
Farla/Farra - A loose piece of turban cloth adorning
the top of the Dumala (see above) worn by Akali Nihangs. The cloth
is always 'neela' (dark blue) in colour.
Koran – Muslim holy text.
Kyshatriya - Warrior caste, also refers to a way
of thinking, ie. "the way of the warrior".
Malesh - "Flithy", referring to foreign
tyrannical powers.
Matt – Individual egoistic thinking that
leads one to believe ones particular faith, philosophy is the only
true one. Egoistic thinking which denies the universal Sikh Dharma.
Moghal – The Muslim rulers of India in time
of Sikh Guru’s.
Mullah – Muslim clergy man.
Navatan - New/current
Nirankar – Formless God.
Nirmala – The pure one. The scholar order
of Sanatan Sikhism.
Phoola Singh – The legendary sixth leader
of Budha Dal Akali Nihangs and Akal Takht.
Prachin/Pracheen - Ancient/old
Puran – Eighteen texts relating ancient Hindu
myths and wisdom.
Ram – Hero of the Hindu epic Ramayana Rama.
A designation for all pervasive Nirankar God.
Sach Khand – Eternal abode of Nirankar God.
Salotar - Club, used to grind cannabis or to fight
enemies.
Salotari/Salotardhari - Weilder of a salotar.
Samparda - (traditional) order/school of thought
or collection of individuals with a purpose to propagate Dharam.
Sanjam Kiriya - Warrior yoga designed to increase
dynamism.
Sarbloh – All iron. Weapons of war. Martial
designation for highest God Nirankar.
Sarbloh Guru Durbar/Granth – The second of
the Sikh martial texts. Though it is respected by the none martial
Sanatan Sikh orders Udasis, Nirmala and Seva Panthis as scripture.
It is only worshiped as equal to Adi Guru Granth along side Dasam
Guru Granth by the Akali Nihangs.
Seva Panthis/Adan Shahi – The philanthropist
order of Sanatan Sikhs.
S.G.P.C. - Shromani Gurudwara Prabandak Committee.
A product of late 19th Century British-Raj nurtured puritanical
blend of Sikhism. Not recognised as having any authority by Sanatan
Sikhs.
Shastarvidiya - the 'science of weapons'. This
term refers to the ancient Indian battle artform of the Akali Nihang
Singh Khalsa (once also practiced by other warrior tribes and Indian
cultures, eg. Rajputs, etc.)
Shaheedi Degh - Drink to celebrate martyrs. A protein
drink made with almonds, black pepper,sugar,water, cardamoms and
cannabis (and sometimes rose petals) that is drunk to celebrate
the deeds of past warriors. See Sukha.
Shant Ras - essence of peace
Shardaee - Non-intoxicating drink made with hemp,
almonds, black pepper, sugar and water.
Shiva – Third of the Hindu demigods amongst
the triad of chief demigods who over sees disillusion of creation.
In Sanatan Sikhism the destructive aspect of Nirankar God.
Shudra/Sudra - Lowest of the 4 castes within the
Hindu caste system.
Sanatan – Most ancient. Most ancient traditions.
Eternal. Nirankar God. Alternative spellings: Snaatan, Sanatana,
Snatan, Sanaatan
Sanatan Sikhs – Traditional Sikhs as opposed
to British Raj institutions educated Sikhs the Tat Khalsa Singh
Sabhias.
Sri Kesgarh Sahib - 3rd Takht, situated at Anandpur
Sahib (Punjab, India) where the 10th SIkh Guru gave birth to the
brotherhood of the Khalsa.
Sri Patna Sahib - 2nd Takht, situated in Patna
(Bihar, India) the birthplace of the 10th Sikh Guru.
Sri Sach Khand Hazoor Sahib - 4th Takht, found
at Nander (Maharastra, India) where the 10th Guru, Akali Nihang
Guru Gobind Singh ji, ascended to heaven. Also it was here that
the Adi Guru Durbar was declared to be the Guru of the Sikhs.
Sukha/Sukkha – The giver of comfort. Strong
protein consecrated drink made with martial rituals, which has touch
of cannabis. A favourite drink of Akali Nihangs.
Takht - Seat of authority. Traditonally there are
4. They are: Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Sri Patna Sahib, Sri Kesgarh
Sahib, Sach Khand Hazoor Sahib and the Budha Dal. The Budha Dal
is traditionally seen as the 5th.
Tarna Dal - In 1734, Akali Nihang Kapur Singh split
the Akali Nihang Khalsa into the Budha Dal (superior and comprising
of older, wiser and battle hardened warriors) and the Tarna Dal
(comprising of younger warriors). The Tarna Dal was further split
into 5 groups.
Tat Khalsa – The original name of the Akali
Nihangs of the 18th century before they split into Budha and Tarna
Dals. A name later adopted by the British Raj Victorian institutions
educated Sikhs. Who sought to negate Sanatan Sikhism late 19th century
and so as Sikhism would accommodate British Raj.
Turk – Moghal. Hostile Muslim rulers or invaders.
NB the distinction between 'musalmaan' (none-tyrannical member of
muslim faith) and a 'turk', who is seen as one who (wrongly) uses
Islam as a tool for oppression.
Udasis/Udasi/Udaseen/Udasin – The oldest
order of Sanatan Sikhs and traditionally seen as the "missionaries".
Vaar - Ballad. One of the most famous compositions
are the Vaars attributed to Bhai Gurdas, scribe to Guru Arjan Dev
Ji (5th Sikh Guru).
Va-eh Guru – Wonderous Nirankar God. The
awe inspiring ineffable sublime truth and the Sanatan Sikh name
for ultimate truth/reality. There are various English spellings
that have/are being used in addition to the one used on this website
such as: 'Waheguru', 'Vaaheguru', 'Vaaheguroo', 'Vahguru', 'Vaheguru'.
Viriyam - an exercise regime incorporating circuit
training, weight training, stretching, etc. to aid increased strength,
agility, tolerance to pain, and mental clarity.
Vedas – The most ancient of Hindu religious
texts.
Vishnu – Second of the Hindi demigods amongst
the triad of chief Hindu demigods who preserves creation. In Sanatan
Sikhism, the preserving aspect of Nirankar God and one of their
designations for Nirankar God.
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