Glossary of Religious Terms H to L
-
HHH
- Hankar
- Pride, one of
the weaknesses.
- Hazare Shabad
- The common name
given to 7 Shabads from the Guru Granth Sahib and 10 from the Dasam
Granth.
- Haumai
- Pride and self
centeredness.
- Hola Mohalla
- Annual spring
gathering of Sikhs at Anandpur Sahib for sports contests, music and
poetry compositions. The annual celebration was initiated by Guru
Gobind Singh in 1680.
- Hukam
- The ordered
will of God.
- Hukamnama
- Instructions
issued by the Gurus, or other people in Sikh authority.
-
III
- Ik Onkar
- It is found
at the beginning of the Mul Mantra meaning Their is Only One God.
-
JJJ
- Jalous
- Outdoor procession
led by the Guru Granth Sahib and five Khalsa Sikhs.
- Janam Sakhi
- A bibliographic
account of the live of Guru Nanak, or other Gurus.
- Jap
- Devout repetition
of the divine name of God, or a scripture.
- Japu Sahib
- A composition
of Guru Gobind Singh read by Sikhs as part of their daily prayers.
- Jathedar
- The appointed
head of one of the five Sikh Takhts.
- Jhatka Meat
- Meat of an animal
which has been killed quickly with one stroke. Guru Gobind Singh dictated
that Sikhs can eat jhatka meat of any animal but cannot eat Muslim
Halal meat, where the animal has been slowly bled to death.
- Jivan Mukti
- The Sikh belief
that a person may achieve spiritual liberation during their lifetime
and not necessarily only on their death.
-
KKK
- Kachha
- Drawers or briefs.
One of the five physical symbols that a Khalsa Sikh must wear. It
is a symbol of self control.
- Kalyug
- An age in which
righteousness and godliness is forgetten.
- Kam
- Lust, one of
the weaknesses.
- Kanga
- Comb, one of
the five physical symbols that a Khalsa Sikh must wear. It is a symbol
of hygiene and discipline.
- Kara
- Steel bracelet,
one of the five physical symbols that a Khalsa Sikh must wear. It
is a symbol of restraint and rememberance of God.
- Karah Parshad
- A standard dish
served at religious ceremonies in the presence of the Guru Granth
Sahib and sanctified by prayers. It is a symbol of equality of all
members of the congregation.
- Karma
- The reward or
punishment of any action of man is given by Gods order according to
merit, God may give it or withhold it.
- Kaur
- Middle or last
name of a Sikh female. Mandatory last name for a Khalsa Sikh female.
- Kar Seva
- Term used to
describe any voluntary work carried out for religious purposes, especially
the building of gurdwaras. Also used to refer to the removal of silt
from the tank surrounding Harmandir Sahib every 50 years.
- Karta Purukh
- A name of God,
the Creator of all.
- Katha
- A religious
lecture on Sikhism.
- Kes
- Uncut hair,
one of the five physical symbols that a Khalsa Sikh must have. It
is a symbol of spirituality.
- Kesdhari
- A Sikh who does
not cut their hair, they may or may not be amritdhari.
- Keski
- Head covering
worn between the turban and hair by some Sikhs. Also worn by some
boys before they begin wearing turbans.
- Kirpan
- Sword, one of
the five physical symbols that a Khalsa Sikh must wear. It is a symbol
of the Sikh fight against injustice and religious oppression.
- Kirtan
- Musical rendering
of Sikh gurbani.
- Kirtan Sohila
- Collection of
3 hymns by Guru Nanak, 1 by Guru Ram Das and 1 by Guru Arjun. It is
recited as part of Nitnem at bed time and also forms part of the funeral
rites.
- Krodh
- Anger, one of
the weaknesses.
- Kurahts
- The vows of
abstinece that one takes on becomming a Khalsa. Not to cut your hair,
not to eat muslim halal meat, adultury, intoxicants.
-
LLL
- Langar
- Free community
kitchen found in all Sikh Gurdwaras. A cornersone of the Sikh religion
and a symbol of equality, it was instituted by Guru Nanak.
- Lawan
- Circumventing
the Guru Granth Sahib during the Sikh marriage ceremony. Also the
name of the four stanza composition by Guru Ram Das found on page
773 of the Guru Granth Sahib.
- Lobh
- Greed, one of the weaknesses.