SANT, commonly translated as saint though not very exactly, for the English term, used in the adjectival sense `saintly` for a person of great holiness, virtue or benevolence, has a formal connotation in the Western culture, is a modified form of sat meaning lasting, real, wise and venerable. Sat

FIVE SYMBOLS, a set of five distinctive features or elements of personal appearance or apparel that set off Sikhs from the followers of any other religious faith. Any study of religious symbols involves a dual task: first, to explain the meaning of symbols not only in terms of their

PANGAT, from Sanskrit pankti (lit. a row, line, series, or a group, assembly, company), stands in Sikh terminology for commensality or sitting together on the ground in a row to partake of food from a common kitchen regardless of caste, creed, sex, age or social status. Pangat is thus a

TANKHAH, from Persian tankhwah, generally meaning pay or salary, has an additional, ironical connotation in Sikh vocabulary. The word in this sense means expiatory penalty levied upon a Sikh from breach of rahit, i.e. the prescribed code of conduct or of a vow religiously made. This use of the

GIAN (Skt.jnana), knowledge, understanding or consciousness, is what differentiates human beings from the animal world and establishes the superiority of homo sapiens over the other species. Nature has not only provided man with a qualitatively superior brain but has also endowed human mind with a dynamic inner stimulus called jagiasa

SAHAJ, in Sikh vocabulary, refers to a state of mental and spiritual equipoise without the least intrusion of ego; unshaken natural and effortless serenity attained through spiritual discipline. Ego (aharn or haumai) develops out of the undifferentiated primordial being as a result of the sociocultural conditioning factors that generate

ARTI is a form of worship of an idol or deity in which candles or earthen lamps are waved as a token of devotion; sometimes during the Arti, incense.jossticks, pieces of sandalwood are burnt and flowers showered on the object of worship. When Guru Nanak went to Jagannath Temple

ARJUNA In whose house, there are Arjuna, an aide-de-camp, Dhru, Prahlada, Ambrika, Narada, Nejai, Siddhas, Buddhas along with ninety-two sporting Ganas and Gandharvas. (Malar Namdev. p. 1292) Arjuna was the son of Kunti by god Indra. He was highly skilled in the use of bow, which he learnt under

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

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

DHARISHTA BUDDHI As fol Chandrahasa, Dharishta Buddhi was in great anguish, he himself caused to bum (destroy) his own house. (Nat M. 4, p. 982) The king Sudharma of a Southern State was attacked by a neighbouring king Kantuhal. He was slain in battle. His wife became a Sati