VISHNU Remember Vishnu again and again; By remembering Vishnu you will never suffer defeat.(Gauri Bawan Akhri Kabir, p. 342) At whose door should I take refuge, Vishnu, Shiva, an adept, a Muni or Indra. One may give you kingdom, the other may take you to heaven, rare one among

AKALI DAL KHARA SAUDA BAR, an organization of Akali reformers working for the liberation of Sikh shrines from the control of conservative Udasi priests or mahants. The organization was originally called Khalsa Diwan Khara Sauda Bar set up in 1912 and comprised volunteers mostly from a cluster of villages

BUNGA, 5 km south of Kiratpur Sahib (31 °10`N, 76t)35`E) in Ropar district of the Punjab, claims a historical shrine Gurdwara Bunga Sahib, also called Chubachcha Sahib, dedicated to Guru Har Rai. Guru Har Rai, Nanak VII, complying with his predecessor`s instruction, continued to maintain at Kiratpura body of

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

LAHURA SAHIB GURUDWARA, GHAWINDI DISTT LAHORE The village called Ghawindi is on Lahore-Ghawindi road. It is two kilometer from Ghawindi and the shrine of Jagat Guru called Lahura Sahib is located in this village. Guru Nanak had come to this village from "Jahman" and stayed under the benign shade of

RAVI-SUTA (SUTA-BHAN) Why should they fear Ravi-Suta (the son of the sun) i.e. Dharmaraja whose mind is absorbed in the feet of the Guru. (Swayye Mahle Chauthe Ke, p. 1404) Dharmaraja was the son of Surya (sun), therefore he is called Ravi-Suta. Surya is also called Bhan, therefore\'Suta Bhan\'

ZOBEIR RAHAMA (1830-1913), Egyptain pasha and Sudanese governor whose name is mentioned in connection with the campaign for the restoration of Maharaja Duleep Singh to the throne of the Punjab, was a member of a family which claimed descent from the Quraish tribe through Abbas, uncle of Muhammad. He was

ALMAST, BHAI (1553-1643), Sikh preacher and head of a dhuari or branch of the Udasi sect, was born in a Gaur Brahman family of Srinagar (Kashmir) on 26 August 1553. He was the son of Bhai Hardatt and Mai Prabha, and was the elder brother of Balu Hasna, another

BENARES (BANARASA, VARANASI) .....They have rosaries around their necks and glittering jugs in their hands—they cannot be called the saints of Hari, they are the Thugs of Benares (Varanasi).(Asa Kabir, pp. 476) He lives on the bank of Asi rivulet in Benares (Varanasi). (Gond Namdev, p. 873) It is

GURDWARA, lit. the Guru\'s portal or the Guru\'s abode, is the name given to a Sikh place of worship. The common translation of the term as temple is not satisfactory for, their faith possessing no sacrificial symbolism, Sikhs have neither idols nor altars in their holy places. They have

LAKSHMI (LACHHMI or LAKHMI) All the gods make obeissance to Lakhmi (Lakshmi). (Bhairo M. 3, p. l] 54) The Lord, in whose house there is ever youthful Lachhmi (Lakshmi). (Malar Namdev, p. 1292) Lakshmi is the goddess of fortune. She is one of the gems (Ratan), which sprang out

SAKHI SARWAR, lit. the Bountiful Master, also known by various other appellations such as Sultan (king), Lakhdata (bestower of millions), Lalanvala (master of rubies), Nigahia Pir (the saint of Nigaha) and Rohianvala (lord of the forests), was the founder of an obscurantist cult whose followers are known as Sultanias or