guru

ABCHAL NAGAR, more correctly spelt Abichalnagar (abichal, lit. firmly fixed, unshakably rooted), i.e. City Everlasting, is the name Sikh tradition lias given Nanded, a district town in Maharashtra. The place is sacred to Guru Gobind Singh, who passed away here on 7 October 1708. The shrine honouring his memory is treated as a takht, seat constituting decisive religious authority for the Sikhs, and is named Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib, Abchalnagar. The name was probably suggested by a Scriptural line abichal nagaru~gobind guru ka namu japat sukhu paia ram (rooted steadfast stands the City of the Master Lord where solace is attained by repeating the Name (GGS,pg 783), usually interpreted as referring to the City of Amritsar founded by Guru Ram Das, Nanak IV.

AGYA RAM, BHAI (Bhai Agya Singh, according to Sukha Singh, Gurbilas Dasvin Patshahi), a Sikh of Delhi, who accompanied Bhai Jaita, Bhai Nanu and Bhai Uda to carry from Chandni Chowk in Delhi to the Dilvali Mahalla the severed head of Guru Tegh Bahadur who was executed there on 11 November 1675. Bhai Jaita and Bhai Gurbakhsh were among the eye witnesses to this gruesome happening. According to Guru kian Sakhian, they returned to their homes muttering: "Glory be unto the Guru; glory unto his Sikhs." As the sad word spread, Sikhs poured one by one into Dilvali Mahalla and congregated in the house of Bhai Nanu.

AKAL, lit. timeless, immortal, non temporal, is a term integral to Sikh tradition and philosophy. It is extensively used in the Dasam Granth hymns by Guru Gobind Singh, who titled one of his poetic compositions Akal Ustati, i.e. In Praise (ustati) of the Timeless One (akal). However, the concept of Akal is not peculiar to the Dasam Granth. It goes back to the very origins of the Sikh faith. Guru Nanak used the term in the Mul Mantra, the fundamental creedal statement in the Japu, the first composition in the Guru Granth Sahib.

ALAM CHAND was a masand or parish leader at Lahore in Guru Arjan\'s time. He was known for his pious and honest ways. He brought to the Guru regularly offerings collected from the Lahore sangat. His favourite maxim, tells Bhai Mani Singh in the Sikhan di Bhagat Mala, was that the use for oneself even of a kaudi, i.e. the smallest coin, out of the offerings was injurious to one\'s body as well as to one\'s soul.

AMAR SIDDHU, village 13 km southeast of Lahore along the LahoreKasur road, is sacred to Guru Hargobind (1595-1644),...

ANAND KARAJ, lit. joyful ceremonial occasion or proceedings is the name given the Sikh marriage ceremony. For Sikhs married state is the norm and the ideal; through it, according to their belief, come the best opportunities for serving God\'s purpose and the well being of humanity, and it affords the best means of fulfilment of individuality and attainment of bliss. Sikhism repudiates monkery, vows of celibacy, renunciation or the sannyas in state. Unlike in the West, most marriages among Sikhs, as also in India as a whole, are arranged.

ASA KI VAR, as recorded in the index to the Guru Granth Sahib, but commonly designated Asa di Var, lit. an ode (var) in the musical measure Asa, is a composition by Guru Nanak sung by musicians at Sikh congregations as part of the early morning service. Asa is the raga of predawn hours and the custom of reciting the hymn at morning time is traced to the days of Guru Nanak himself. It is said that Bhai Lahina (later, Guru Arigad) was the first to sing it in the presence of Guru Nanak.

AMRIT VELA: Amrit Vela means hour before the dawn of the day. In Sikhism, there is no concept of auspicious hour or moment . A Sikh, however, is supposed to get up before the dawn of the day and have shower before his daily worship and prayer. It does not mean that meditation at other times is less auspicious.

\'Anand\', which the Sikhs reverently call Anand Saheb is among the most popular compositions of Guru Amardas, the third of the ten Sikh gurus. This important composition constitutes on significant part of the daily liturgical recitations prescribed for the Sikhs. The compositions of Guru Amardas in general, and Anand in particular, expresses deep spiritual experiences couched in simple, unembellished diction. The guru is a master at blending profound philosophical tenor with enchanting lyricism in metaphors which are homely, and images that are drawn from everyday life.

BAHADURGARH, Fort, 9 km northeast of Patiala (30° 20\'N, 76° 26\'E), marks the site of the old Saifabad Fort, the residence of Nawab Saif ud-Din Mahmud or Saif Khan. The Fort was acquired by Raja Amar Singh (1748-82) of Patiala in 1774 and was reconstructed by Maharaja Karam Singh (1798-1845) in 1837. The latter renamed it Bahadurgarh after Guru Tegh Bahadur who had visited the place more than once. Maharaja Karam Singh also raised two gurdwaras, one outside the Fort and the other inside it, both honouring the memory of Guru Tegh Bahadur.