AHIMSA. The term ahimsa is formed by adding the negative prefix a to the word himsa which is derived from the Sanskrit root \'han\', i.e. \'to kill\', \'to harm\', or \'to injure\', and means not killing, not harming, not injuring. The commonly used English equivalent \'non-violence\' is inadequate as it

AI PANTH, one of the twelve sects of yogis, whose adherents worship Ai Bhavani, a tribal female deity, believed to be an extension of Sakti. Siva in the form of ardhanarisvara is said to have two forms represented by his own halves. His right side is the male whose followers

ANABHI, a Jain hierarch, who, according to Puratan Janam Sakhi, met Guru Nanak during his journey to the South. Anabhi addressed the Guru thus: "Eatest thou corn, old or new, consumest thou parched gram, and drinkest thou cold water without filtering to ensure absence of living organisms; yet thou

BAIRAGIS, or Vairagis, are a sect of Hindu ascetics, eschewing colour or passion and detached from all worldly allurements. Founded by Sri Anand, the 12th spiritual descendant of Ramanand, the sect comprises a class of nomadic penitents, living a secluded life of extreme poverty, wearing minimum of clothing and

JIVA or living being is not merely physical or material body (deha). It is not even biological or vital breath (prdna). Nor is it just a cluster of senseimpressions {manas), nor intellect {buddhi), nor ego {ahankdrd). The essence of jiva is something beyond all these. It is the Transcendent

LAKSHMlPUR, in Katihar district of Bihar, is predominantly a Sikh village and has a historical shrine dedicated to Guru Tegh Bahadur. The ancestors of the inhabitants of this village lived in Kantnagar, a flourishing port on the left bank of the River Ganga, and it was in fact this latter

MANAK CHAND JIVARA, a Patharia Khatri of the village of Vairoval, now in Amritsar district of the Punjab, was a devoted Sikh of the time of Guru Amar Das. He lovingly contributed the labour of his hands to digging the Baoli, or open well with steps going down to

RUP KAUR, BIBI, commonly believed to be the adopted daughter of Guru Har Rai, was, according to Bhatt Vahi Talauda, his real daughter born to Mata Sulakkhani on 8 April 1649. She was married, on 3 December 1662, to Khem Karan, son of Bhai Per Mall, a Dhussa Khatri

SADH BELA, near Sakkhar in the Sindh province of Pakistan, was a prominent preaching center of Udasi Sikhs. It was established in 1823 by Bankhandi (d. 1863), a leading figure in the Mihanshahi order of the Udasis. Sadh Bela still attracts Sahijdhari Sikh devotees in large numbers living in