GUNVANTI, lit. a woman of becoming qualities, is the title of one of Guru Arjan`s compositions, in measure Suhi, in the Guru Granth Sahib (GG, 763). It follows Guru Nanak`s Kuchajl (lit. an awkward, illmannered woman) and Suchaji (lit. a woman of good manner). The term gunvanti is figuratively used

HAUMAI is a term which recurs frequently in the Guru Granth Sahib in reference to the spiritual state of those who .have not discovered the way of liberation and peace. Literally, the word means `I am`, implying egoism reckoned as a spiritual and moral disease. It is, says Guru Amar

HARCHANDAURI You see only Harchandauri (Mirage), there is nothing permanent. (Asa M. 5, p. 461) When you see it carefully, the world is like Harchandauri (mirage), therefore get only the gain of the meditation on the Name. (Asa M. 5, p. 402) It is said that the king Hari

AHANKAR (hankar as it is commonly pronounced in Punjabi) is a compound of Sanskrit aham (I) and kar (\'maker\') and means I-maker, i.e. what individuates the person as I. It stands for egotism, egoism, self conceit, self centredness, vanity or simply pride. Other synonyms used in the sacred texts of

BIHANGAM, from Sanskrit vihang which means a bird, is a term applied to wandering ascetics who lead a life of complete detachment. A Biharigam is a celebate who lives in poverty renouncing all worldly ties and follows the path of holiness. In the Hindu tradition, he, abjuring religious dogma,

DARGAHA, BHAI, a Bhandari Khatri, figures in Bhai Gurdas`s roster of prominent Sikhs of Guru Hargobind`s time, Varan, XI.28. According to Bhai Mani Singh, Sikhan di Bhagat Mala, Bhai Dargaha once complained to the Guru that some Sikhs when interpreting gurbanife into polemic. Guru Hargobind said that while reasoning