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Glossary of Sikh terms |
| Naam | The divine Name, a summary term expressing the total being of Akal Purkh. | ||||||||
| Nam jap | Devoutly repeating the divine Name. | ||||||||
| Naam simran | The devotional practice of meditating on the divine Name. | ||||||||
| Nanak-panth | The community of Guru Nanak's followers, the early Sikh community. | ||||||||
| Nath tradition | Yogic sect of considerable influence in the Punjab prior to the Sikh Gurus. | ||||||||
| Nawab | Governer, lord or prince. | ||||||||
| Nirankar | 'Without form', a name of God used by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. | ||||||||
| Nirguna | 'Without qualities', formless, non-incarnated. | ||||||||
| Nirmala | A sect of celebaye Sikhs which commanded particular strength in the 19th century. | ||||||||
| Nitname | The Sikh daily liturgy. | ||||||||
| Pahul | The administration of amrit during the Khalsa initiation ceremony | ||||||||
| Pangat | Sitting in line, the custom whereby equality is maintained in the langar. | ||||||||
| Panj Piaray | The cherished five or beloved five, the first five Sikhs to be initiated into the Khalsa; five Sikhs in good standing chosen to represent the sangat. | ||||||||
| Panth | A 'path' or 'way'; system of religious belief or practice; the Sikh community. | ||||||||
| Paath | A reading from the sikh scriptures. | ||||||||
| Patit | A Sikh who commits one of the four cardinal sins or kurahits. | ||||||||
| Patka | A piece of cloth which fits snugly over the kesh, worn by boys and sportsmen. | ||||||||
| Pauri | Stanza of a var. | ||||||||
| Prasad | Sacramentally offered food. | ||||||||
| Raag | Musical mode. | ||||||||
| Rahit | The code of belief and conduct of the Khalsa | ||||||||
| Rahit-nama | A recorded version of the Rahit | ||||||||
| Raj karega Khalsa | "The Khalsa shall rule" | ||||||||
| Ramgarhia | A Sikh artisan group, prodominantly drawn from the Takhans or carpenters, but also including blacksmiths, masons and barbers. | ||||||||
| Ramala | A cloth covering Guru Granth Sahib Ji. | ||||||||
| Sabha | Society, association | ||||||||
| Sach Khand | The 'Realm of Truth.' The inner most part of 'heaven', the abode of God. | ||||||||
| Sahaj-dharai | A non-Khalsa Sikh, one who does not observe the rahit, 'slowlearner' | ||||||||
| Sanatan Sikhs | Conservative members of the Singh Sabha, opposed to the Tat Khalsa. | ||||||||
| Sangat | Congregation,
group of devotees. |
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| Sant | One
who knows the truth, a pious person, term used for a holy man, sadhu. |
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| Sant-sipahi | A 'Saint-soldier', the ideal Sikh, the Sikh who combines the piety of a sant and the bravery of a warrior. | ||||||||
| Sant tradition | A devotional tradition of North India which tressed the need for interior religion as opposed to external observance. | ||||||||
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