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Waheguru (ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ, pronunciation: ʋäːɦɪɡʊɾuː, literally meaning "wow guru", figuratively translated to mean "Wonderful God" or "Wonderful Lord") is a term used in Sikhism to refer to God as described in Guru Granth Sahib. It is the most common term to refer to God in modern Sikhism. The meaning of the word vāhigurū (usually spelled in English as Waheguru) is traditionally explained as vāh 'wondrous!' (Punjabi word analogous to "wow" in English), and guru, Sanskrit for 'teacher, spiritual guide, God', which taken together are said to carry the meaning, 'Wondrous Lord'. It is built upon an expression of awe and amazement of the divine. Another explanation for the term's meaning is that it refers to a great instructor whom takes away the darkness from their pupil and enlightens them. Waheguru is described and envisioned as a formless and omnipresent deity by Sikhs with whom a devotee is able to establish a personal relationship with by following the teachings of the Sikh Gurus. Waheguru is considered to be ultimate goodness in-which the purified soul merges into whilst evil is vanquished before it. The hymns to Waheguru contained in Guru Granth Sahib have been composed by Bhatt Gayand. The word is also used in Sikhism as a main mantra and is called gurmantra or gurmantar. "The world is a garden, Waheguru its gardener. Cherishing all, none is neglected; From all comes the fragrance put there by Waheguru–– By such fragrance is each known."The term also finds usage in the jaikara (battle cry), greeting, and parting phrase introduced by Guru Gobind Singh: "Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh" (translated as 'the Khalsa belongs to God and victory belongs to God'). This phrase is used in the Amrit Sanchar ceremony, the Sikh baptismal ritual for initiation into the Khalsa order.

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Related concepts (9)

Sikh gurus

The Sikh gurus (Punjabi: ਸਿੱਖ ਗੁਰੂ; Devanagari: सिख गुरु) are the spiritual masters of Sikhism, who established this religion over the course of about two and a half centuries, beginning in 1469. The year 1469 marks the birth of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. He was succeeded by nine other human gurus until, in 1708, the Guruship was finally passed on by the tenth guru to the holy Sikh scripture, Guru Granth Sahib, which is now considered the living Guru by the followers of the Sikh faith.

Waheguru

Khalsa

Khalsa (ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ, ˈkhaːlsaː, to be pure) refers to both a community that considers Sikhism as its faith, as well as a special group of initiated Sikhs. The Khalsa tradition was initiated in 1699 by the Tenth Guru of Sikhism, Guru Gobind Singh. Its formation was a key event in the history of Sikhism. The founding of Khalsa is celebrated by Sikhs during the festival of Vaisakhi. Guru Gobind Singh started the Khalsa tradition after his father, Guru Tegh Bahadur, was beheaded during the Islamic sharia rule of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.