ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>SI&#7748GH</TITLE> <style type="text/css"> .BODY { background-color: #EAF1F7; background-image: url('images/gtbh.jpg'); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed; background-position: center; color: #0066CC;} .C1{text-align: justify;color: #0066CC;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .BIB{text-align: center;color: #000099;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .CONT{text-align: right;color: #FF0000;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} </style><META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="SIDGH"> <META http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></HEAD> <BODY class="BODY" oncontextmenu="return false" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false"> <FONT ALIGN="JUSTIFY" FACE="Tahoma"> <p class="C1">&#65279SI&#7748GH, from Sanskrit <i>si&#7749ha</i> for lion, is an essential component of the name for a Sikh male. Every Sikh male name must end with 'Si&#7749gh'. Historically, this was so ordained by Gur&#363 Gobind Si&#7749gh on the Bais&#257kh&#299 day, 30 March 1699, when he inaugurated the <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257, introducing a new form of initiatory rites, <i>kha&#7751&#7693e d&#299 p&#257hul</i> The five Sikhs who from among the assembly had on that day offered their heads one after the other responding to the Gur&#363's successive calls were the first Sikhs who were administered by him the vows of the <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257. They were to adopt the five prescribed emblems, including <i>kesa</i> or unshorn hair and share a common end-name 'Si&#7749gh' in token of having joined the self-abnegating, martial and casteless fellowship of the <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257. After initiation, Day&#257 R&#257m had become Day&#257 Si&#7749gh, Dharam D&#257s Dharam Si&#7749gh, Muhkam Chand Muhkam Si&#7749gh, Himmat R&#257i Himmat Si&#7749gh and S&#257hib Chand S&#257hib Si&#7749gh. Gur&#363 Gobind Si&#7749gh, who had himself initiated at the hands of these five, received the name of Gobind Si&#7749gh. </p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Every male Sikh has since carried 'Si&#7749gh' as part of his name. This was a way of inculcating among the Sikhs a spirit of brotherhood as well as of valour. Wearing the distinctive symbols and clad and armed like a soldier with a flowing beard and a neatly tied turban on his head, a Si&#7749gh had been set high ideals to live up to. As subsequent events proved, Si&#7749ghs became a strong cohesive force admired even by their enemies for their qualities of courage and chivalry. For example, Q&#257z&#299 N&#363r Muhammad, who came in Ahmad Sh&#257h Durr&#257n&#299's train during his seventh invasion of India (1764-65), in his poetic account of the campaign in Persian, refers to the Si&#7749ghs in rude and imprecatory language, but cannot at the same time help proclaim their many virtues. In section XLI of his poem, he says : "<i>Si&#7749gh</i> is a title (a form of address for them). It is not just to call them 'dogs' (his contumelious term for Si&#7749ghs). If you do not know the Hindust&#257n&#299 language, (I shall tell you that) the word <i>Si&#7749gh</i> means a lion. Truly, they are like lions in battle and, in times of peace, they surpass H&#257tim (in generosity)... Leaving aside their mode of fighting, hear ye another point in which they excel all other fighting people. In no case would they slay a coward, nor would they put an obstacle in the way of a fugitive. They do not plunder the ornaments of a woman&#8230. They do not make friends with adulterers and housebreakers."</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As a rule, all Sikhs other than Sahajdh&#257r&#299s are named Si&#7749ghs even before the formal initiation through <i>kha&#7751&#7693e d&#299 p&#257hul</i> takes place. While 'Sikh' is a spiritual appellation, Si&#7749gh' has socio-political overtones in addition. In practice all Si&#7749ghs are Sikhs with the discipline enjoined upon them by Gur&#363 Gobind Si&#7749gh added. In sentiment, however, they are closer to the community as a whole and more active socially and politically. Their special status is recognized legally as well. Under the Sikh Gurdw&#257r&#257s Act, 1925, and the Delhi Sikh Gurdw&#257r&#257s Act, 1971, while all adult Sikhs are eligible to be registered as voters for election to the respective Gurdw&#257r&#257 Parbandhak Committees, only <i>amritdhar&#299</i> Sikhs, i.e. Si&#7749ghs, are qualified for the membership of these statutory bodies. Similarly, Sikh <i>rahit mary&#257d&#257</i> or code of conduct published by the Shiroma&#7751&#299 Gurdw&#257r&#257 Parbandhak Committee makes a distinction between <i>sha<u>kh</u>s&#299 rahi&#7751&#299</i> or individual conduct and <i>panthic rahi&#7751i</i> or corporate conduct. While the former applies to all Sikhs, the Si&#7749ghs must conduct themselves, in addition, according to the <i>panthic rahi&#7751&#299</i>.</p> </font> <p class="BIB"> BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"> K&#257hn Si&#7749gh, Bh&#257&#299, <i>Gurmat M&#257rta&#7751&#7693</i>. Amritsar. 1962<BR> <li class="C1"> Kapur Si&#7749gh, <i>Par&#257&#347arapra&#347na</i> [Reprint]. Amritsar, 1989<BR> </ol><p class="CONT">Ga&#7751&#7693&#257 Si&#7749gh<br></p><BR> </font><img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""></HTML></BODY>