RELIGION TERMS
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Gabriel (Christianity, Islam)
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This angel told Mary she would give birth to the Christ and later revealed the Qur'an through Muhammad (pbuh).
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Gandharva (Hinduism)
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Heavenly musicians who are demigods, sensitive, proud, handsome and amorous.
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Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand) (Hinduism)
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A Hindu reformer (1869-1948) especially guided by the Bhagavad Gita, who combined elements of Jainism (Ahimsa), Thoreau and Tolstoy, as well as the Sermon on the Mount and as pects of Islam.
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Gandiva (Hinduism)
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Arjuna's bow, a gift from the god offire.
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Ganges (Hinduism)
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The sacred river.
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Garuda (Hinduism)
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Vishnu's great eagle.
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gayatri (Hinduism)
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Metre used in Vedic hymns and especially a prayer to the sun.
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Gayatri mantra (Hinduism)
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'The mother of the Vedas' key verse of the Hindu scriptures given to a member of the twice-born castes at initiation to be recited daily.
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Gematria (Judaism)
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One rabbinical interpretation of sacred text based on numerical values of letters. This leads to the idea of scriptures as an oracle (compare with official use of Guru Granth Sahib).
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Gentile (Judaism, Christianity)
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People who are not Jews.
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Ghaflah (Islam)
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Negligence or forgetfulness of God which is either the root of sin or at least an impediment to spiritual realisation in Sufism.
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Gita (Hinduism)
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Shorter name of the Bhagavad Gita (the Song).
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God (All)
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For some Hindus the supreme reality is Brahman, and then there is Brahma (creator), Vishnu (Preserver) and Shiva (destroyer recreator) (who may be regarded as aspects of Brahman) and then many specific gods (like Ganesh or Hamuman). Islam calls God the God (Allah) and there is no associate deity (an unforgivable sin). The Jewish God might be named Gd (JHWV) and also has no associate deity. Christian God is trinitarian, and Christ is fully Man and fully God. The Bahai God is progressive (like Islam) and can be reflected in a manifestation of God, specifically Baha'u'llah, but not incarnation (God is still one). The Sikh God is one and a Guru and God is approached through activities of naming. The Pagan God is dual (male and female) or many. The Zoroastrian God Ahura Mazda is one but is in a dualistic battle with evil. Jainism accepts the divine principle as a potential in all beings but has no creator God or intervening God. Buddhism has transitory deities and supernatural helpers in some expressions but no God.
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Gompa (Buddhism)
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Tibetan Buddhists use it for 'a place apart' or 'monastery' but can apply to a part of the vihara. So the gompa might simply be seen as a meditation room.
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Gospel (Christianity)
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The first four books of the Christian New Testament or the 'good news' (literal meaning) in general.
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Granthi (Sikhism)
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One who performs the reading of the Guru Granth Sahib at religious occasions. This can be a man or a woman.
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Gregorian calendar (Christianity)
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A solar calendar established by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 and now widely used throughout the world. Use of BC (Before Christ) and AD (Ano Domini) are replaced by BCE (Before the Common Era) and CE (Common Era) but with the same dates.
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Grihastha (Sikhism, Hinduism)
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For the Sikh it is the point when all material and spiritual goals are realised. For the Hindu it is the second stage for the twice-born castes of being a householder and bringing up a family.
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Gristhi (Sikhism)
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This is the Sikh ideal of being married, having a family, earning a living by honest and socially useful employment, serving other people and worshipping God.
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Guna (Hinduism)
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The three qualities making up phenomena: sattva (law, harmony, purity, goodness - can say, "It is sattvic."), rajas (energy, passion - can say, "It is rajasic."), and tamas (inertia, ignorance - can say, "It is tamasi.").
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Gurdwara (Sikhism)
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Sikh place of worship. It means door, or house, of the Guru or gateway to the Guru.
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Gurmat (Sikhism)
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A general term for Sikhism, including the teachings of the Gurus.
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Gurmata (Sikhism)
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A resolution passed in a council presided over by the Guru or using the advice of the Guru.
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Gurmukh (Sikhism)
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Someone who has become God focussed and God filled instead of self centred (manmukh).
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Gurmukhi (Sikhism)
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The written script for Punjabi and is the original script for Sikh sacred writings as promoted by Guru Nanak and Guru Angad.
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Gurpurb (Sikhism)
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The anniversary of the birth or death of one of the ten Gurus, usually celebrated by an unbroken reading of the Adi Granth.
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Gursikh (Sikhism)
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A person deeply and sincerely devoted to the service of the Guru.
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Gurpurb (Sikhism)
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The anniversary of the birth or death of a Guru celebrated. The anniversary of the installation of the Guru Granth Sahib in 1604 and the deaths of the sons of Guru Gobind Singh.
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Guru (Sikhism, Hinduism, General)
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A spiritual mentor. In Sikhism of the ten historical leaders of the community, the Guru Granth Sahib or God himself. A Hindu religious preceptor who communicates knowledge and techniques enabling his chosen students to achieve spiritual liberation.
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Guru Granth Sahib (Sikhism)
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The sacred writings (made into a Guru) of the Sikhs being the Adi Granth and later additions.
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Gyani (Sikhism)
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A trained religious teacher in a gurdwara.
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