"attracting over 100,000 Sikhs. Major Sikh temples feature a ""sarovar"" where some Sikhs take a customary dip. Some take home the sacred water of the tank particularly for sick friends and relatives, believing that the waters of such sacred sites have restorative powers and the ability to purify one's ""karma"". Upon a child's birth, the Guru Granth Sahib is opened at a random point and the child is named using the first letter on the top left hand corner of the left page. All boys are given the last name Singh, and all girls are given the last name Kaur"
"the words ""Singh"" (""lion"") and ""Kaur"" (""princess"") as surnames added to the otherwise unisex first names of men and women, respectively. It is also common to use a different surname after Singh in which case Singh or Kaur are used as middle names (Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Surinder Kaur Badal). The tenth Guru of Sikhism ordered (Hukamnama) that any man who considered himself a Sikh must use ""Singh"" in his name and any woman who considered herself a Sikh must use ""Kaur"" in her name. Other middle names or honorifics that are sometimes used as surnames include Kumar, Dev, Lal, and"
"that Sikhs ""self-identify as an 'ethnic minority and believe ""that they are more than just a religion"". Male Sikhs generally have ""Singh"" (Lion) as their middle or last name (not all Singhs are Sikhs), and female Sikhs have ""Kaur"" (Princess) as their middle or last name. Sikhs who have undergone the ""Khanḍe-kī-Pahul"" (the Sikh initiation ceremony) may also be recognized by the five Ks: Kesh, uncut hair which is kept covered, usually by a turban; ""Kara"", an iron or steel bracelet; ""Kirpan"", a sword tucked into a ""gatra"" strap or a ""kamal kasar"" belt; ""Kachehra"", a cotton undergarment; and ""Kanga"","
"Manmohan Singh) or as a middle name/title (e.g. Mahendra Singh Dhoni). When used as a middle name, it is generally followed by the caste, clan or family name. To avoid being identified by their castes or clans, several Sikhs append ""Khalsa"" to Singh (e.g. Harinder Singh Khalsa). Some Sikhs add the names of their native villages instead (e.g. Harcharan Singh Longowal, after Longowal). Originally, a common practice among the Rajput men was to have Singh as their last name, while Rajput women had the last name 'Kanwar'. However, now, many Rajput women have Singh in their name as well. A"
"Singh Singh (: ) is a title, middle name, or surname which originated in India. The word Singh means lion from the Sanskrit, the name is used as a surname to represent males and not females, it has been used as a word meant to represent the lion, it was adopted as a title by warriors in India, and mandated in the 18th century by Guru Gobind Singh for all Sikhs. It was later adopted by several castes and communities. As a surname or a middle name, it is now found throughout India and among the Indian diaspora, cutting across"
"intended to give women a sense of self-respect and warrior ethos. Singh is also used by some non-Sikh women because Singh can be the surname for several other cultural communities. It is the most common surname used by Sikhs. It is not mandatory to be baptized to include Kaur and Singh in the name. Kaur provides Sikh women with a status equal to all men. This was also intended to reduce the prejudice created by caste-typing based on the family name. Prejudice based on caste was still rampant during Guru Gobind's time (17th century). This particularly affected women who were"
"as female. And combining from the above defined excerpt from Guru Granth Sahib it can be easily concluded the temporal status of woman is higher than of man and they are equal only spiritually. A section of around a million adherents of Sikhism who live abroad in western countries keep only Singh or Kaur as their last name. This has caused legal problems in immigration procedures, especially in Canada with the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi, India for a decade stating in letters to its Sikh applicants that ""the names Kaur and Singh do not qualify for the purpose"
"issue a misunderstanding based on a ""poorly worded"" letter. Singh Singh (: ) is a title, middle name, or surname which originated in India. The word Singh means lion from the Sanskrit, the name is used as a surname to represent males and not females, it has been used as a word meant to represent the lion, it was adopted as a title by warriors in India, and mandated in the 18th century by Guru Gobind Singh for all Sikhs. It was later adopted by several castes and communities. As a surname or a middle name, it is now found"
"surname in addition to Singh or Kaur has been an administrative practice used by our visa office in New Delhi as a way to improve client service and reduce incidents of mistaken identity. This was not a mandatory requirement. There is no policy or practice whereby people with these surnames are asked to change their names, the letters that were sent out to Sikh clients in Delhi were poorly worded."" Kaur Kaur () in Sikhism is used as a surname by Sikh women. The tenth guru of Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh introduced Kaur and Singh, when he administered Amrit to"
"fashion of personal names followed by the family name or more commonly the South Indian pattern with the personal name followed with the phrase "" anak lelaki"" (son of) for males and ""anak perempuan (daughter of) for females. Examples of Sikh western-style usage where their full personal names followed by their family (or clan) name are: Harjit Singh Gill (for a male) or Harjit Kaur Gill (for a female). Examples of usage in the South Indian fashion would be: Harjit Singh a/l Jit Singh (for a male) and Harjit Kaur a/p Jit Singh. Abbreviations 'a/l' and 'a/p' are mostly eliminated"
"and should not depend on others. Sikhs are strictly against the caste system and many chose to use ""Kaur"" or ""Singh"" as a last names to push against the problematic caste system in India. There is only one God(Waheguru) in Sikhism and they are without form or gender, and everyone is equal in the eyes of god. Many Sikh women believe that this absence of assignment of code of conduct for a woman versus a man, proves that their religion is historically committed to gender equality. Presently, the culture doesn't always follow these traditions and equality is often more true"
"caste name. Some Sikhs do replace their original surname with their Khalsa name, but many retain their original surname and add the Khalsa name before it. Thus, a man born Sandeep Brar should become Sandeep Singh but more likely will become Sandeep Singh Brar. Similarly, a woman born Harjeet Gill should become Harjeet Kaur or Harjeet Kaur Gill. First Names Sikhs use a set of several hundred given names, all or nearly all meaningful, usually with a religious or moral theme. For example, Ujjal means ""bright, clean, holy"". The process of choosing a Sikh's first name, known as the Naam"
"Sikh names Sikhs have a given name and one or both of a surname and a Khalsa name. The surname may be a family name (based on the name of the ancestral village, ex. ""Khaira"") or a caste name. Despite that the Guru Granth Sahib prohibits the use of a caste system, different castes still exist today in some aspects of Punjabi culture; similarly to the Hindu caste system, this system is based on employment (ex. ""jatt"" signifies the farming caste). For example, Sekhon is a Jatt last name, as are Sandhu, Mann, Grewal, Mulay, Gill, kandola etc. On becoming"
"should also be made of some Tamil Christian families that have retain Indian names (as given and/or 'family' names) either instead of or alongside Western or Christian names, e.g. Vivian Balakrishnan. Some West and East Indian groups, such as the Gujaratis, Marathis and Bengalis, use family surnames, although the Gujaratis may choose whether to merge their father's name with the surname. Sikh men invariably adopt 'Singh' as their surname, while Sikh women adopt 'Kaur', as is their traditional practice. However, some Sikhs have also re-introduced supplementary family or clan names, thus instead of simply 'Charanjit Singh', an individual might adopt"
"Indian states like Maharashtra, official documents list the family name first, followed by a comma and the given names. Traditionally, wives take the surname of their husband after marriage. In modern times, in urban areas at least, this practice is not universal and some wives either suffix their husband's surname or do not alter their surnames at all. In some rural areas, particularly in North India, wives may also take a new first name after their nuptials. Children inherit their surnames from their father. Jains generally use Jain, Shah, Firodia, Singhal or Gupta as their last names. Sikhs generally use"
"a Khalsa (becoming baptized), the Sikh undertakes the obligation to wear the physical symbols of this status (the Five Ks) and takes the name ""lion"", usually romanized as Singh, if a man, or /kaur/ ""the Crown Prince"", usually romanized as Kaur, if a woman. (Note that Singh is spelled irregularly: it is written /singh/ but pronounced /siṅg) These names reflect the strong egalitarianism of the Sikh religion. The adopting of the Khalsa name is symbolic for being a member of a larger family or faith. These names were originally intended to replace the Sikh's original surname, which was often a"
"Sikha The sikha or shikha (; IAST: śikhā; ""crest""; Hindi चोटी (choTi)) means flame, powerful, ray of light, peak of a mountain. It is a name of Hindu / Indian origin, and is commonly used for females. It also means long tuft, or lock of hair, left on top or on the back of the shaven head of a male Orthodox Hindu. Though traditionally all Hindus were required to wear a śikhā, today it is seen mainly among Brahmins and temple priests.West Bengal it is called Tiki. Traditionally, Hindu men shave off all their hair as a child in a"
"of the lower castes adopted the title Singh. Bhumihars, who originally used Brahmin surnames, also started affixing Singh to their names. In Bihar and Jharkhand, the surname came to associated with power and authority, and was adopted by people of multiple castes, including Brahmin zamindars. Ahir (Yadavs) also characterized themselves as Kshatriya, and used 'Singh' as part of their name. People belonging to several other castes and communities have also used Singh as a title, middle name or a surname; these include non-Sikh Punjabis, Gujjars (e.g. Nirbhay Singh Gujjar), Marathas (e.g. Pratap Singh Rao Gaekwad) and Hindu Jats, (e.g. Bhim"
"a Tanoa when he received the news his son was born. A set protocol would be followed for the naming, but protocol is less strictly adhered to in this modern era. The names of Fiji Islanders of Indian ancestry provide clues to an individual's religion and caste, and to what part of India their ancestors came from. Muslims very often have names taken from the Quran, while Sikhs are almost invariably surnamed Singh (if male) or Kaur (if female). Contrary to a common misconception, however, not everybody bearing that name is a Sikh: the great majority are Hindu (such as"
"whose father's last name is Aulakh, would then become Harjeet Kaur Aulakh (meaning """"Harjeet, princess of Aulakh""""). In spite that this system is not permitted for Sikhs as it reinforces both tribalism and the patriarchy, it is the most widely used naming system amongst non-baptized Sikhs (and still prevalent among baptized Sikhs). Sikh girls take on last name of ""Singh"", a practice more common in larger cities. Many Sikhs use the sole ""Singh"" and ""Kaur"" (without any other family name). Baptism is not necessary to use these Sikh last names. Some believers maintain that this practice of naming without using"
"Singh Rana), Sikh Jats,(e.g. Maharaja Ranjit Singh),In Jats Jatwan Singh Malik use this title in 12th Century and Harveer Singh Gulia use this title 13th Century.The Jat community prefer Singh Surname as a medal Surname.The surname 'Singh' is used by many caste groups in Bihar. The name is also found among the Indian diaspora. For example, taking advantage of the fact that there was no reliable way to ascertain a person's caste, some of the low-caste Indian indentured labourers brought to British Guiana adopted the surname ""Singh"", claiming to be high-caste Kshatriyas. Singh is generally used as a surname (e.g."
"inspired artists who designed the Emblem of India. Singh is an ancient Indian vedic name meaning ""lion"", dating more than 2,000 years ago to ancient India. It was originally only used by Rajputs, a Hindu Kshatriya or military caste in India. After the birth of the Khalsa brotherhood in 1699, the Sikhs also adopted the name ""Singh"" due to the wishes of Guru Gobind Singh. Along with millions of Hindu Rajputs and numerous other Hindu martial groups today, it is also used by more than 20 million Sikhs worldwide. The appellation of the name Singh was used by the Rajputs"
"the word ""Singh"" or ""Kaur"" is ""manmat"" (Against the will of the Guru) and is prohibited in the Rehat Maryada (The way of living of Sikhs). Sikh names Sikhs have a given name and one or both of a surname and a Khalsa name. The surname may be a family name (based on the name of the ancestral village, ex. ""Khaira"") or a caste name. Despite that the Guru Granth Sahib prohibits the use of a caste system, different castes still exist today in some aspects of Punjabi culture; similarly to the Hindu caste system, this system is based on"
"“Singh”(middle name for all male Sikhs). This drop of the castes became problematic for some Sikhs who first tried to immigrate to Canada, as the immigration office didn't legally recognize ""Singh"" or ""Kaur"" as last names because they were ""too common"". The World Sikh Organization was outraged by this law as it required Sikh families to take back their caste names, thereby going against their faith. The World Sikh Organization was able to prove that there were several other immigrants who had common last names but where not forced to change their name, the policy got immediately reversed and was"
"pronounced that all Sikh women embody royalty, and gave them the surname Kaur (Princess). With the distinct Khalsa identity and consciousness of purity Guru Gobind Singh gave all Sikhs the opportunity to live lives of courage, sacrifice, and equality. The birth of the Khalsa is celebrated by Sikhs every Baisakhi Day on April 13. Baisakhi 1999 marks the 300th anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh's gift of Panth Khalsa to all Sikhs everywhere. Panj Pyare Panj Pyare (, ', literally the five beloved ones), is the name collectively given to the five Sikh men, Bhai Dhaya Singh, Bhai Dharam Singh, Bhai"
"expected to take their husband's family name upon marriage. The British required women to take on their husbands' names. Sikh principles believe that all men and women are completely equal. Therefore, a woman is crowned with great responsibility and can lead her own life as an individual, equal to men. She does not need a man's title to raise her own status. Saying this would go against the principles stated in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the religious text of Sikhism. Guru Nanak Dev Ji states: Also, Gurbani (the text from Guru Granth Sahib) addresses every individual (irrespective of gender)"
"communities and religious groups, becoming more of a title than a surname. It is one of most common surnames, and the most common surname in India, shared by 36 million people. The word ""Singh"" is derived from the Sanskrit word for horn the word is also synonymous with the male moustache, the word is exaggerated as a title for the lion (सिंह ""siṃha""). Several variants of the word are found in other languages: Originally, the Sanskrit word for lion, variously transliterated as Simha or Singh was used as a title by Kshatriya warriors in northern parts of India. The earliest"
"Singham / Singhai / Singai) is the Sri Lankan Tamil derivative. In northern and middle part of India as well as southern India Sinhraj/Sinharaj/Sinharaja or Rajasinha is also used, having the meaning Lion/Leo king. The more common surname Singh in India has same root. Jayasinghe and other surnames like 'Wijesinghe', 'Weerasingha', 'Edirisinghe', 'Singaiariyan' in Sri Lanka may also share this same root. Sinha is used as a surname by the Kayasthas of Bihar and Sinha or Singho by the Bengali Kayasthas. Sinha is also an unrelated name found in Brazil.Sinha moca is a Brazilian colloquialism that may be translated “miss”"
"lion-like face and claws. Singh is an ancient Indian vedic name meaning ""lion"", dating back over 2,000 years in ancient India. It was originally used only by Rajputs, a Hindu Kshatriya or military caste. After the birth of the Khalsa brotherhood in 1699, the Sikhs also adopted the name ""Singh"" due to the wishes of Guru Gobind Singh. Along with millions of Hindu Rajputs today, it is also used by over 20 million Sikhs worldwide. The Asiatic lion is found as an emblem on numerous flags and coats of arms across Asia, including on the National Emblem of India. The"
"hierarchical system which distinguishes groups based on social status, rank, wealth, and occupation. Most of India still follows the caste system despite some problematic implications it may have. People who are Sikh are strictly against the caste system as it breaks their religious principles of equality. Guru Nanak believed the caste system to be evil and dispelled peoples ignorance by saying “""anas ki jat sabhe eke paihcanbo - recognise all of mankind as a single caste of humanity”."" Many Sikhs have dropped their caste name and have chosen to have the surname of “Kaur”(middle name for all female Sikhs) or"
"of Narwar in the 12th century CE, and the Rathores of Marwar after the 17th century. By the sixteenth century, ""Singh"" had become a popular surname among Rajputs. It was adopted by the Sikhs in 1699, as per the instructions of Guru Gobind Singh. Singh is used by all baptized male Sikhs, regardless of their geographical or cultural binding; the women use Kaur. In the 18th century, several groups started using the title Singh. These included the Brahmins, the Kayasthas and the Baniyas of what are now Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. In the 19th century, even the Bengal court peons"
"common sex-neutral names or unisex names in India. Most Punjabi Sikh first names such as ""Sandeep, Gurdeep, Kuldeep, Mandeep"", ""Surjeet, Gurjeet, Kuljeet, Harjeet, Manjeet"", ""Harpreet, Gurpreet, Jaspreet, Kulpreet, Manpreet"", ""Prabhjot, Harjot, Gurjot, Jasjot"" and ""Sukhjinder, Bhupinder, Jasbinder, Parminder, Kulvinder, Harjinder, Ranjodh, Sheeraz, Hardeep, Kirandeep, Sukhdeep, Govindpal, Encarl, Rajan"" are unisex names and equally commonly given to either sex. Also, names derived from Dari Persian and Arabic, but not used among native speakers of those languages, are common among South Asian Muslims. Since Persian does not assign genders to inanimate nouns, some of these names are gender-neutral, for example Roshan, Parveen,"
"last name """"Kaur"""", meaning ""princess"". Filling an iron bowl with clean water, he kept stirring it with a two-edged sword (called a Khanda) while reciting over it five of the sacred texts or banis—Japji, Jaap Sahib, Savaiyye, Chaupai and Anand Sahib. The Guru’s wife, Mata Jito (also known as Mata Sahib Kaur), poured sugar crystals into the vessel, mingling sweetness with the alchemy of iron. The five Sikhs sat on the ground around the bowl reverently as the holy water was being churned to the recitation of the sacred verses. With the recitation of the five banis completed, ""khande di"