thumb|The primary Sikh term for God, "Waheguru", written in Gurmukhi script
Waheguru (, pronunciation: , 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.
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, into which the purified soul merges whilst evil is vanquished.
History
The hymns to Waheguru contained in Guru Granth Sahib have been composed by Bhatt Gayand. A golden mohur, known as a butki, issued by the Lahore Mint of the Sikh Empire from 1828 onwards features Waheguru inscribed thrice over in Gurmukhi.
Usage
The word is also used in Sikhism as a main mantra and is called gurmantra or gurmantar.
thumb|[[Hukamnama edict of Guru Gobind Singh addressed to the congregation ["sangat"] of Varanasi, dated 3 February 1708. The congregation is addressed as "Vaheguru ji ka Khalsa" and not as "my Khalsa" or "the Guru's Khalsa".]]
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.
See also
- Akal Purakh
- Ik Onkar
- Guru Gobind Singh
- God in Sikhism
- Mul Mantar
- Khalsa