Gurbani is a Sikh term, very commonly used by Sikhs to refer to various compositions by the Sikh Gurus and other writers of Guru Granth Sahib. In general, hymns in the central text of the Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib, are called Gurbani. Among Amritdhari Sikhs, a few texts from Dasam Granth which are read as Nitnem, like Tav-Prasad Savaiye and Chaupai, are also considered Gurbani. In Adi Granth, Gurbani is a sound which comes directly from the Supreme and the text is a written form of the same in worldly language and scripts. It is also called Guru’s Bani.
The Seni rebab, also known as the Seniya rabab is a plucked string instrument used in northern India that is said to have been developed by, and to have taken its name from, the notable musician Tansen in the time of the emperor Akbar the Great. It has "a large hook at the back of its head, making it easier for a musician to sling it over the shoulder and play it even while walking." It has been used in Hindustani classical music and religiously, in Sikh music. The rebab influenced the development of the sarod, another Indian musical instrument.
The Namdharis or Namdhari Sikhs, also known as Kuka, are a Sikh sect that differs from mainstream Sikhs chiefly in that they believe that the lineage of Sikh Gurus did not end with Satguru Gobind Singh (1666–1708) in 1708, as they recognize Satguru Balak Singh (1797–1862) as the 11th Guru of the Sikh religion, thus continuing the succession of Sikh Gurus through the centuries from Satguru Nanak Dev to the present day. Their 12th Guru is Satguru Ram Singh [1816–1885(disputed)], who moved the sect's centre to Sri Bhaini Sahib (Ludhiana) and is regarded as the first Indian to use non-cooperation and non-violence boycott in order to combat the British Empire in India.
Sikh music, also known as Gurbani Sangeet , and as Gurmat Sangeet, or even as Shabad Kirtan, is the classical music style that is practised within Sikhism. It exists in institutional, popular, and folk traditions, forms, and varieties. Three types of Sikh musicians are rababis, ragis, and dhadhis. Sikh music exists in various melodic modes, musical forms, styles, musicians, and performance contexts.
Rubab, robab, or rabab is a lute-like musical instrument. The rubab is the national musical instrument of Afghanistan; it is also commonly played in India and Pakistan, mostly by Pashtuns, Balochis, Sindhis, Kashmiris, and Punjabis. Variants of the rubab include the Kabuli rebab of Afghanistan, the Rawap of Xinjiang, the Pamiri rubab of Tajikistan and the seni rebab of northern India. The instrument and its variants spread throughout West, Central, South and Southeast Asia. The Kabuli rebab from Afghanistan derives its name from the Arabic rebab and is played with a bow while in Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent, the instrument is plucked and is distinctly different in construction.
A tabla is a pair of hand drums from the Indian subcontinent. Since the 18th century, it has been the principal percussion instrument in Hindustani classical music, where it may be played solo, as an accompaniment with other instruments and vocals, or as a part of larger ensembles. It is frequently played in popular and folk music performances in India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The tabla is an essential instrument in the bhakti devotional traditions of Hinduism and Sikhism, such as during bhajan and kirtan singing. It is one of the main qawwali instruments used by Sufi musicians. The instrument is also featured in dance performances such as Kathak. Tabla is a rhythmic instrument.
A Ragi is a Sikh musician who plays hymns (shabads) in different ragas as prescribed in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
Saidpur is a village in Sultanpur Lodhi Tehsil, Kapurthala district, Punjab, India, situated in the footsteps of Margalla Hills hardly at five minutes drive from the upscale neighbourhoods of the capital.
Dhadi, also spelled as Dhadhi, is one who sings ballads using Dhadd and Sarangi, the folk instruments of Punjab. According to Kahn Singh Nabha's Mahan Kosh the definition of dhadhi is "One who sings ballads of warriors playing Dhadd". Dhadis are a distinct group performers emerged in the time of Sikh gurus.
Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa was a Sikh Hazoori Ragi of Darbar Sahib in Amritsar, Punjab, India.
Rababi is a term used to refer to a player of the rabab instrument.
Balvand Rai also spelt as Balwand and Rai Balvand, was a poet mystic and rabab player in the court of Guru Arjan.
Daudhar is the biggest village in the Punjab, India, with a population of 28,345. Daudhar is divided into two parts; one is known as Daudhar Garbhi and another part is known as Daudhar Sharki. There are two Sarpanch in Daudhar. A historical Gurudwara of Guru Hargobind Sahib ji is situated in Daudhar. Pind Daudhar is famous for its Babe ke Medical College. Daudhar has a hockey team, football team, kabbadi team. Punjabi is the mother tongue as well as the official language of the village, predominated by the Jatt people. It is in Moga district, Block Moga-1. Daudhar is 16 km (9.9 mi) from Jagroan and 20 km (12 mi) from Moga.
Sikh sects, denominations, traditions, movements, sub-traditions, also known as sampardai in the Punjabi language, are sub-traditions within Sikhism that believe in different approaches to practicing the religion. All sampradas believe in the One Creator God typically rejecting both idol worship and caste systems. Different interpretations have emerged over time, some of which have a living teacher as the leader. The major historic traditions in Sikhism, says Professor Harjot Oberoi, have included Udasi, Nirmala, Nanakpanthi, Khalsa, Sahajdhari, Namdhari Kuka, Nirankari and Sarvaria.
Namdhari Guru Ram Singh is known to the Namdhari sect of Sikhism as the twelfth guru, whilst for mainstream Sikhs such as Damdami Taksal and Nihangs, he is regarded as a 'Saint' and not a Guru. He is credited as being the first Indian to use non-cooperation and boycott of British goods and services as a political tool. He was exiled to Rangoon, Burma (Myanmar) by the British colonial government of India on 18 January 1872. In 2016, the Government of India officially decided to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Ram Singh.
Bhai Baldeep Singh is a Ragi known for his Shabad Kirtan. He is a researcher and revivalist for conventional string instruments like Dhrupadi Rabab, Saranda, Tambura (Tanpura), Dilruba used for Sikh music since Guru's Times. He is an accomplished Pakhawaj Mridang Jori player. He is the founder and chairman of Anad Foundation organisation dedicated to Sikh music. He was an unsuccessful candidate of Aam Aadmi Party in 2014 general elections for Punjab state of India.
Satta Doom, also spelt as Satta Dum, was a drummer and author of eight verses found within the Guru Granth Sahib.
Balbir Singh was a Sikh Hazuri Ragi who sang and performed at the Golden Temple in Amritsar for 36 years. He was one of the last masters of traditional Sikh gurbani kirtan of the Golden Temple.
Satguru Jagjit Singh was the spiritual head of the Namdhari Sikhs from 1959 to 2012. Namdhari Sikhi emphasises purity, non-violence and the revival of traditional Sikh practices. Satguru Jagjit Singh led the Namdhari community for over six decades, promoting spiritual discipline, traditional music and environmental conservation.
Satguru Partap Singh (1882–1959) served as the spiritual head of the Namdhari Sikhs from 1906 to 1959. He was a staunch advocate for Sikh unity and the preservation of religious traditions. He organized the 'Guru Nanak Sarav Sampardai Conference' in 1934, bringing together various Sikh factions to promote harmony and mutual respect. Under his guidance, the practice of singing Gurbani in its original Ragas (melodies) got highly encouraged, and he established the Namdhari Vidyalaya (school) to nurture young musical talent and preserve Indic traditions.
