Page 8 - Gurmat Book 7

Lesson 3: What is Naam?

“Naam” in the literal sense refers to a name for the Almighty God. Guru Nanak
Dev Ji introduced “<>” to emphasize the oneness and uniqueness of God. Sikhs

refer to God as “ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ”. The word “ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ” was used by Bhai Gurdas Ji in one of

his Vaars:

vwihgurU gur mMqr hY jip haumY KoeI]

“Waheguru is the Mantar, meditating on which we lose the feeling of I-ness*”

The word “ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ” appears in Sri Guru Granth Sahib 13 times. It was used by two

Bhatts. They used this word in praise of Sri Guru Ramdas Ji. None of the Guru
Sahibs used the word “Waheguru” in their Bani in Guru Granth Sahib.

‘Waheguru Ji’ is the word used by Guru Gobind Singh Ji, in the Fateh or greeting

for the Sikhs.

vwihgurU jI kw Kwlsw] vwihgurU jI kI &iqh]

Gurbani in Sri Guru Granth Sahib is not written only for Sikhs, but for the whole
humanity. Guru Sahibs used the names used by other faiths such as rhIm, Alhu,

Kudw, hir, rwm, ikRsn. Names like ਿਹਰ, ਰਾਮ, ਹਰਿਸਨ have origin in Hindu faith, while

ਰਿੀਮ, ਅਲਿੁ, ਖੁਦਾ are from Islamic faith. In Gurbani these names do not refer to
any person, but to ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ.

It does not matter to “Waheguru” by which name we remember this Divine entity.

But we should do that with utmost love, respect and gratitude.

Here is a list of the names of Waheguru that occur in Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

There may be many spelling variations in these names.

hir, hrI, rwm, pRBU, gopwl, goibMd, dwqw, pRmySr, murwrI, krqw, Twkur,

AMqrjwmI, jgdIs, siqnwm, mohn, inrMkwr, ikRsn, vwihgurU, krqwr,

nrwiex, Bgvwn, bITl, rhIm, krIm, Kudw, Alhu[

Other names of Waheguru that used by Sikhs are:

Stepping Stones PSL Gurmat Sikhia Book 7G 2023 Edition Page 6