Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Sikh Naming

Sikh Names and Their Significance

In 1699, Sikh Women were given the last name 'Kaur' and and Men 'Singh' by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs. This initiate intended to end the caste system, social stratification and much of the apparatus of Hindu ritual and legalism. In Indian society, an individual's name reveals his or her caste, and Sikhs were freed from the caste system by having all men incorporate Singh in their names and all women, Kaur. Based on the premises of gender equality, Kaur was also given to Sikh Women to establish an identity independent of their father or husband.

Gender Neutrality of the First Name

Most Sikh first names are gender-neutral. For example, Harpreet could be a male or female's first name. What identifies Harpreet Kaur as a female is the word Kaur following the first name.
The literal meaning of the word 'Kaur' is Prince. It is believed to be a derivative of the word 'Kanwar' meaning Prince, whereas, 'Singh' is derived from the word 'Simha' meaning lion.(Reference)

Digg this

No comments: