KathrinChick016 at 18:13, 15 October 2025

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{{Short description|Religious slogans in Indic religions}}
'''Jaikara''' is a term used to refer to religious slogans practiced in [[Indian religions|Indic religions]]. They are usually shouted in a group-setting as a devotional practice. Jaikaras can be found in both [[Hinduism]] and [[Sikhism]].

== Hinduism ==
In [[Hinduism]], there are [[Shaktism|Shaktist]] jaikaras to pay deference to specific [[Hindu deities|Indic goddesses]], known as ''Maa Aap Bulandi''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=R. |title=Understanding Culture and Society in India: A Study of Sufis, Saints and Deities in Jammu Region |date=Jun 26, 2021 |publisher=Springer Nature |isbn=9789811615986 |editor-last=Chauhan |editor-first=Abha |pages=165–166 |chapter=8: Mata's Call and Sacred Slogans (''Jaikara'')}}</ref> They are often shouted together as a group amongst devotees and sometimes in specific scenarios, such being in the midst of a religious trek.<ref name=":0" /> They are believed to encourage the congregation and strengthen their resolve, it is also way of expressing devotion to a particular deity.<ref name=":0" /> However, jaikaras can also be chanted when alone or when two groups of pilgrims cross paths with one another.<ref name=":0" />

Common Hindu jaikaras are as follows:

* ''Jai mata di'' ("victory of the Mother Goddess")<ref name=":0" />
* ''Jaikara sheranwali da'' ("salutations to the Divine Mother whose mount is a lion")<ref name=":0" />
* ''Sanchey Darbar Ki Jai'' ("obeisance to the sacred court")<ref name=":0" />

== Sikhism ==
Amongst [[Sikhs|Sikh]], the jaikaras function as a [[Battle cry|battle-cry]], described as being a "shout of victory" or "war-cry" slogan, also referred to as a ''fateh''.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Lum |first=Kathryn |title=Young Sikhs in a Global World: Negotiating Traditions, Identities and Authorities |date=Mar 9, 2016 |publisher=Routledge |others=Knut A. Jacobsen, Kristina Myrvold |isbn=9781134790883 |pages=187 |chapter=8: Caste, Religion, and Community Assertion: A Case Study of the Ravidasias in Spain}}</ref>{{Rp|page=187}}<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Jagraj |title=A Complete Guide to Sikhism |publisher=Unistar Books |year=2009 |isbn=9788171427543 |pages=74}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last1=Fenech |first1=Louis E. |title=Dealing with Deities: The Ritual Vow in South Asia |last2=Singh |first2=Pashaura |date=Feb 1, 2012 |publisher=State University of New York Press |isbn=9780791482001 |editor-last=Raj |editor-first=Selva J. |pages=206–207 |chapter=Vows in the Sikh Tradition |editor-last2=Harman |editor-first2=William P.}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Bassi |first=Tripti |title=A Study of the Sikh Kanya Mahavidyalaya: Education, Religion and Gender Issues |date=Jul 1, 2021 |publisher=Springer Nature |isbn=9789811632198 |pages=144 |chapter=8: Gurmat: Religious Pedagogy and Socialization}}</ref> Jaikaras are said to conclude Sikh religious services.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" /> They are used as phrasal slogans of respect, appraise, or obeisance and its purpose is a mixture of spirituality, euphoria, and preparation.<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last=Dilgeer |first=Harjinder Singh |title=The Sikh Reference Book |publisher=The Sikh Educational Trust |year=1997 |isbn=9780969596424 |edition=1st |pages=42, 52}}</ref> A common Sikh jaikara is: ''[[Bole So Nihal|Jo bole So Nihal]]'', ''[[Sat Sri Akaal|Sat Sri Akal]]'' ("Blessed is the person who says God is Truth") and was used in-battle.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":2" /> They are often uttered as a huzza shouted together in a group.<ref name=":2" /> Jaikara slogans are called-out at the end of a Sikh religious service, being a critical part of them to mark an end of the program.<ref name=":3" /> It additionally functions as an pledge to follow the path of truth.<ref name=":3" /> A common practice during Sikh deliberations is to close the debate and go with the last suggestion after a particularly lively jaikara is shouted.<ref name=":3" /> Jaikaras can also function as greetings.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" />

According to [[Harjinder Singh Dilgeer]], the original form of the ''bole so nihal'' jaikara may have been: ''Jo jaikara bulaavai guru de man nun bhaavai; gaij ke bolnaa ji Akaal! Akaal! Akaal!''<ref name=":5" /> He further claims this original phrase was shorterned simply to ''(Jo) bole so nihal, sat sri akal'' and that it should not be used as a greeting.<ref name=":5" /> Another Sikh jaikara, used to greet another Sikh, is ''[[Waheguru|Waheguru ji ka (da) Khalsa Waheguru ji ki (di) Fateh]]''.<ref name=":5" /> Banda Singh Bahadur is charged with attempting to change the standard Sikh jaikara to ''Fateh Darshan''.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" />

Some other popular Sikh jakaras are as follows:{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

* ''Bolna[[-ji|ji]]'' (Respectfully Utter) – ''Waheguru'' ([[Waheguru|Wondrous Enlightener]]){{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}
* ''[[Deg Tegh Fateh|Deg Teg Fateh]]'' (Victory to Charity and Arms) – ''Birdh ki Paij'' ''Panth ki jit'' ([[Rout]] of the Enemy Victory of the Sikh [[Panth|Path]]){{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}
* ''[[Bole So Nihal]]...[[Sat Sri Akaal]]'' ("Shout Aloud in Ecstasy... True is the Great [[Akal Purakh|Timeless One]]"){{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}
* ''Nanak naam [[Charhdi Kala|charhdi kalaa]]'' (May [[God in Sikhism|Thy]] name be exalted O [[Nanak]]) – ''Tere'' ''bhaanae sarbatt daa bhalaa'' (and all people prosper by Thy grace){{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}
* ''[[Waheguru|Waheguru ji ka Khalsa]]'' (the Community of the [[Khalsa|Pure]] belongs to the Wondrous Enlightener) – [[Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh|''Waheguru ji ki Fateh'']] (Victory belongs to the Wondrous Enlightener){{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}
* ''[[Raj Karega Khalsa]]'' – (The Khalsa will rule) Aaakki Rahe Na Koye (And no opponent will remain)<ref>{{cite web |title=ਆਕੀ - Meaning in English - ਆਕੀ Translation in English |url=https://www.shabdkosh.com/dictionary/punjabi-english/%E0%A8%86%E0%A8%95%E0%A9%80/%E0%A8%86%E0%A8%95%E0%A9%80-meaning-in-english}}</ref>
* ''Gaj ke jaikara gajaave fateh paave nihaal ho jaavae, Sat Sri Akaal gurbaar akaal hee akaal''|| (excerpt from [[ardas]] of ''[[Nihang|Buddha Dal]]'' prayerbook (gutka) praising the blessing of uttering jaikara proclaiming supreme truth){{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}
* ''[[Fateh Singh Ke Jathe Singh]]''
* ''Fateh Darshan'' (meaning 'bear witness to the victory'), historical jaikara used by the Bandai sect (followers of Banda Singh Bahadur)<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Bandai Sikhs |url=http://www.philtar.ac.uk/encyclopedia/sikhism/bandai.html |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=Division of Religion and Philosophy - University of Cumbria (www.philtar.ac.uk) |quote=Some Bandai Sikhs believed Banda to be the eleventh Guru. ... His followers were known as Bandai Sikhs. Some sources indicate that an argument arose within the Panth between Bandai Sikhs and Mata Sundari (Gobind's widow who represented the Tat Khalsa), implying that Banda wanted to introduce a new slogan 'Fateh Darshan' (victory to the Presence), change the Khalsa's blue clothing for red and an insistence on vegetarianism.}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite book |last=Singh Madra |first=Amandeep |title=Sicques, Tigers or Thieves : Eyewitness Accounts of the Sikhs (1606-1810). |date=2016 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |others=P. Singh |isbn=978-1-137-11998-8 |location=New York |pages=11 |oclc=1083462581 |quote=Banda Bahadur clearly riled the Mughal authorities with his peasant revolution but he also antagonized large numbers of the Khalsa. He was accused, in his own lifetime, of creating a schism within the united Khalsa by his innovations of the accepted doctrine. To some, this was too much and they vigorously fought against him. One of these innovations was the adoption of the war cry "Fateh Darshan." This literally translates as "bear witness to the victory," an enormously haughty statement especially given that Guru Gobind Singh claimed "Vahiguru ji ki Fateh" (lit. "Victory belongs to the creator"). Not unsurprisingly, this change caused great agitation amongst the Khalsa. Wendel in his writings incorrectly, but consistently, refers to Banda Bahadur as Fateh Darshan or "Fate-dersan."}}</ref>

== Ad-Dharmis ==
The [[Ad-Dharmi|Ad-Dharmi movement]] of [[Punjab Province (British India)|colonial Punjab]] adopted the salutation ''Jai Guru Dev'' ("victory to the great God").<ref name=":12">{{Cite book |last=Kalsi |first=Sewa Singh |url=https://crp.leeds.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2015/09/kalsi1992.pdf |title=The Evolution of a Sikh Community in Britain: Religious and Social Change Among the Sikhs of Leeds and Bradford |publisher=Community Religions Project Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Leeds |year=1992 |isbn=9781871363036 |pages=125–147 |chapter=6. Caste and the Ravidasi Sikhs in Bradford}}</ref>

== Ravidassia ==
The [[Ravidassia]]s, a splinter-movement from Sikhism, have their own jaikara which differs from the mainstream Sikh one, which is as follows: ''Jo bole so nirbheh, Shri Guru Raviassi Ki Jai'' ("whoever utters the following phrase shall be fearless, victory to Guru Ravidas").<ref name=":1" /> The separatist faction of Ravidassias have coined their own jaikaras to mark their desired separateness from mainstream Sikhism.<ref name=":1" /> In Ravidassia temples, some orthodox Sikhs and Sikh-affiliated Ravidassias have criticized their adoption of a unique jaikara that is different from the mainstream Sikh one, leading to tensions and incidents.<ref name=":1" />

== References ==
<references />

[[Category:Indian religions]]
[[Category:Religious formulas]]

Jaikara - Revision history

KathrinChick016 at 18:13, 15 October 2025