A gyani or giani ( Punjabi: ਗਿਆਨੀ ) is an

honorific An honorific is a title that conveys esteem, courtesy, or respect for position or rank when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term "honorific" is used in a more specific sense to refer to an Honorary title (academic), h ...

Sikh title used by someone learned in

Sikhism Sikhism is an Indian religion and Indian philosophy, philosophy that originated in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent around the end of the 15th century CE. It is one of the most recently founded major religious groups, major religio ...

and who often leads the congregation in prayers, such as Ardas, or in singing (

kirtan Sikh ''kirta''n with Indian harmoniums and '' Kenya.html" ;"title="tabla'' drums (a common and popular pairing), in Kenya">tabla'' drums (a common and popular pairing), in Kenya (1960s) ''Kirtana'' (; ), also rendered as ''Kiirtan'', ''Kirt ...

). The word means "knowledge" in Punjabi, being a derivative of the

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...

word . So a "gyani" is one who has spiritual and religious knowledge and can help the congregation, the Sadh Sangat, in understanding the Sacred Texts and the history of the religion.

Characteristics

A gyani can be a male or a female, as the Sikh religion gives equal rights to both sexes. He or she will have undergone an intensive course of study and evaluation at an academic or religious institute, will have a thorough knowledge of the

Guru Granth Sahib The Guru Granth Sahib (, ) is the central holy religious scripture of Sikhism, regarded by Sikhs as the final, sovereign and eternal Guru following the lineage of the ten human gurus of the religion. The Adi Granth (), its first rendition, w ...

, the Sikh Holy Scripture, and will have the ability to translate the words of sacred text into simple everyday language. Gyanis can also communicate in English (not always the case), a major bonus to western children who are not fluent in Punjabi or

Gurmukhi Gurmukhī ( , Shahmukhi: ) is an abugida developed from the Laṇḍā scripts, standardized and used by the second Sikh guru, Guru Angad (1504–1552). Commonly regarded as a Sikh script, Gurmukhi is used in Punjab, India as the official scrip ...

, the language of the holy scriptures. In religious contexts, a gyani may also be called a brahm gyani. Gyani or Giani is also an academic degree conferred in

Punjabi literature Punjabi literature, specifically literary works written in the Punjabi language, is characteristic of the historical Punjab of present-day Pakistan and India and the Punjabi diaspora. The Punjabi language is written in several scripts, of which th ...

.''A Popular Dictionary of Sikhism'' from W. Owen Cole and Piara Singh Sambhi, Curzon Press, p.68,

Notable people known as 'gyani'

* Sant Giani Jarnail Singh Ji Bhindranwale, Political leader, 14th Jathedar of

Damdami Taksal The Damdamī Ṭaksāl, Jatha Bhindra(n), or Sects of Sikhism, Sampardai Bhindra(n) is an orthodoxy, orthodox Khalsa Sikhism, Sikh cultural and educational organization, based in India. They are known for their teachings of ''Vidya (philosophy ...

Giani Sant Singh Maskeen Sant Singh Maskeen (1934–2005) was a prominent Sikh scholar and theologian known for his expertise of Gurmat and Gurbani. He was honoured with the rare title of "Panth Rattan" for his services to mankind by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Co ...

, Sikh Ratan * Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh, kh politician and Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, one of five seats of temporal authority of Sikhism *

Giani Dhanwant Singh Sital Giani Dhanwant Singh Sital (12 July 1912 - 3 April 1980) was an Indian Punjabi language writer who contributed to Punjabi literature through his poetry, Punjabi children books, songs and other work. Born in a Punjabi family, Sital has authored ...

(1912-1980), Punjabi writer *

Giani Ditt Singh Giani Ditt Singh (ca. 1850–1901) was a historian, scholar, poet, editor and an eminent Singh Sabha reformer. Singh wrote over 70 books on Sikhism, the most famous of which is ''Khalsa Akhbar''. His ''Dayanand naal mera Samvaad'' and ''Dur ...

(ca. 1850–1901), historian, scholar, poet, editor and an eminent Singh Sabha reformer *

Giani Gian Singh Nihang Gian Singh 'Rab', also known as Gian Singh 'Sutantar', was a Sikh scholar and martial artist, belonging to the Nihang order, famous for his work on Shastar Vidya. Biography Scholarly work He spent forty years on textually analyzing the Guru ...

, Sikh scholar and martial artist, belong to Nihang order *

Giani Gurbachan Singh Giani Gurbachan Singh (born 6 April 1948) is a Sikh preacher who served as the jathedar of the Akal Takht from 2008 to 2018. Early life Gurbachan Singh was born in village Chakk Baja of Muktsar, Punjab, India on 6 April 1948. He joined Shiroma ...

(born 1948), the 30th Jathedar of Akal Takht *

Giani Gurdit Singh Giani Gurdit Singh (24 February 1923 – 17 January 2007) was born in Mithewal village (Sangrur district) in the state of Punjab, India. He was considered one of the greatest contemporary writers in Punjabi, and his book '' Mera Pind'' is regard ...

(1923-2007), one of the greatest contemporary writers in Punjabi *

Giani Gurmukh Singh Musafir Gurmukh Singh Musafir (15 January 1899 – 18 January 1976) was an Indian politician and Punjabi language writer. He was the 5th Chief Minister of Punjab from 1 November 1966 to 8 March 1967. He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in Punja ...

, first Chief Minister of Punjab *

Giani Pritam Singh Dhillon Giani Pritam Singh Dhillon was an Indian independence movement, Indian freedom fighter and Sikh missionary who, as a member of the Ghadar Party, was instrumental in the planning of the failed 1915 Ghadar conspiracy in the British Indian Army. Gia ...

, freedom fighter and prominent member of the Ghadar Party *

Giani Zail Singh Giani Zail Singh (, born Jarnail Singh; 5 May 1916 – 25 December 1994) was an Indian politician from Punjab who served as the president of India from 1982 to 1987 and chief minister of Punjab. He was the first Sikh to become president. B ...

(1916-1994), the seventh President of India, serving from 1982 to 1987 *

Pratap Singh Giani Pratap Singh Giani (also Partap Singh Gyani, 1855–1920) was a Sikh academic, scholar and calligraphist. Life He was born in 1855, the son of Bhai Bhag Singh Giani of Lahore (Gurmukhi: ਭਾਈ ਭਾਗ ਸਿੰਘ ਲਾਹੌ� ...

(also Partap Singh Gyani, 1855–1920), Sikh academic, scholar and calligraphist

References

Sikh practices Honorifics Honorary titles {{Sikhism-stub

Characteristics

Notable people known as 'gyani'

See also

References