Waheguru

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Waheguru (Punjabi: ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ, vāhigurū or ਵਾਹਗੁਰੂ, vāhgurū) is the principal name of God in the Sikh religion. It means "The Wonderful Lord" in the Punjabi language. God has many names in Sikhism and Waheguru is the most important. Others words used by Sikhs for God are: Ek Onkar, Onkar, Satguru, Satnaam (true name), Akal-Purkh, Rabh, Hari, Raam, Pritam and numerous more.

Waheguru (and its variant, Wahguru) is used only 16 times in the Guru Granth Sahib. Of these, Waheguru occurs 9 times on page 1402 and 4 times on page 1403. Wahguru occurs 2 times on page 1403 and 1 time on page 1404.

Bhai Gurdas, the first writer of Sikh Guru Granth Sahib, explains in his writings the definition of the word. The V stands for Vishnu, H stands for Hari, R stands for Ram and G stands for Govind. The use of the name of a Hindu avatar does not refer to the avatar itself, but instead is a reference to God.

ਸਤਿਜੁਗ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਵਾਸਦੇਵ ਵਾਵਾ ਵਿਸ਼ਨਾ ਨਾਮ ਜਪਾਵੈ॥

In Krita Yuga, Vishnu in the form of Vasudeva is said to have incarnated and ‘V’ Of Vahiguru reminds of Vishnu.

ਦੁਆਪਰ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਹਰੀਕ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਨ ਹਾਹਾ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮ ਧਿਆਵੈ॥

The true Guru of Dwapara Yuga is said to be Harikrishna and ‘H’ of Vahiguru reminds of Hari.

ਤ੍ਰੇਤੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਰਾਮ ਜੀ ਰਾਰਾ ਰਾਮ ਜਪੇ ਸੁਖ ਪਾਵੈ॥

In the Treta Yuga was Rama and ‘R’ of Vahiguru tells that remembering Rama will produce joy and happiness.

ਕਲਿਜੁਗ ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਗਗਾ ਗੋਵਿੰਦ ਨਾਮ ਜਪਾਵੈ॥

In Kali Yuga, Gobind is in the form of Nanak and ‘G’ of Vahiguru gets Govind recited.

ਚਾਰੇ ਜਾਗੇ ਚਹੁ ਜੁਗੀ ਪੰਚਾਇਣ ਵਿਚ ਜਾਇ ਸਮਾਵੈ॥

The recitations of all the four ages subsume in Panchayan (i.e. in the soul of the common man).

ਚਾਰੋਂ ਅਛਰ ਇਕ ਕਰ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜਪ ਮੰਤ੍ਰ ਜਪਾਵੈ॥

When joining four letters Vahiguru is remembered,

ਜਹਾਂ ਤੇ ਉਪਜਿਆ ਫਿਰ ਤਹਾਂ ਸਮਾਵੈ ॥੪੯॥੧॥

The Jiva merges again in its origin. ||49||1||

Bhāī Gurdās - Vārāṁ Bhāī Gurdās Vār 1 Paurī 49