Jaikara


Jaikara is a term used to refer to religious slogans practiced in 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 Shaktist jaikaras to pay deference to specific Indic goddesses, known as Maa Aap Bulandi. They are often shouted together as a group amongst devotees and sometimes in specific scenarios, such being in the midst of a religious trek. They are believed to encourage the congregation and strengthen their resolve, it is also way of expressing devotion to a particular deity. However, jaikaras can also be chanted when alone or when two groups of pilgrims cross paths with one another.
Common Hindu jaikaras are as follows:
Amongst Sikh, the jaikaras function as a battle-cry, described as being a "shout of victory" or "war-cry" slogan, also referred to as a fateh. Jaikaras are said to conclude Sikh religious services. They are used as phrasal slogans of respect, appraise, or obeisance and its purpose is a mixture of spirituality, euphoria, and preparation. A common Sikh jaikara is: Jo bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal and was used in-battle. They are often uttered as a huzza shouted together in a group. 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. It additionally functions as an pledge to follow the path of truth. A common practice during Sikh deliberations is to close the debate and go with the last suggestion after a particularly lively jaikara is shouted. Jaikaras can also function as greetings.
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! He further claims this original phrase was shorterned simply to bole so nihal, sat sri akal and that it should not be used as a greeting. Another Sikh jaikara, used to greet another Sikh, is Waheguru ji ka Khalsa Waheguru ji ki Fateh. Banda Singh Bahadur is charged with attempting to change the standard Sikh jaikara to Fateh Darshan.
Some other popular Sikh jakaras are as follows:
  • Bolnaji – Waheguru
  • Deg Teg Fateh – Birdh ki Paij ''Panth ki jit
  • Bole So Nihal...Sat Sri Akaal
  • Nanak naam charhdi kalaa – Tere bhaanae sarbatt daa bhalaa
  • Waheguru ji ka Khalsa – Waheguru ji ki Fateh
  • Raj Karega Khalsa – Aaakki Rahe Na Koye
  • Gaj ke jaikara gajaave fateh paave nihaal ho jaavae, Sat Sri Akaal gurbaar akaal hee akaal||
  • Fateh Singh Ke Jathe Singh
  • Fateh Darshan'', historical jaikara used by the Bandai sect

    Ad-Dharmis

The Ad-Dharmi movement of colonial Punjab adopted the salutation Jai Guru Dev.

Ravidassia

The Ravidassias, 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. The separatist faction of Ravidassias have coined their own jaikaras to mark their desired separateness from mainstream Sikhism. 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.