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Summary of Question:	Two Name Questions
Category:	Sikh Practices
Date Posted:	Monday, 10/29/2001 10:38 AM MDT

Hi all...

My fiance's name is Buxees. Try as I could, I can't find a translation; can you please tell me what it means?

Also, I am giving strong consideration to asking Buxees' father to take Amrit and enter the congregation. I am sure you can hear my knees knocking at this, I know I can... because I want to do everyting propeerly, please tell me if there is a custom of taking a name upon taking Amrit, as a Catholic takes a new name at confirmation. Is it so that it must be taken from scripture? If not, then what is the noun Thunder in Punjabi? It is something of personal, symbolic importance to me.

Looks like this was a little more than two questions, sorry about that!

Sat siri Akaal!

Elizabeth

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REPLY
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Sat Siri Akaal. The usual spelling of your fiance's name is Bakhsheesh or Bakhshish, and it means "the blessed one." If I am wrong on what name I think you meant, please let me know.

There is NO requirement to change your name upon taking Amrit (as a converted Sikh). But a name is a vibration. A spiritual name, taken from gurbani, is a vibration for your being that is quite positive. For example, the name "Harsukh" means Peaceful through Dwelling on God" -- Every time someone says this name, it is an affirmation for the one involved that s/he be peaceful and dwell on the Naam.

Typically, a name is determined after sincere ardaas and then taking a hukum from Siri Guru. The first letter of the first word of the actual gurbani hukum (after the "Ik Ong Kar Sat Gurprasad" part and Mehl and Rag identification) is then the letter that the person involved uses to come up with a name. If you search this site using 'names' you will find a link to a web listing of Sikh names by letter.

The only name an Amritdhari Sikh is required to adopt is Singh (for men) and Kaur (for women). Singh means lion, and Kaur means princess.

I do not know how Thunder is translated in Punjabi.
Guru rakha,
-DKK