Purakh

Purakh is a term used in Punjabi language and Sikh scripture to denote a person or being, and is often applied to the divine. It derives from Sanskrit and Punjabi roots that generally mean “man” or “being,” but in religious contexts Purakh is used to refer to a personal, conscious divine entity. In Sikhism, Purakh most commonly appears in compound form with Karta, as Karta Purakh, meaning the Creator or the Doer. This epithet is a key part of the Mool Mantra of the Guru Granth Sahib, where God is described with attributes such as Ik Onkar (the one reality), Satnam (true name), and Karta Purakh, along with other qualities like Nirbhao (without fear) and Nirvair (without enmity).

The use of Purakh thus signals a view of God as a personal, active being who both creates and sustains the world, while remaining transcendent. This aligns with the Sikh emphasis on a single, all-pervading divine presence that is approachable and relatable to human beings. In everyday Punjabi usage, purakh can also simply mean a man or person, but within Sikh theology it carries a theological extension to denote the divine Creator.

Purakh is distinct from broader Hindu concepts of Purusha, though etymologically related. Sikh authors use Purakh to describe a personal God rather than an abstract cosmic principle. The term appears across hymns in the Guru Granth Sahib and is part of the language through which Sikhs articulate the nature of God as both immanent in creation and transcendent beyond it.