panth

Panth is a term used in several South Asian languages, particularly Punjabi and Hindi, to denote a path or way, and, by extension, a religious tradition or community. It derives from Persian panth and from Sanskrit pantha, meaning path or road. In religious contexts, panth can refer to a philosophical school, a monastic order, or a sect within a broader tradition.

In Sikhism, Panth denotes the collective body of Sikhs—the community sharing faith, practices, and scriptures—and also the institutions that administer and guide it. The concept emphasizes unity across geographic and temporal boundaries. Sikh Panth encompasses practices, ritual life, and governance structures such as gurdwaras and major custodial bodies that organize worship, education, and charitable activities; the Guru Granth Sahib is regarded as the eternal Guru of the Panth.

In Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism, panth is used to denote a tradition, sect, or spiritual lineage within a broader faith. It can describe a philosophical school or monastic order, and it sometimes conveys a sense of organized practice and lineage.

In modern scholarship, panth is used to discuss religious communities' structures, leadership, and interactions with broader society. As a neutral term, it helps describe the ways adherents identify with a path, a creed, and a community.