SANGAT
Sangat word has its root in Prakrit and Apbhransh word samg; Pali eord Sangham and Sanskrit word sangh… all these words mean: to meet, to congregate; hence ‘samgat’ means: company, congregation.
In Buddhism ‘Sangh’ is an old institution; its meaning is: to congregate. During the times of the Guru ‘Sangats’ had been established in various parts of the sub-continent.
Sangat also means all the Sikhs in a particular area (it is also a synonym for the Sikh community), whereas Sarbat Khalsa (the Sikh Commonwealth) means the representatives of the whole of the Sikh nation.
In religious context Sangat means the company of noble people. A Sikh should try to spend his maximum possible time in the Sangat (company) of ‘Saadh Sangat’ (it does not mean the Saadhus and so-called Sants or dera chiefs; it means: noble people).
According to Sikhism, the best Sangat is that where a Sikh sings hymns in the praise of God together with the other members. Sangat does not have mere religious/spiritual role. It should also play its social and economic role.
Meditation in seclusion, secrectly in ‘Bhora’ (closed basement), ‘Chaleeha’ (forty days’ mediation in seclusion) have no place in Sikhism.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)