Learn · Sikhi
Sikh symbols
Ik Onkar ੴ, the Khanda ☬, and the Nishan Sahib are the marks people search for. They are written or sewn signs — Sikhi rejects idol worship. Copy the Unicode characters below; if a box appears, the device is missing a covering font.
The short theology of Ik Onkar is already on /learn/sikh-concepts#ik-onkar. This page is the symbol sheet, not a second concepts lesson.
Ik Onkar
There is one universal creator — the opening of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
ੴ is the numeral one (Ik) joined to Onkar. It is the first word of the Mool Mantar and of the Granth.
Sikhi rejects idol worship. The glyph is a written statement, not a murti. Read the concept lesson at /learn/sikh-concepts#ik-onkar and the bani at /nitnem/mool-mantar.
Selectable character: ੴ
Khanda
The Khanda emblem — a double-edged sword, a chakkar, and two kirpans.
The printed character ☬ is the usual Unicode stand-in for the Khanda emblem. The full drawing is a central double-edged khanda, a circle (chakkar), and two crossed kirpans.
It is seen on the Nishan Sahib and on gurdwara signs. It is not a ranking badge and this site does not sell “official” Khanda jewellery.
A gatka khanda (the weapon) is a different object. /learn/gatka is not a live lesson yet.
Selectable character: ☬
Nishan Sahib
The Sikh flag flown at a gurdwara — usually saffron or blue, with the Khanda.
The Nishan Sahib is the flagpole and flag at a gurdwara. The cloth (chola) is commonly saffron; some jathas fly blue. A Khanda is sewn or printed on it.
Changing the chola is a seva done by that sangat. This page does not publish a calendar of flag ceremonies. Marketplace vendors who sell a nishan chola are listed when they say so — see /marketplace.
About Sikhism on this site already names the Nishan and the Khanda as gurdwara marks: /about/sikhism.
Selectable character: ☬