KUCHAJĪ, Iit. an awkward, ill-mannered woman, is the title of one of Gurū Nānak's compositions, in measure Sūhī in the Gurū Granth Sāhib. Antithetically it is followed by another of his compositions called Suchajī (lit. a woman of good manner and accomplishment). Kuchajī verses are said to have been addressed, by the Gurū, to a sorceress named Nūrshāh, of Kāmrūp, who used to entice men by her magical powers. But the contents belie the conjecture. Whatever the occasion of this composition, it is a graceful poem expressing the emotions of a repentant person, who is figuratively called kuchajjī here --- (ku-is a prefix meaning ill or contrary, chajj meaning manner or style, with ī being the suffix of feminine singular). Speaking in the first person kuchajji repents for being an undeserving bride of the Lord God. In Sikh hymnology, the devotee is often presented in the image of the bride, God in that of the bridegroom. The repentant devotee in Kuchajī regrets being unworthy of the Lord. She realizes that she is full of faults, unredeemed by any virtues. She has been lured all the time by material gifts, remaining completely oblivious of the Giver. What is worse, she comprehended not her shortcomings. Now recounting her faults and failures, she expresses the hope that, in spite of what she has been, the Lord God might still, in His mercy, admit her into His company.

         Kuchajī is the first of three compositions in a series in measure Sūhī in the Gurū Granth Sāhib. The other two are Suchajī by Gurū Nānak and Guṇvantī by Gurū Arjan. All three are notable for their lyricism and music and for their devotional ardour.