Gurmata

A Gurmata (Punjabi: ਗੁਰਮਤਾ; literally, 'Guru's intention' or 'advice of the Guru'), alternatively romanized as Gurumatta, is an order upon a subject that affects the fundamental principles of Sikh religion and is binding upon all Sikhs.[1] Gurmata is similar to Fatwa in the Muslim tradition with a difference that Fatwa is not binding on all Muslims while Gurmata is binding on all Khalsa, however it is not binding on non-Khalsa Sikhs.[2][3][4] Gurmatas were used in the 18th century to refer to the resolutions passed by the Sarbat Khalsa, a large gathering of esteemed Sikhs.[5]

Sikhism
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Philosophy
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General topics and terminology

Significant Gurmatas
Date Significance
October/November 1723 Tat Khalsa and Bandais settle their differences
1726 Sarbat Khalsa passes Gurmata to raid Mughal precious metal transports, confiscate Mugal armories, and eliminate Mughal informers
1733 Sarbat Khalsa accepts Jagir given by Mughal government
14 October 1745 During Diwali, the Sarbat Khalsa passes Gurmata organizing Khalsa into 25 Jathas[6]
29 March 1748 Sarbat Khalsa passes Gurmata reorganizing Khalsa into 11 Misls
1753 Official establishment of the Rakhi system[7]
7 November 1760 Sarbat Khalsa passes Gurmata to attack Lahore[8]
October 1761 Gurmata passed during the annual Diwali meeting at Amritsar that supporters of the Durrani emperor must be annihilated[9]
1920 Teja Singh Bhuchhar was announced as the Jathedar of the Akal Takht
26 January 1986 Sarbat Khalsa elects and inaugurates 5 member panthik committee to make decisions on behalf of the Sikh diaspora.
16 February 1986 Sarbat Khalsa was held at Anandpur Sahib (Land of the Khalsa).

Sarbat Khalsa unified the panth.

10 November 2015 Sarbat Khalsa was held at Chabba Village, where Jagtar Singh Hawara was appointed new jathedar of Akal Takht.

See also
  • Hukamnama, an injunction or edict issued by the Sikh gurus, their officiated followers, the Takhts, or taken from the Guru Granth Sahib
  • Rakhi system, the protection tax implemented by the Sikh Confederacy

References
  1. Cole, W. Owen (1997). A popular dictionary of Sikhism. Piara Singh Sambhi. Lincolnwood, Ill.: NTC Pub. Group. ISBN 978-0-203-98609-7. OCLC 648154652. Gurmatta - A decision affecting the whole Sikh community. The Rahit Maryada defines the areas which may be covered by a gurmatta as 'subjects calculated to clarify and support the fundamental principles of Sikhism, such as safeguarding the position of the Gurus and the Guru Granth Sahib, purity of ritual, and panthic organization'. Political, educational and social matters may also be dealt with at panthic meetings but on these only resolutions, mattas, may be passed. These are not as sacred or inviolable as gurmattas. A gurmatta may only be passed by the Sarbat Khalsa, that is a properly constituted assembly of the Panth which has been publicly announced and to which they have been summoned. In this way it resembles the gatherings of Sikhs in the presence of the human Gurus at Hola Mohalla, Baisakhi, and Diwali, at which such decisions were often made, though, of course, it must be held in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib. In 1805 Maharaja Ranjit Singh abolished assemblies of the Sarbat Khalsa for this purpose, but the practice has recently been re-established.
  2. Nayyar, Raman (December 2019). Institution of Gurmata: Significance and Role in the Eighteenth Century (PDF). Vol. Two. Gyankosh: An Interdisciplinary Journal. ISSN 2581-8252.
  3. "Sarbat Khalsa & Gurmata | Khushwant Singh | SikhRI Articles". sikhri.org. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  4. "Sikhism FAQs:Explain The Procedure And Significance Of Gurmatta (Guru's Decisio - Gateway To Sikhism". 11 December 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  5. Herrli, Hans (2004). The coins of the Sikhs (2nd ed.). New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers. p. 17. ISBN 81-215-1132-1. OCLC 56367207. Gurumatta - The word means: advice of the Guru and it is the name given to the resolutions of the Sarbat Khalsa, the diet or general assembly of the Sikhs.
  6. Dilagīra, Harajindara Siṅgha (1980). The Akal Takht. Punjabi Book Company. p. 34.
  7. Ahluwalia, Jasbir Singh (2003). Liberating Sikhism from 'the Sikhs': Sikhism's Potential for World Civilization. Chandigarh, India: Unistar Books. p. 85.
  8. Gurdeep Kaur (2000). Political Ethics of Guru Granth Sahib: The Concept of State. Deep and Deep Publications. p. 141. ISBN 9788176292566.
  9. Kohli, Surindar Singh (1993). The Sikhs and Sikhism. Atlantic Publishers and Distributors. p. 63.


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