Gurmata Explained

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]

Role

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]

History

Gurmatas were used in the 18th century to refer to the resolutions passed by the Sarbat Khalsa, a large gathering of esteemed Sikhs.[5] In the 18th century, gurmatas were issued during Baisakhi and Diwali gatherings.[6] Most of the gurmatas were issued from Amritsar for logistical reasons since the Sikh would gather at the city for the aforementioned celebrations.

Significant Gurmatas

DateSignificance
October/November 1723Tat Khalsa and Bandai Khalsa settle their differences.
1726Sarbat Khalsa passes Gurmata to raid Mughal precious metal transports, confiscate Mughal armories, and eliminate Mughal informers[7]
1733Sarbat Khalsa accepts jagir given by Mughal government
14 October 1745During Diwali, the Sarbat Khalsa passes Gurmata organizing Khalsa into 25 jathas[8]
29 March 1748Sarbat Khalsa passes Gurmata reorganizing Khalsa into 11 misls[9]
1753Official establishment of the Rakhi system[10]
7 November 1760Sarbat Khalsa passes Gurmata to attack Lahore[11]
27 October 1761Gurmata passed during the annual Diwali meeting at Amritsar that supporters, such as agents, informers and collaborators, of the Durrani Empire must be annihilated.[12] [13] The first target chosen was Aqil Das, then-head of the heretical Hindali sect and colluder of Ahmad Shah Abdali. Also decided in this Gurmata was that Sikhs should take control of Lahore.[14]
1920Teja Singh Bhuchhar was announced as the Jathedar of the Akal Takht
26 January 1986Sarbat Khalsa elects and inaugurates 5 member panthik committee to make decisions on behalf of the Sikh diaspora.
16 February 1986Sarbat Khalsa was held at Anandpur Sahib (City of Bliss).Sarbat Khalsa unified the panth.
10 November 2015Sarbat Khalsa was held at Chabba Village, where Jagtar Singh Hawara was appointed new Jathedar of Akal Takht.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Cole, W. Owen . A popular dictionary of Sikhism . 1997 . NTC Pub. Group . Piara Singh Sambhi . 978-0-203-98609-7 . Lincolnwood, Ill. . 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. Book: Nayyar, Raman . Institution of Gurmata: Significance and Role in the Eighteenth Century . December 2019 . Gyankosh: An Interdisciplinary Journal . Two . 2581-8252.
  3. Web site: Sarbat Khalsa & Gurmata Khushwant Singh SikhRI Articles . 2022-09-21 . sikhri.org . en.
  4. Web site: 2014-12-11 . Sikhism FAQs:Explain The Procedure And Significance Of Gurmatta (Guru's Decisio - Gateway To Sikhism . 2022-09-21 . en-US.
  5. Book: Herrli, Hans . The coins of the Sikhs . 2004 . Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers . 81-215-1132-1 . 2nd . New Delhi . 17 . 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. Book: Madra, Amandeep Singh . Sicques, Tigers or Thieves: Eyewitness Accounts of the Sikhs (1606-1810) . Singh . Parmjit . 27 September 2016 . Springer . 9781137119988 . 109.
  7. Book: Singh, Jagraj . A Complete Guide to Sikhism . Unistar Books . 2009 . 9788171427543 . 54 . Banda Singh was captured alive and executed in Delhi by the Moghul Government of Hindustan in 1716, after which two most powerful nations of Asia at that time, the Mughal Emperor of Hindustan from Delhi and Ahmad Shah Abdali King of Afghanistan from Kabul vowed to wipe out the Sikhs from the face of the earth. The Sikhs left their homes and hearths and escaped to the safety of jungles, mountains of the Punjab and desert of the adjoining Rajputana, refused to submit and continued their struggle for the independence of the Sikh Nation. They re-organized themselves and first Sarbat Khalsa meeting was held at Akal Takhat Amritsar under the leadership of Jathedar Darbara Singh on the Vaisakhi day in 1726. Thereafter Amritsar became the headquarters of Dal Khalsa, Buddha Dal, Taruna Dal and then 12 Misls..
  8. Book: Dilagīra, Harajindara Siṅgha . The Akal Takht . Punjabi Book Company . 1980 . 34.
  9. Book: Singh, Harbans . The Encyclopedia of Sikhism . Punjabi University, Patiala . 2: E-L . 362–3.
  10. Book: Ahluwalia, Jasbir Singh . Liberating Sikhism from 'the Sikhs': Sikhism's Potential for World Civilization . Unistar Books . 2003 . Chandigarh, India . 85.
  11. Book: Gurdeep Kaur . Political Ethics of Guru Granth Sahib: The Concept of State . Deep and Deep Publications . 2000 . 9788176292566 . 141.
  12. Book: Kohli, Surindar Singh . The Sikhs and Sikhism . Atlantic Publishers and Distributors . 1993 . 63.
  13. Book: Singh, Harbans . The Encyclopedia of Sikhism . Punjabi University, Patiala . 4: S-Z . 396.
  14. Web site: 17 March 2016 . Punjabi Vishwa Kosh [Punjabi World Dictionary] Vol.IX (republished on Punjabipedia by Punjabi University, Patiala) ]. pa:ਘੱਲੂਘਾਰਾ . Ghalughara . 6 July 2023 . Punjabipedia . Punjabi University, Patiala . pa.

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