View source for Gurmata

{{short description|Sikh religious injunction}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Sikhism sidebar}}A '''Gurmata''' ([[Punjabi language|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 [[Sikhism|Sikh religion]] and is binding upon all [[Sikh]]s.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Cole |first=W. Owen |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/648154652 |title=A popular dictionary of Sikhism |date=1997 |publisher=NTC Pub. Group |others=Piara Singh Sambhi |isbn=978-0-203-98609-7 |location=Lincolnwood, Ill. |oclc=648154652 |quote=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.}}</ref>
== 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.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nayyar |first=Raman |url=https://ggscw.ac.in/Downloads/6INSTITUTION%20OF%20GURMATA%20%20SIGNIFICANCE%20AND%20ROLE%20IN%20THE%20EIGHTEENTH%20CENTURY.pdf |title=Institution of Gurmata: Significance and Role in the Eighteenth Century |date=December 2019 |publisher=Gyankosh: An Interdisciplinary Journal |volume=Two |issn=2581-8252}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sarbat Khalsa & Gurmata {{!}} Khushwant Singh {{!}} SikhRI Articles |url=https://sikhri.org/articles/sarbat-khalsa-gurmata |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=sikhri.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-12-11 |title=Sikhism FAQs:Explain The Procedure And Significance Of Gurmatta (Guru's Decisio - Gateway To Sikhism |url=https://www.allaboutsikhs.com/faqs/sikhism-faqs/sikhism-faqsexplain-the-procedure-and-significance-of-gurmatta-gurus-decisio/ |access-date=2022-09-21 |language=en-US}}</ref>
== History ==
Gurmatas were used in the 18th century to refer to the resolutions passed by the [[Sarbat Khalsa]], a large gathering of esteemed Sikhs.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Herrli |first=Hans |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/56367207 |title=The coins of the Sikhs |date=2004 |publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers |isbn=81-215-1132-1 |edition=2nd |location=New Delhi |pages=17 |oclc=56367207 |quote=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.}}</ref> In the 18th century, gurmatas were issued during Baisakhi and Diwali gatherings.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Madra |first=Amandeep Singh |title=Sicques, Tigers or Thieves: Eyewitness Accounts of the Sikhs (1606-1810) |last2=Singh |first2=Parmjit |date=27 September 2016 |publisher=Springer |isbn=9781137119988 |pages=109}}</ref> Most of the gurmatas were issued from Amritsar for logistical reasons since the Sikh would gather at the city for the aforementioned celebrations.<ref name=":1" />
=== Significant Gurmatas ===
{{Expand section|date=June 2024}}
{| class="wikitable"
!Date
!Significance
|-
|October/November 1723
|[[Tat Khalsa]] and Bandai Khalsa settle their differences.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}
|-
|1726
|Sarbat Khalsa passes Gurmata to raid [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] [[precious metal]] transports, confiscate Mughal armories, and eliminate Mughal informers<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Jagraj |title=A Complete Guide to Sikhism |publisher=Unistar Books |year=2009 |isbn=9788171427543 |pages=54 |quote=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 (Sikh Army)|Dal Khalsa]], [[Buddha Dal]], Taruna Dal and then 12 Misls.}}</ref>
|-
|1733
|Sarbat Khalsa accepts [[jagir]] given by Mughal government{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}
|-
|14 October 1745
|During Diwali, the Sarbat Khalsa passes Gurmata organizing Khalsa into 25 [[jatha]]s<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dilagīra |first=Harajindara Siṅgha |title=The Akal Takht |publisher=Punjabi Book Company |year=1980 |pages=34}}</ref>
|-
|29 March 1748
|Sarbat Khalsa passes Gurmata reorganizing Khalsa into 11 [[misls]]<ref name=":04">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Harbans |title=The Encyclopedia of Sikhism |publisher=Punjabi University, Patiala |volume=2: E-L |pages=362–3}}</ref>
|-
|1753
|Official establishment of the [[Rakhi system]]<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Ahluwalia |first=Jasbir Singh |title=Liberating Sikhism from 'the Sikhs': Sikhism's Potential for World Civilization |publisher=Unistar Books |year=2003 |location=Chandigarh, India |pages=85}}</ref>
|-
|7 November 1760
|Sarbat Khalsa passes Gurmata to attack [[Lahore]]<ref>{{cite book |author=Gurdeep Kaur |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wb9ebersJMsC&dq=sarbat+khalsa+1760&pg=PA141 |title=Political Ethics of Guru Granth Sahib: The Concept of State |publisher=Deep and Deep Publications |year=2000 |isbn=9788176292566 |page=141}}</ref>
|-
|27 October 1761
|Gurmata passed during the annual Diwali meeting at Amritsar that supporters, such as agents, informers and collaborators, of the [[Durrani Empire]] must be annihilated.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kohli |first=Surindar Singh |title=The Sikhs and Sikhism |publisher=Atlantic Publishers and Distributors |year=1993 |pages=63}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Harbans |title=The Encyclopedia of Sikhism |publisher=Punjabi University, Patiala |volume=4: S-Z |pages=396}}</ref> The first target chosen was Aqil Das, then-head of the heretical [[Sects of Sikhism|Hindali sect]] and colluder of [[Ahmad Shah Durrani|Ahmad Shah Abdali]].<ref name=":0" /> Also decided in this Gurmata was that Sikhs should take control of Lahore.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 March 2016 |title=Punjabi Vishwa Kosh [Punjabi World Dictionary] Vol.IX (republished on Punjabipedia by Punjabi University, Patiala) |script-title=pa:ਘੱਲੂਘਾਰਾ |trans-title=Ghalughara |url=https://punjabipedia.org/topic.aspx?txt=%E0%A8%98%E0%A9%B1%E0%A8%B2%E0%A9%82%E0%A8%98%E0%A8%BE%E0%A8%B0%E0%A8%BE |access-date=6 July 2023 |website=Punjabipedia |publisher=Punjabi University, Patiala |language=pa}}</ref>
|-
|1920
|Teja Singh Bhuchhar was announced as the [[Jathedar of the Akal Takht]]{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}
|-
|26 January 1986
|Sarbat Khalsa elects and inaugurates 5 member panthik committee to make decisions on behalf of the Sikh diaspora.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}
|-
|16 February 1986
|Sarbat Khalsa was held at [[Anandpur Sahib]] (City of Bliss).{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}
Sarbat Khalsa unified the [[panth]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}
|-
|10 November 2015
|Sarbat Khalsa was held at Chabba Village, where [[Jagtar Singh Hawara]] was appointed new Jathedar of Akal Takht.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}
|}
== 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
* [[Sarbat Khalsa]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Sikh practices]]
{{sikhism-stub}}