Hukamnama

A Hukamnama (Punjabi: ਹੁਕਮਨਾਮਾ, translit. Hukamanāmā), in modern-times, refers to a hymn from the Guru Granth Sahib which is given as an injunction, order, or edict to Sikhs. It also refers to edicts issued by the contemporary Takhts. In the historical sense, it was used to refer to an issued commandment, instruction, injunction, order, or edict given by one of the Gurus of Sikhism or their officiated followers and associates during their lives.^[1]^[2]

Nowadays, after the period of human gurus, the Hukumnama refers to a hymn from a randomly selected left-hand side page from the Guru Granth Sahib on a daily basis in the morning. This is seen as the order of God for that particular day. The Hukamnama is distributed and then read aloud in Gurdwaras throughout the world. The verse taken from this ceremony is referred to as Vak or Hukam.^[3]

^ Cole, W. Owen (1997). A popular dictionary of Sikhism. Piara Singh Sambhi. Lincolnwood, Ill.: NTC Pub. Group. p. 42. ISBN 978-0-203-98609-7. OCLC 648154652. Hukam nama - This Persian word means a letter containing a royal command. It is used in Sikhism to refer to instructions issued by the Sikh Gurus, the wives of Guru Gobind Singh, Banda Bahadur, and, later and in the present day, the jathedars of the five takhts. Whoever is actually responsible for issuing them, they are regarded as the commands of the Guru and are binding upon the whole Panth. The need for hukam namas arose as the Sikh community grew in size and became widespread in its geographical distribution. Matters which Guru Nanak might have dealt with verbally in the course of giving darshan now had to be committed to paper. Also, with the development of the Panth, they became more complex. In the nineteenth century one was issued condemning Maharaja Ranjit Singh for a moral lapse and requiring him to submit to a public flogging to demonstrate his repentance. After the destruction of the Akal Takht during Operation Blue Star in 1984, Baba Santa Singh Nihang, chief of the Buddha Dal with other Sikhs, was declared religiously and socially ostracized for disregarding a hukam nama forbidding them from undertaking the work. Hukam namas may take the form of exhortations and commendations, or prohibitions. They may relate to individuals or to the Panth as a whole.
^ Sri Dasam Granth Sahib : facts beyond doubt. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Academy (1st ed.). Kuala Lumpur. 2021. p. 416. ISBN 978-1-5272-8277-3. OCLC 1301031871. After 1708 CE, the authority to issue Hukamnama during the turbulent times was bestowed upon Mata Sahib Kaur Ji, Mata Sundar Kaur Ji, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur and some five (5) prominent Sikhs who were sent along Baba Ji by Guru Ji at Nanded. Along with that, the Takht (throne) of the Sikh faith had the authority to issue edicts on various issues.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
^ Ganeri, Anita (2003). The Guru Granth Sahib and Sikhism. Sacred Texts. London: Evans. p. 29. ISBN 0-237-52350-7. OCLC 56470212. Vak: The verse read out every day when the Guru Granth Sahib is opened at random. It is also called hukam.

[1] Cole, W. Owen (1997). A popular dictionary of Sikhism. Piara Singh Sambhi. Lincolnwood, Ill.: NTC Pub. Group. p. 42. ISBN 978-0-203-98609-7. OCLC 648154652. Hukam nama - This Persian word means a letter containing a royal command. It is used in Sikhism to refer to instructions issued by the Sikh Gurus, the wives of Guru Gobind Singh, Banda Bahadur, and, later and in the present day, the jathedars of the five takhts. Whoever is actually responsible for issuing them, they are regarded as the commands of the Guru and are binding upon the whole Panth. The need for hukam namas arose as the Sikh community grew in size and became widespread in its geographical distribution. Matters which Guru Nanak might have dealt with verbally in the course of giving darshan now had to be committed to paper. Also, with the development of the Panth, they became more complex. In the nineteenth century one was issued condemning Maharaja Ranjit Singh for a moral lapse and requiring him to submit to a public flogging to demonstrate his repentance. After the destruction of the Akal Takht during Operation Blue Star in 1984, Baba Santa Singh Nihang, chief of the Buddha Dal with other Sikhs, was declared religiously and socially ostracized for disregarding a hukam nama forbidding them from undertaking the work. Hukam namas may take the form of exhortations and commendations, or prohibitions. They may relate to individuals or to the Panth as a whole.

[2] Sri Dasam Granth Sahib : facts beyond doubt. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Academy (1st ed.). Kuala Lumpur. 2021. p. 416. ISBN 978-1-5272-8277-3. OCLC 1301031871. After 1708 CE, the authority to issue Hukamnama during the turbulent times was bestowed upon Mata Sahib Kaur Ji, Mata Sundar Kaur Ji, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur and some five (5) prominent Sikhs who were sent along Baba Ji by Guru Ji at Nanded. Along with that, the Takht (throne) of the Sikh faith had the authority to issue edicts on various issues.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)

[3] Ganeri, Anita (2003). The Guru Granth Sahib and Sikhism. Sacred Texts. London: Evans. p. 29. ISBN 0-237-52350-7. OCLC 56470212. Vak: The verse read out every day when the Guru Granth Sahib is opened at random. It is also called hukam.

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