gurmata
{{short description|Sikh religious injunction}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Sikhism sidebar}}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.{{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.}}
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.{{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}}{{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}}{{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}}
History
Gurmatas were used in the 18th century to refer to the resolutions passed by the Sarbat Khalsa, a large gathering of esteemed Sikhs.{{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.}} In the 18th century, gurmatas were issued during Baisakhi and Diwali gatherings.{{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}} 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 =
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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