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
Sikh
Sikhs (singular Sikh: or ; , ) are an ethnoreligious group who adhere to Sikhism, a religion that originated in the late 15th century in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, based on the revelation of Guru Nanak. The term ''Si ...
s.
Role
Gurmata is similar to
Fatwa
A fatwa (; ; ; ) is a legal ruling on a point of Islamic law (sharia) given by a qualified Islamic jurist ('' faqih'') in response to a question posed by a private individual, judge or government. A jurist issuing fatwas is called a ''mufti'', ...
in the Muslim tradition with a difference that Fatwa is not binding on all Muslims while Gurmata is binding on all
Khalsa
The term ''Khalsa'' refers to both a community that follows Sikhism as its religion,[Khalsa: Sikhism< ...]
, however it is not binding on non-Khalsa Sikhs.
History
Gurmatas were used in the 18th century to refer to the resolutions passed by the
Sarbat Khalsa, a large gathering of esteemed Sikhs.
In the 18th century, gurmatas were issued during Baisakhi and Diwali gatherings.
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
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
Sikh practices
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