Daily Hukamnama Sahib Golden Temple

By
admin
Published: January 1, 2006Posted in: archiveTags:

Vaheguru ji ka khalsa,
Vaheguru ji ki fatheh!

_/\_

This article is about the Daily Hukamnama of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji from Darbar Sahib, Sachkhand Sri Harimandir Sahib, Amritsar.

Updates: Please note that we have added more general information about taking Hukamnama from Guru Granth Sahib Ji below.

Guru Granth Sahib

What is Hukamnama?

There are two parts to this word, Hukam, and Nama. The former, Hukam, is a Persian word for a divine order, command, direction, etc. The latter part, Nama, is also Persian and is added to some other words to signify the communication of the word that preceded it. For example, Thankhahnama is the document that outlines Thankhah (spiritual discipline) for the Sikhs as written by Bhai Nand Lal Ji. Zafarnama is the letter of declaration of Victory from Guru Gobind Singh Ji to Aurangzeb. Along those lines, Hukamnama is the communication or the decree of a divine order.

What is Hukam, according to Gurbani?

Hukam is referred to in Gurbani as the divine order, divine will, or command of God and Guru. There is no hukam higher than God and Guru’s hukam. No king, ruler, statesperson, or any worldly authority can have a hukam superior to God and Guru. Whatever the Creator God wishes to have done in the universe is supreme, and true, and worldly powers cannot be exerted over God.

In Gurbani, Guru ji says:

jo this bhaavai soee karasee fir hukam n karanaa jaaee ||
He does whatever He pleases. No one can issue any order to Him.

There are many discussions and debates about hukam, but people always come to the conclusion that whatever is written in Gurbani, that is the Will of God and Guru, and that is what a human being should try to live up to when in the pursuit of following hukam.

Guru Ji says:

gur kae bachan sath sath kar maanae maerae t(h)aakur bahuth piaarae ||6||
Those who accept the Word of the Guru as True, totally True, are very dear to my Lord and Master. ||6||

Therefore, when the gurbani from Guru Granth Sahib Ji or Sri Dasam Granth is recited, it is taken as a direct command or order from the Guru and God.

What is the history behind taking Hukam from Guru Granth Sahib?

In 1604, Guru Arjan Dev Sahib Ji completed the first edition of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, called Sri Aad Granth Sahib, and the whole of the Sikh community celebrated the completion of the compilation of the sacred scriptures. Bhai Gurdas Ji had scribed the whole of the Sri Aad Granth Sahib, and Guru Arjan Dev Sahib Ji had supervised and directed the whole process with the blessings of the Creator. Guru Sahib Ji organized a procession to the darbar sahib at SachKhand Sri Harimandir Sahib where Sri Aad Granth Sahib was installed upon the throne. Sri Guru Arjan Dev Sahib Ji sat at a lower position, on the floor with the rest of the congregation, and instructed the congregation on how to show respect to the divine word of God.

Guru Arjan Dev

At this time, Baba Buddha Ji was requested to fulfill the service of being the Granthi and he took the first hukamnama of Sri Aad Granth Sahib. The first line of the hukamnama was:

sa(n)thaa kae kaaraj aap khaloeiaa har ka(n)m karaavan aaeiaa raam ||
The Lord Himself has stood up to resolve the affairs of the Saints; He has come to complete their tasks.

Click here for the full hukamnama

Since that time, the suroop of Sri Aad Granth Sahib was prakash at Sri Harimandir Sahib, and every day hukam was taken. In 1708, when Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji completed the final suroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, this suroop was installed on the takhat at Sri Harimandir Sahib, and hukam was taken from this suroop.

How is the hukamnama taken at Sri Harimandir Sahib?

During the early morning hours, around 4am, the hazoori ragi kirtani jathas at Sri Harimandir Sahib commence Sri Asa Di Var in kirtan. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji’s suroop is brought by one of the granthis of Harimandir Sahib, or by the head granthi, or by the jathedar of Sri Akaal Takhat Sahib. Guru Sahib ji’s suroop is put into a palki and the palki is carried from Sri Akaal Takhat Sahib to Sri Harimandir Sahib. About half-way into the ragi jatha’s recitation of Asa Di Var, they begin to recite a shabad about “darshan” and as they complete the shabad the whole sangat stands respectfully as Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji enters into the Darbar Sahib.

Golden Temple

The granthi Singh places Guru Sahib ji’s suroop on the takhat and some sevadaars recite “Bhatta De Svaiye” while the granthi Singh and other sevadaars prepare Guru Sahib Ji’s rumallas and basthars. Then the hukamnama is taken and broadcast around the Harimandir Sahib complex through loud speakers. Meanwhile, people around the world listen or read the hukamnama from computer, radio, and television.

What is the significance of the hukamnama?

The daily hukamnama from Sri Darbar Sahib, SachKhand Sri Harimandir Sahib, is taken to be the instructions or order for the whole of the Sikh community for that particular day. Throughout Sikh history, there have been numerous instances when the hukamnama from Sri Darbar Sahib was directly relevant to the events of the day in the world. In addition, the hukamnama is a reminder to all Sikhs to reflect on the word of the Guru, and implement the teachings of the Guru into their life, each and every day. In fact, Gursikhs who are imbued with the colours of Naam follow the teachings of the Guru with each and every breath, and each and every morsel of food. The divine hukam of the One Supreme Naam, and the whole of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji’s teachings, are absorbed into the breaths, blood and bone of the spiritually enlightened Gursikh. Click here for an English katha on the topic of “hukam” by Bhai Parminder Singh ji.

The daily hukamnama is a reminder for the Sikh community to accept one Guru – Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and to be united as one community – Guru Khalsa Panth.

Hukamnama Significance in History

It is not only the case that one hukamnama is taken from Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji at SachKhand Sri Harimandir Sahib each day and that is all. In fact, every gurdwara sahib in the world takes hukamnama from Guru Ji each morning and on the conclusion of programs, and Guru Ji gives individual hukams for individual situations, events, and communities. All worldly and spiritual confusions and difficulties can be remedied by reflecting on the teachings of the Guru. All worldly and spiritual questions can be answered by reflecting on the teachings of the Guru. With this in mind, many Sikhs throughout history have stood before Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and prayed with devotion, spilling out all their emotions and frustrations of life and begging the Guru for some divine advice. Guru Sahib Ji has always given the perfect advice, and sometimes Guru Sahib ji’s hukamnama has played out in actual history – such as in the case of Saka Nankana Sahib. As many of you know, the famous Saka of Nankana Sahib and the story behind centers around the hukamnama:

koee aan milaavai maeraa preetham piaaraa ho this pehi aap vaechaaee ||1||
If only someone would come, and lead me to meet my Darling Beloved; I would sell myself to him. ||1||
dharasan har dhaekhan kai thaaee ||
I long for the Blessed Vision of the Lord’s Darshan.
kirapaa karehi thaa sathigur maelehi har har naam dhhiaaee ||1|| rehaao ||
When the Lord shows Mercy unto me, then I meet the True Guru; I meditate on the Name of the Lord, Har, Har. ||1||Pause||

This was the exact devotion of the Gursikhs who went to defend the honour of the Gurdwara and sacrificed their lives, mind, body, and wealth for the Guru. They were cut in pieces, burnt alive, shot, and brutally beaten to death, but they did not give up their faith in God. They lived up to the hukam that Guru Sahib ji gave them. Click here for the recitation of this shabad in keertan by Bibi Rena Kaur ji. Click here to listen to the full hukamnama from Sachkhand Sri Harimandir Sahib of this shabad, which also came on December 15, 2005.

How are you supposed to take Hukam from Guru Sahib?

Here is an excerpt from the jeevan of Sant Baba Harnaam Singh Ji, Rampur Khera wale, which explains his divine experience with Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and the seva of taking “hukamnama.”

How to take ‘Order’ from Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
(Source: GursikhiJeevan Phorums)

It has been seen so many times that in order to please the members of the family in which paath had been done, Pathi Singhs exhibit only such lines, paras and sentences, which suit to the family members needs, desires, and aims. They had already opened it on such pages and covered with a ramala and after doing ardaas, they read out this already calculated “Hukamnama”. Some devotees hold pages of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji both from left and right, raise their hands up and then take “order.” Some persons take Hukamnama from left page when it is before noon and on the right page when it is after noon. We can say that different persons have adopted different methods of taking Hukamnama.

Holy Glimpses of Baba Budha Ji
The sangat once initiated the above mentioned thought with Baba Ji. He told the sangat about the way of taking Hukamnama as per Gur-Maryada (Guru’s Tradition) and at the same time asked to testify it from the Great Guru. Ardaas was done before Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji as, “O Lord of the poor, please tell us the method of taking Holy order (Hukamnama). After doing ardaas, Baba Ji and some other devotees sat in the presence of the Great Guru.

All were doing Simran in a peaceful concentrated mood when Baba Budha Ji gave his glimpses to Baba Ji. Baba Budha Ji was sitting in the precints of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. He uttered, “The day when the Fifth Guru, Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji, got the installation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji at Hari Mandhir Sahib Amritsar, from me, I was given special guidance to take Hukamnama and this is the method of taking Hukamnama.”

Baba Budha Ji, going in detail told the procedure to take Hukamnama as, “This is against the tradition of the Great Guru, when some devotees take the holy order from wherever they like, or some are prejudiced about the morning or evening time and some while catching the pages of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji raise their hands and then read. This is not in Guru Ji’s happiness. After doing ardaas, before taking Hukamnama, the paath of Moolmantra should be done five times. Or the four paaths of “Mangla charn” which is recorded in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji should be done for better benefit.

Then salok for glimpses of Satguru Ji should be read (Darshan parsiae guru ke…….) and ramala may be removed. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is the heart of the Great Guru. No whims about the time should be considered. Reading words of devotion and love, just carry few pages with both the hands without any deliberate attempt and turnover either to left or to the right. The salok which starts from the left page is the real Hukamnama of the Great Guru. If that salok starts from the very beginning in the left page, start reading from here, but if it has started. If that salok is followed by a Pauri, reading should be continued including it. It pleases the Great Guru.”

Baba Ji (Sant Baba Harnam Singh Ji) already used to take Hukamnama like that, so it was further verified. The whole sangat was told this method of taking Hukamnama and he himself kept doing like this throughout his life and inspired us to do so for our own benefit and guidance of life.

Hukamnama Resources:

  • HukamNama – This the Fort: Panth Khalsa website, and features the daily hukamnama in Gurmukhi, in Lareevaar format (continuous), with English interpretation and Lareevaar reading helper for the HukamNama.
  • GursikhiJeevan – The GursikhiJeevan.com website has the daily hukamnama on their homepage, in Lareevaar format (continuous) with Pad Chhed format (spaced) in smaller text below each line.
  • Today’s Hukamnama – This is the website of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). It features the hukamnama in Gurmukhi in Pad Chhed format (spaced), with Punjabi interpretation, and English interpretation. You can also view hukamnamas from past dates. Also, there is audio recording of the recitation of the hukamnama of the day.
  • Daily Hukamnama – This is the website of SikhNet, and features the hukamnama in Gurmukhi in Pad-Chhed format (spaced), with Punjabi interpretation, and English interpretation. There is also a “Cyber Hukam” feature. In addition, you can view hukamnamas from past dates and have the Daily Hukamnama e-mailed to you. Lastly, there is audio recording of the recitation of the hukamnama of the day.
  • Alpha etc – This is a program on Satellite television which broadcasts Shabad Gurbani programs, including prakash seva and hukamnama, during the early morning and evening hours.

Common Search Terms:

Every day people around the world type these search keywords into their search engine to find the daily hukamnama:

  • Hukamnama
  • Daily Hukamnama
  • Hukamnama Golden Temple
  • Today Hukamnama
  • Hukamnama Sahib
  • Sikhnet.com Hukam

Vaheguru ji ka khalsa, Vaheguru ji ki fatheh!

_/\_

About the Author